LAVANT NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2016 - 2031 CONSULTATION STATEMENT Volume 2: Appendices Lavant Parish Council November 2016 Appendix 1a Neighbourhood Plan Meeting Notes 3rd October 2013 NP meeting 3rd October 2013.. consolidated Feedback Q1: Which groups in the community do you think need to be included in the consultation? How do we encourage them to come? Groups Elderly via, Lunch Club, Lavant Friendly Club, Church, WI Lavant Friendly Club Lavant Women’s Institute Open House Club Royal British Legion Young by age segment including teenagers Lavant Cricket Club Lavant Football Club Short Mat Bowls Club Business Lavant Valley Allotment Association via, AGM, Newsletter Lavant C.E. Primary School - play group -Toddlers -parents -staff -Friends of Lavant School Lavant House School Churches Pubs Accommodation B&B Stables Farmers Goodwood Estate Hyde Martlet - Social Housing Lavant Horticultural Society Lavant Memorial Hall Committee Lavant Players Lavant Village Fete Committee St Wilfrid’s Hospice Lavant Valley Support Group Groups Participation Universal view was that the SG or WG would have to go out to meet the “group”, no realistic possibility of “groups” attending some event. A questionnaire to groups was viewed in passing but rejected as quickly because it would not be filled in. One-to-one appeared to be the favoured way forward, with a semi pre-structured interview/fact finding discussion. Issue is with some groups need to get beyond the gatekeeper (Chairman) to ensure a more universal view of the “Group” is obtained. Presentations to AGM’s, insertions into group newsletters where given as examples. Any discussion should be around the “Group” ambitions and vision for the future and the key follow up question. What is holding you back? Good quality and frequent feedback on progress of project/status and so forth was viewed as key. Mention of displays (pop-ups) at community events as an exemplar. Web site was mentioned, in or by the Parish site. I did get concern for those who do not have access to a PC. Q2: What needs and issues are important for Lavant’s future? The following is a list of initial individual (unedited) responses to the question: Housing, social, old age, social housing, amount of housing, cater for all age groups, especially older/younger Work opportunities Old age / retirement issues Transport, transport routes, traffic/roads Amenities, bus service, shop, dentist, surgery, facilities Village identity, maintain the gap, separation from city, preserving integrity/boundaries, development between Lavant and Chichester, correct numbers of developments and their location Footpaths Car parks Infrastructure - all aspects of water, flooding, build infrastructure support (roads/ water/internet /traffic) Communication – BT broadband, mobile, better mobile communications, BT internet, signal strength Look of Lavant around St Nick’s Relationship with SDNP, links with SDNP Goodwood Control of developments The following notes were captured from 4 x 15 minute group sessions during which the groups discussed the above question: 1. Preserving the green space between Chichester and Lavant. The groups discussed the need for the village to maintain its individuality. The current gap between the village and Chichester was regarded as very important. It was felt strongly that the village must protect itself against becoming another suburb of Chichester. In particular, the proposed ‘daffodil field’ development should be defeated, as should any other development which threatens to reduce the green gap between Lavant and Chichester. It was thought that the village should seek to strengthen its links with the SDNP and CDC in order that Lavant’s needs (as defined by the Lavant community) might be promoted and catered for. 2. A hub for the community. A place where members of the community could meet and interact. A community centre, perhaps with a bar, facilities for the young, a surgery, a shop. There was a suggestion that the community could apply for lottery funding to build a new community building. There was discussion about the best location for such a building. People talked about the fact that the Lavant community is ‘strung out’ and would benefit from future developments ‘filling in’ adjacent to existing developments to create more of a central village hub. Suggestions included: behind the Earl of March pub, or the industrial estate in Mid Lavant. 3. Lack of adequate pavements and footpaths. Pedestrians are currently unable to walk safely on several roads in the village. There are key routes, which have no pavement or footpath. Safe use of pavements and footpaths is also an issue for wheelchair users. 4. Employment within the village. There was discussion about the fact that the village industrial site appears to be ‘running down’ with fewer businesses operating within it. The groups talked about how Lavant might capitalise on its unique location, such that Lavant might be an attractive location for new businesses. Lavant could be promoted as a ‘Gateway to the South Downs National Park’ and as result, might be an ideal location for specialist leisure services, such as cycle hire, guided walks, craft based products etc. Lavant encompasses part of the Goodwood estate and so there may be opportunities to capitalise on the various racing events etc. 5. Building developments. There was a lot of discussion about the need to influence future developments such that the following are addressed: a. Density of buildings to be reduced and gardens to be larger (as compared to recent developments in Lavant) b. Developers should contribute to community e.g. via support for community projects such as community hub, shop, parking, elderly care, sheltered accommodation c. Provision of affordable housing for local young people d. Provision of adequate car parking spaces both within new developments and to service the need for parking around the village school and St. Nicholas e. Diversity of housing needs to be taken into account – young and elderly f. Developments should not increase the ‘stretched’ layout of Lavant, but should infill to create more of a central village layout. Thus protecting green space and at the same time creating a more central community layout. 6. Catering for our elderly. Currently there is no provision of housing specifically designed to cater for the needs of those elderly residents who can no longer live independently, but require some form of support. The groups talked about the advantages for the community if elderly residents had their accommodation needs met within the village; as opposed to having to leave the community in order to have their needs met. 7. Communications. The groups discussed the need to improve the quality and strength of mobile phone signals and internet connections. 8. Infrastructure. The groups raised the following two issues, which due to time constraints did not get discussed at length: a. Roads, transport routes, traffic control and safety. b. Water, sewerage and flooding The last group concluded with a plea, that as members of the Lavant community, we need to make the most of what we’ve got! Q3 = How do we get everyone’s views Verbal comments made: Information sheet - Mail shot to every home informing about the Neighbour plan coupled with a possible home visit. Having an open meeting to start the process (My comment - we have in some respect already started the process). Poster around the village. Website for this project. Pop up meetings to cover groups and meeting points, including bus stops, playground, dogs’ walkers and Mums at schools. Lavant News – Notice Notice at the local doctors surgery Local Radio School Project? Difficult target groups to get their views – Young People, people who are not involved in village activities – how do we get them involved. What is the message – is going to be common pack of information? Need a keep action plan to get the message across and get people involved. Written comments * Do people have any Views??? Assume they do Who should be consulted? Everyone Residents Working in Lavant Schools Church Users of the facilities in Lavant Businesses How? Survey Focus groups Meeting in busy places Opportunistic survey Flyers to all – invite to meeting/ presentation and questionnaires Local reps cover small areas – the person to speak to Email address/website to send comments/responses to Letter box (local Rep) to drop into Need to be careful that people with strong views don’t input comments by different means to be counted more than once. Leaflet Campaign Posters in prominent places( school/hall/churches etc) Have a date set for gathering for people to come together to share their views ( should they have them) Run an OPEN SPACE type project to collect and distil these views. Issues? Facilities for healthy a community For both young and old Safe environment Jobs Housing – planning, location, town/green field ,affordable and sheltered Traffic problems esp A286 – do we need a bypass?? Transport issues o buses to Chi and elsewhere o Cycle track Industrial site – Employment Local assisted accommodation ( elderly care) Facilities o memorial hall o cricket club o football o playground o allotments River Lavant – Flood protection, pond. Maintain Community facilities – football field Involving the village in the environment Making a place for a shop Land for development – no flood risk Nick Reynolds as a Host 03/October NP MEETING NOTES St Nics NP.NRcomments03oct13mtg 1.QUESTION WHAT NEEDS AND ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT FOR LAVANT’S FUTURE? 2.RESPONSES (no order, no priority, no edit, not repeated where mentioned several times) . Maintaining the Strategic Gap north of Summersdale to retain Lavant identity as separate community . Design of any development to be ‘right’ for the village….not Wimpey Boxes . Ban heavy lorries from the A286 . More attempt to foster a full village feeling – not the North/South divide . Maintain a Rural Character/ protect beautiful setting . Conserve historic buildings and heritage .