St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement 2017 – 2030 Produced by the St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Group October 2020 St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 1 Contents Title Page Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. 3 Aims of the Consultation ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Background information to the Consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan................................................................................................. 6 Initial meetings ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Publicising the intention to develop a Neighbourhood Plan………………………………………... 6 Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Group …………………………………………………………………………… 6 Community consultation initial drop-in sessions ………………………………………………………….. 7 Main issues and concerns raised during the initial consultation ………………………………..…. 11 Residents’ and Business Questionnaires and results ……………………………………………………. 11 Further public engagement events ………………………………………………………………………………. 11 Strategic Environment Assessment Screening opinion ………………………………………………… 11 Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14) Community engagement ……………………… 11 Main issues and concerns raised during the consultation …………………………………………. 11 Pre-submission consultation - Community Engagement ……………………………………………. 11 Pre-submission consultation – local businesses and landowners and other interested parties…………………………………………………………………………………………. 11 Pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14) statutory engagement ……………………….... 11 Final draft Neighbourhood Plan …………………………………………………………………………………… 11 Appendices Appendix 1 - Pre-submission Consultation – Summary of Statutory Consultee comments plus responses……………………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Appendix 2 - Pre-submission Consultation – Summary of comments from parishioners, businesses, local landowners and other interested parties plus responses……………….. 15 Appendix 3 - Pre-Submission Consultation – Individual comments received plus responses in full…………………………………………………………………………………………………..………. 22 St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 2 Introduction The Consultation Statement has been prepared to fulfil the legal obligations of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 under Section 5(2). A Consultation Statement: (a) Contains details of the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed neighbourhood plan; (b) Explains how they were consulted; (c) Summarises the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; and (d) Describes how these issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the proposed neighbourhood plan. This Consultation Statement summarises all the statutory and non-statutory consultation that has been undertaken with the community and other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders in developing the St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan. It describes how concerns have been addressed and what changes have been made to the final Plan as a result of the pre-submission consultation. St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 3 Aims of the Consultation At the beginning of the Neighbourhood Plan process, we stated that our objectives were as follows: 1 Housing Objectives 1. To support sustainable development of a scale and nature appropriate to the character and heritage of the Parish 2. To support the housing needs of permanent residents in the Parish. 2 Design Objective To promote bespoke, site-specific, high quality, creative designs which reflect the architectural diversity of St Austell Bay Parish. 3 Natural Environment and Landscape Character Objective 1. To conserve and enhance St Austell Bay Parish's unique natural beauty and landscape character, protecting its coastline, habitats, woodlands, open spaces and rights of way from inappropriate development. 2. To support and encourage new environmental growth where appropriate by the creation of space and conditions for more abundant, productive and healthier habitats, species and natural systems. 4 Local Green Spaces and Green Buffers Objectives 1. To ensure that the existing local green spaces in the Parish, much valued by residents, are protected from inappropriate development and maintained for their current or a related community use 2. To ensure the green buffers continue to protect the World Heritage Site and Conservation Area of Charlestown within its current setting without encroachment by development while also benefitting biodiversity. 5 Historic Environment Objective To ensure that all members of the community are able to be involved in safeguarding and enhancing the special character and local distinctiveness of the Parish’s historic environment and heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. 6 Renewables and Climate Change Objectives 1. To promote appropriate renewable and low carbon energy production, to increase energy efficiency and to minimise resource consumption through a range of technologies which are sensitive to the landscape character of St Austell Bay Parish 2. To act responsibly and proactively to the challenges posed by climate change, including minimising flood risk and reducing problems arising from coastal erosion. 7 Business and Employment Objectives 1. To ensure that commercial premises are retained and new businesses encouraged in order to protect, maintain and create employment 2. To support economic growth and employment whilst safeguarding the unique historical character and natural rural environment of the Parish 3. To encourage sustainable tourism and agriculture. St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 4 8 Transport and Traffic Objectives 1. To ensure that the parking facilities in Charlestown available to residents, businesses and visitors are not reduced by any new developments 2. To minimise traffic density and pollution in Charlestown by supporting appropriate new parking facilities outside the village centre providing they comply with all policies in the Plan. 9 Community Facilities Objective To support existing and encourage new and diverse community facilities accessible to residents and visitors of all ages and abilities. St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 5 Background Information to the Consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan The Parish Council had, since its inception in 2009, undertaken two Parish Plans. Each of these was preceded by a series of consultation sessions and a questionnaire posted to all households with a freepost envelope for return. The percentage return was 26% for the 2010-2013 plan and 34% for the 2014-2018 plan. These results are very high for this type of questionnaire, denoting a good level of community involvement and engagement from the Parish. The Parish Planning process (Plans in the Evidence Base) gave us a clear idea of the priorities and concerns of residents. Initial meetings Parish councillors had attended some workshops and information sessions on the Neighbourhood Plan process, and then in the summer of 2017 organised an information session with the Mayor of a local council which was well underway with the process. After this, councillors were unanimous in their wish to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for St Austell Bay. The matter was discussed with residents during parish council meetings and questions and comments were taken. At the meeting held on 23 October 2017, after hearing support from residents attending, and input from Helen Nicholson of Cornwall Council, St Austell Bay Parish Council resolved to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. Its designation was confirmed by Cornwall Council on 24 October 2017. It is the qualifying body responsible for the plan. Publicising the intention to develop a Neighbourhood Plan Publicity went out using local newspapers and radio; posters were displayed on the parish’s 7 noticeboards covering all three wards in the parish; leaflets were sent to all households informing them of the intention to develop a Neighbourhood Plan, and asking those interested in being involved to make contact. A website was set up to inform residents of progress: www.staustellbayndp.org.uk Strategic Group (SG) The NP Strategic Group was officially set up on 30 November 2017. It consisted of a mix of councillors and residents. Sarah Furley, from the Cornwall Council Neighbourhood Planning Team, attended the first meeting to offer advice and answer questions. Changes in membership have occurred throughout the process, but in accordance with the Terms of Reference shown in the Evidence Base. Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Group Members Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Group Members Responsibility CLLR SUE LEACH Acting Chairperson – Duporth Ward Councillor Nov 17 to present CLLR TRUDY REYNOLDS Finance – Trenarren and Porthpean Ward Councillor Nov 17 to present CLLR SUE OSBRINK Secretary – Charlestown Ward Councillor Nov 17 - present St Austell Bay Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement P a g e | 6 DR STEVE LOWDEN Porthpean and Trenarren Ward May 18 to present MR STEVE MORRIS Duporth Ward July 18 to present MR CHRIS WRIGHT Duporth Ward May 18 to present MR KEN JONES Charlestown Ward September 18 to present MR GARETH BRAY Charlestown Ward June 18 to present PAST MEMBERS: Cllr David Nicklin Charlestown Ward Nov 17 to Jan 18 Cllr Tamsin Low Charlestown Ward Nov 17 to Jan 18 Richard Hallows Charlestown Ward Nov 17 to April 18 Mike Barlow Charlestown Ward Nov 17 to April 18 Peter Tombs Charlestown Ward Jan 18 to April 18 Cllr Haydn Webb Duporth Ward Nov 17