Tarleton Village Plan a/w 20/08/03 9:11 am Page 1 Tarleton Village Plan September 2003 Tarleton Village Plan a/w 20/08/03 9:12 am Page 3 Foreword The process of drawing up this Village Plan has truly been a steep learning curve for all those who have taken the time to be actively involved. Personally I never envisaged the work that was to evolve when the Rural White Paper came out in 2001. The community of Tarleton have been remarkable in working together to get this milestone of producing the first Village Plan through the Vital Villages Initiative in the area of West Lancashire. I hold in extremely high regard all those volunteers who have freely given their time and worked effortlessly to gather, analyse Contents and interpret information. However, this is only part of the process of working towards making Tarleton a better place to live for current and future generations. The areas outlined in the Action Plan will be Page 3 Foreword achieved with further effort, something that I am sure the Page 4 Introduction community of Tarleton is quite capable of achieving. Page 6 Tarleton Village Plan Process Page 8 Traffic, Transport And Travel Many thanks to all those involved over the last 21/2 years. Let us Page 9 Housing And Development keep up the good work in the future. Page 10 Crime And Safety Page 12 Facilities For Young People Page 13 Community And Sports Facilities Page 14 Employment Nadine Ashcroft Vice Chair Tarleton Parish Council Page 15 Environment Page 16 Education And Training Page 17 Community Involvement And Activity This Village Plan is a significant landmark of a process that started Page 20 The Future in 1997, as a result of the communities reaction to significant Page 22 Summary and Conclusions housing developments in the village. Page 23 Acknowledgements Page 24 Bibliography Little did we know back then that the 2001 Rural White Paper was to provide the format on which residents could base their Page 26 Appendix 1 - Action Plans strategy for managing change. From those humble beginnings Page 34 Appendix 2 - Proposed many more people became involved bringing new talents and Supplementary skills to the task ahead. Planning Guidance The Village Plan provides us with the ‘Roadmap’ for the future and will prove to be a most powerful tool, which can be used to influence a wide range of issues and projects in the coming years. The power of the Village Plan lies in the fact that it is based upon true consultation with effective engagement of the local community. Through the Village Plan each member of the community can be assured that their individual voice is amplified for maximum influence. It is therefore with a great sense of pride that I commend to you, your Village Plan for Tarleton. Our vision is of a living countryside with thriving rural communities and access John Hodson to high quality public services. Chairman Tarleton Parish Council 2 3 Tarleton Village Plan a/w 20/08/03 9:12 am Page 5 Introduction The Rural White Paper “Our Countryside, A Fair Deal for Rural England” was presented to Parliament in November 2000. The vision set out states: ‘Living in the countryside has a great deal to offer. People value the quietness and sense of space, the beauty of natural surroundings, the traditions and sense of community. But over the last twenty years, the pace of social and economic change has put increasing pressure on rural communities. While some have attracted new businesses, many have lost local services and jobs in agriculture and other traditional industries. Poor quality development has encroached on some valued landscapes and wildlife habitats have declined. Young people have left more remote rural areas, while some villages close to cities have become commuter dormitories’ In January 2001 the residents of Tarleton took the first step to producing this Village Plan. A Village Design Statement was started after initial consultation at a public meeting. A Core Design Team comprising of members of the community groups was set up. The community showed great interest and came forward with enthusiasm and have willingly given their time to make this document what it is today, a comprehensive audit of the communities views. The Core Design Team secured funding to be able to progress the vision of completing a Village Design Statement for Tarleton Parish. A financial budget was set and the work began. In the Autumn of 2001 the Countryside Agency pointed the Village Design Group in the direction of the REAL (Rural Evaluation and Action for Lancashire) team, based at Community Futures in Preston. A Community Audit was carried out and the evidence gathered during the Village Design Statement Residents Survey and the REAL survey and consultation workshops form the basis of this “Tarleton’s Village Plan”. Our vision is of a working countryside, with a diverse economy giving high and stable levels of employment. 4 5 Tarleton Village Plan a/w 20/08/03 9:12 am Page 7 Tarleton Village Plan Process Action Plan Areas The residents of Tarleton Parish which includes the hamlets of The following sections detail the main areas of interest Holmes, Mere Brow and Sollom have produced this Village Plan document. It attempts to identify the qualities that are Each section starts with a “Village Vision” which is presented valued in the village by its residents. The plan was conceived as follows: with the purpose of ensuring that future development and change and areas of concern identified by residents during the Community Audit are executed in sympathy with the village’s past as well as its present. This shows the views of the community which have been The Tarleton Village Plan is the result of consultation with the adopted as a “Village Vision” or “Core Statement” villagers over the past 2 1/2 years This consultation has included public workshops, exhibitions and the opportunity for each villager to participate in the Village Design Statement Residents’ Survey during the summer of 2001. Some of the opinions of Tarleton have been recorded as: The Countryside Agency worked in partnership with the Northern Parishes (Tarleton, Rufford, North Meols and • The lack of village amenities and the strains being imposed Hesketh with Becconsall) to carry out a Public Transport on existing amenities. Survey. A questionnaire was distributed to all households and the findings are incorporated within this Village Plan. • The perception of unfettered growth in the building of ‘executive’ properties. The Community Audit carried out in March 2002 has also supplied valuable information that is contained in the • The lack of recognition for the needs of this farming and document “Tarleton Past Present and Future”. horticultural village. In April 2002 Tarleton Parish Council applied to the • The increasing volume of traffic which, as well as being Countryside Agency for a Parish Plan grant which was duly a general nuisance, generates feelings of danger for awarded. This was used to complete the Village Plan and pedestrians and cyclists, leading to a ‘self’ reinforcing spiral commission expert help to assist in specialist areas. of increased car use even for the shortest of journeys within the village. An example of the expert help was the Village Plan Traffic Analysis that has been presented to residents and the • The volume of HGV traffic within the village and the recommendations are incorporated in the Village Plan. inadequacy of the existing roads network. The Village Plan was designed to gather the views of the • New developments and growth in house building has The surveys, reports or forums used to form the Action Plan community evidence any need and to be used by individuals contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the loss of areas are; and groups ie schools and voluntary organisations, as a valuable fields and green space with the tendency to build up resource to support project ideas as a recognised point of to the ‘green belt’. • Northern Parishes Public Transport Assessment Survey reference. • The contribution by new developments to the traffic • Village Design Statement Residents Survey This is your Plan and is part of an ongoing process. It will problems being experienced. influence important decisions. • REAL Quality of Life Questionnaire • A decline of community feel and character of the village. • The Young Peoples Survey • The lack of low cost housing forcing many young people brought up in Tarleton to move out of the village when • Community Workshops setting up home on their own. • Atkins Traffic Analysis Report • The inadequacy of facilities for young people. • West Lancashire Primary Care Trust Working Group • The lack of community and leisure facilities. Meetings on Agriculture Workers • The perceived lack of influence that can be exerted on the planning process by the villagers of Tarleton. Our vision is of a protected countryside in which the environment is sustained and enhanced, and which all can enjoy. 6 7 Tarleton Village Plan a/w 20/08/03 9:12 am Page 9 Traffic, Transport and Travel Housing and Development The community should work together to resolve conflicting The rural character of the village should be maintained by needs in order to ensure that quality of life is not affected sustainable planning by people going about their everyday business Through the consultation carried out during the Village Design Statement Survey residents expressed strong views about the future character of development in Tarleton. When residents were asked about aspects of life in Tarleton that gave rise to concern, most of the issues could be related to the rate, size and extent of recent developments and Traffic Transport and Travel proved to be extremely high on the anxiety regarding the impact of any future developments.