Churchill & Blakedown Neighbourhood Plan- Draft November 2014 Vision and Mission: Our vision for the villages of Churchill and Blakedown is one of a continuing recognition of their separate characteristics - Churchill maintaining its essentially historic rural nature and Blakedown with its larger more diverse but essentially compact community, each valuing and respecting the other. Objectives: In order to meet the needs of the Parish in the 21st Century, we aspire to: Create a safe community for our residents and visitors; giving particular attention to Traffic management and parking. Create a sustainable environment, with emphasis on maintaining the ancient tree scape, paths and green spaces to a high standard. To preserve and improve local facilities to serve the needs of our parishioners and for future generations to enjoy. Support small scale housing developments that meet local needs. Increase local access to Health and wellbeing services. Support local business, in particular home working and rural enterprises. Protect the historic centres of the villages, discouraging inappropriate urban style development. Section 1: Characteristics of the Current Neighbourhood Neighbourhood follows the Churchill and Blakedown Parish boundary: the two villages were formed into a separate Parish in 1888. Blakedown: North of Worcestershire, 15 miles west of Birmingham, 5 miles South West of Stourbridge, 3 miles east of Kidderminster. Churchill (conservation area): 1.5 miles north of Blakedown. The Neighbourhood also extends to the west to Hurcott Wood , to the East to include Stakenbridge, and to the North, Ismere. The area is Green Belt land, except for within the Blakedown village boundary, which is classed as rural. Features low hills, open countryside, foot and bridle paths, and a complex pattern of watercourses and small lakes, which previously powered a variety of mills. Hurcott and Podmore Pools are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the wetlands of the Churchill and Blakedown valleys are recognised as Local Wildlife Sites Predominantly white population (1600 inhabitants), with an average age above that of the Wyre Forest district 70% of inhabitants are economically active Generally affluent: income and education levels also above those of Wyre Forest Significant number of self-employed / home workers Low levels of unemployment (under 3%), long term sickness / disability Majority of residents work outside the village, commuters High levels of health (in comparison to Wyre Forest) High percentage of long term residents, low population turnover Housing stock is good, with a predominance of larger houses, no overcrowding and high Council Tax Bands. Blakedown is divided by the A456 (designated lorry route) and by the railway line, running North /South through the village. There is a rail station at Blakedown, on the Birmingham to Worcester line, which is well used by commuters from the village and surrounding areas. Blakedown is served by a bus service from Halesowen to Stourport (5 bus stops on the main A456 road, together with a twice daily diversion through Churchill and Stakenbridge). Churchill Shovel Forge is a museum of local cottage industries and a Scheduled Ancient Monument 16 historic farmsteads, mainly associated with Churchill, some dating back to medieval times 12 historic (nationally listed) buildings, 54 monuments, 3 parks and gardens There are a number of tree preservation orders on both individual trees and groups of trees. Possible Iron Age fort on Harborough Hill, medieval settlements at Harborough and Wannerton. Local List of a further 121 buildings and features. Strong sense of community, with informal social circles at all age levels, people know their neighbours Number of established families who have been in the village for several generations Active Community Housing Residents Association Low crime, low number of problem families, few instances of anti-social behaviour among residents Community facilities include 2 churches, a primary school (capacity 200+), sports field and pavilion, children’s playground, Millenium Green, Parish Rooms, Churchill Church Hall, Scout Hut, Ganes Room and Golf Club. Wide variety of community groups and activity clubs, both church based and social, and for all ages from toddlers to adult and the elderly. Annual social activities include the Village Fete / Games Day, Blakedown Bolt, the Vicarage Garden Party, amateur dramatic performances, regular quizzes and jumble sales. Hodge Hill Farm is the largest business in the Neighbourhood, a sales output for local produce. Blakedown has a general store and Post Office, two pubs, a shop for high end bridal wear, with an interior design company above. One further pub (The Old Wagon and Horses) on the Stourbridge Road Small development of a beauty parlour and office accommodation in the old Butchers shop. Commercial complex at New House Farm - mainly equine activities including an equine treatment centre, but also a motor mechanic, a dog grooming business and animal feed sales. Mixed housing stock with a conservation area in Churchill, and in Blakedown Victorian / Edwardian / inter war ribbon development, with large gardens and low housing density (circa 20 units per hectare). Significant number of businesses run from home: tree surgeon, plumbers, carpenters, decorators, handy men, marquee hire, health and fitness trainers etc. Significant number of home workers (IT specialists, business accountants, consultants) Function facilities offered by the Parish Rooms, Sports Centre , the School and Churchill Village Hall, as well as by Park Hall. No human welfare facilities, no healthcare services. Superfast broadband installed in Blakedown in the final quarter 2014 Neighbourhood is well connected to the motorways and the West Midland conurbation for both commuters and businesses Agricultural activities in the area have largely been replaced by ‘horsiculture’ with approximately 200 horses and ponies kept in the Neighbourhood. Few areas available for commercial or industrial development in the non-green belt area: only the former railway sidings or the telephone exchange site can be identified. Section 2: Traffic and Transport Objective : Create a safe community for our residents and visitors; giving particular attention to Traffic management and parking. Issues: Need to preserve the essential rail and bus services through the villages at least at their present levels. Traffic speed along Stakenbridge Lane and at Churchill Cross. Dangerous bend at Stakenbridge Railway Bridge, accentuated by lack of pedestrian footpath under the bridge. Increasing volume and speed of traffic on the A456, especially HGVs. One pelican crossing on the A456 – heavily used by older children crossing to go the station for secondary schools, and by younger children crossing to get to the primary school. No dropping off point for the school on the A456 Lack of parking spaces, especially on Birmingham Road (A456) and the lower section of Belbroughton Road. Increasing congestion caused by commuters from the station parking on Station Drive, Lynwood Drive, Mill Lane, Sculthorpe Road and Mill Close. Shoppers car park (chargeable) with a capacity for 20 cars off the A456. Other car parks in the villages are owned by the Parish Rooms, the Sports Committee, the Church and the two pubs. Of these, the Parish Room car park is informally used by a small number of Belbroughton Road residents, and the Sports Ground is used for drop-off and collection of children attending the School. Policies: Traffic and Transport To regulate / control the speed of traffic travelling through the villages through the introduction of appropriate traffic calming measures. To preserve and maintain public transport services to the villages. To provide appropriate controlled parking facilities, including the current public car park, to accommodate the needs of residents, visitors and villages businesses whilst, where possible, reducing congestion. To promote safe roads for vehicles and pedestrians and reduce the risk of accidents. To reduce to a safe minimum the number of traffic signs and direction indicators in the villages, in keeping with the rural environment. To terminate the designation of the A456 as a lorry route, and divert HGVs to the south of the village on the A450. Implementation detail: Traffic and Transport Blakedown A456: move the 30mph zone back out of the village by 200 metres in both directions, and enforce a 20mph limit in the current A456 30mph zone. Commission an independent traffic review / study to look at road traffic volumes in the villages, to recommend appropriate traffic calming measures, and to review street furniture (especially traffic signs) with a view to reducing the number of signs to a level which informs but neither distracts drivers nor detracts from the rural nature of the villages. Install traffic lights at the junction of Belbroughton Road / Forge Lane / A456 / Car park to improve safety and traffic flow. Move the Pelican Crossing to near to the end of Station Drive. Install Pay and Display parking bays to the North of Station Drive and double yellow lines to the South side, and to top South side section of Mill Lane (to Mill Close). Create a residents only parking area in Lynwood Drive, Roxall Close, Mill Close and the Sculthorpe Road area Install a safe walkway under the railway bridge at Stakenbridge Where possible replace oversized direction signs with finger