Churchill & 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 , 15 miles west of , 5 miles South West of , 3 miles east of . 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 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 to Stourport (5 bus stops on the main , 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 posts  Widen the pavement across the school entrance and as far as the Church to protect heavy use by school children and parents.  Consider pavement build outs on Belbroughton Road to reduce traffic speed.  Introduce a 7.5 tonne limit from Churchill Cross to Stakenbridge.  Work with commercial companies operating from village premises to ensure that they are not occupying public parking spaces at the expense of the village.

Section 3: Heritage and the Environment

Objectives: Create a sustainable environment, with emphasis on maintaining the ancient tree scape, paths and green spaces to a high standard.

Protect the historic centres of the villages, discouraging inappropriate urban style Development. Issues:

 The history of the villages goes back to iron age and medieval settlements in the East and North, the Royal Ride goes through the Parish from the Chaddesley border over to Ismere.  Blakedown developed around the iron and steel industries of the 19th Century, mainly Springbrook Forge (Blakedown Ironworks).  There is a wide variety of buildings and dwellings in the Neighbourhood, from dispersed rows of cottages, wayside cottages and isolated farmhouses around Churchill to thoroughfare development around the railway in Blakedown as a result of small scale industry at the many forges in the area. In Blakedown historic buildings are of red brick and Welsh slate tiles.

Policies:

 Continue efforts to protect buildings currently on the Local list.  Retain the characteristics of the two villages, in particular protecting the centre of Blakedown and the older farm cottages and workers cottages in Belbroughton Road.  Maintain the trees lining the roads.

Implementation:  Clear the footpaths and byways in the Parish.  Encourage the Historical Society to investigate the possible medieval settlements in and around the villages.  Ensure that the Churchill parish green registered.  Continue efforts to establish ownership of the Avenue.  Continue to seek financing for the reconstruction of the Signal Box (locally listed), which was saved by Rail in 2013.

Section 4: Community

Objectives: To preserve and improve local facilities to serve the needs of our parishioners and for future generations to enjoy.

Increase local access to Health and wellbeing services.

Issues :

 Ageing population – need to encourage a more evenly distributed demographic profile, and ensure that there are inclusive facilities and activities to involve younger residents.  Community split into areas – either side of the Birmingham Road, Churchill Village, Stakenbridge. Some residents only rarely cross over onto the other side of the main road / railway.  Generally good programme of community events, well supported, and welcoming, but occasional date clashes  Communal facilities governed by a variety of Trust structures, with no common standards or policies around community versus private / commercial use.

Policies:  Promote community cohesion through improving community information systems such as the village distribution network, community website and Parish newsletter.  Improve community coordination by facilitating communication and cooperation between the various village societies, their organisers and the appropriate Trustees.  Maintain and improve the village amenities, promoting their use and making sure that residents are confident in taking advantage of the benefits of village life.  Encourage and enable village organisations to organise activities which will also involve and provide for younger residents.

Implementation:  Enable improved communication between the amenities run by trustees and encourage a common approach to operating these facilities so as to promote village resident activities / clubs / events etc..  Establish village community priorities with the local clubs and societies – what do we want to protect / preserve?  Explore the potential establishment of the Parish Council as Corporate Trustee for village amenities where these are not already established with charitable status.  Encourage / reinstate neighbourhood watch /community alert / volunteers networks (e.g. the village distribution network).

Section 5: Business and the Economy

Objectives: Support local business, in particular home working and rural enterprises

Increase local access to Health and wellbeing services.

Issues:

 Need to support the development of current and new businesses whilst retaining the rural nature of the Parish  Local employers need to maintain / promote good relations with the residents to their mutual advantage.

Policies:

 Promote business and economic growth by making sure that businesses already here are helped rather than hindered to operate – for example, making sure that businesses have access to agreed customer and staff parking places  Support sustainable employment opportunities and economic growth within the Parish by encouraging and publicising those businesses which employ local people in the village and which are in tune with the local environment.

Implementation  Encouraging new businesses which sit well within the rural environment – related to horses / agriculture / local tourism (guided walks, paintball, cycle cross, craft workshops, small B&Bs / hotels etc.) and do not require significant investment in infrastructure. (The Tea Stop operating in the Sports Pavilion is a good example)  Promoting employment opportunities for village residents with local businesses (advertising vacancies in the village etc.), and also promoting businesses which encourage community inclusion and cohesion (social organisations, cooperative enterprises etc.)  Explore possibility of part time satellite medical centre in the village.  Encourage tourism / visitors by maintaining the bridle ways and footpaths in a good (usable) state.

Section 6: Housing

Objectives: 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.

Issues:

 Provision of market housing is as important as provision of affordable housing in meeting local needs  Ownership of some areas of the Villages is unknown: of specific concern is the Avenue, which is in urgent need of maintenance. Other areas: the fields on either side of Birmingham Road

Policies:

 Support sensitive and appropriate development of a suitable scale for the Parish  Protect existing housing stock, and preserve existing design characteristics  Respect the “Local List” of historic buildings, whose character should be preserved for the general ‘feel’ of the villages  Maintain site densities reflective of existing/established housing in the Parish – circa 20 units per hectare  Preserve existing development boundary (Blakedown Village)  Preserve existing Green Belt status for land outside the Blakedown Village boundary  Promote consideration for neighbouring properties when designing new properties, or additions to existing buildings, with special reference to privacy and loss of amenities (access, light, quiet etc.)  Preserve existing social housing provisions, discouraging disposal into the private market, or into shared ownership  Retain village community facilities ( pubs, shops etc.), if necessary through exercising the Right to Buy

Implementation:  Define building styles within various parts of the Villages and ensure any new development and extensions respect existing styles rather than being simply “urban” style  Maintain single or 2 storey development, resisting proposals for town houses/2½ storeys. Any redevelopment of bungalows to be single storey unless a valid case.  Resist back garden / backland development which increases housing density, adds to congestion etc.  Support barn conversions, rather than new build barns for housing.  Resist the conversion of larger houses into multiple flats or bedsits.  Establish where properties have restrictive covenants which limit development, or which prohibit (for example) fences, boundary walls, additional building etc..