1 Neighbourhood Plan Neighbourhood Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement October 2019 Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement 2 3 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2. Background 5 3. Designation 6 4. Initial Fact Finding Survey 6 5. Main Questionnaire 7 6. Younger Residents’ Questionnaire 9 7. Business Questionnaire 11 8. Regulation 14 Consultation 12 9. Conclusion 14 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – List of Regulation 14 consultees 15 Appendix 2 – Summary Of Representations From Regulation 14 Pre-Submission 17 Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement Consultation Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement 4 5 1. INTRODUCTION 2. BACKGROUND 1.1 This consultation statement has been prepared to fulfil the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2.1 Initial soundings were made at two presentations on neighbourhood planning by a Cheshire 2012 in respect of the Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan. The legal basis of the Statement Community Action consultant. Firstly, at a Parish Council meeting in November 2015, and secondly is provided by Section 15(2) of Part 5 of the 2012 Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, which at a public meeting in February 2016, when the public were invited to attend and ask questions. requires that a consultation statement should: Based on the positive reaction from residents Shavington-cum-Gresty Parish Council determined to submit an application to designate the Neighbourhood Area. The designation process was completed • Contain details of the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed Shavington- cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan; in Dec 2015. • Explain how they were consulted; 2.2 Throughout the development of the Plan, key principles have been consistently applied to ensure that • Summarise the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; relevant wishes of the community were incorporated into the Plan. These were: • Describe how those issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the proposed Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan. • Promote a high level of awareness of what the Plan can and cannot achieve • Ensure that the community was fully informed on the status and progress of the Plan 1.2 The policies contained in the Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan are the result of close • Provide opportunities for any resident to participate in the planning process and development interaction and consultation with residents and businesses across the Parish. The development of the Plan has taken almost four years and has included public meetings, surveys and consultation • Consult regularly with the community and use feedback effectively events, to ensure that all residents were fully informed and were able to contribute to the Plan. This 2.3 Community engagement was sought through village meetings and newsletters, consultation and process has been overseen and coordinated by the Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan drop in events, survey questionnaires (directed to specific groups within the community) leaflet drops Steering Group, which was formed from a group of resident volunteers and parish councillors. Views and social media. Documents, questionnaires, survey reports, agenda, minutes and other information and interactions from various consultations led to the Vision and Objectives in the Shavington-cum- could be accessed via the Neighbourhood Plan and Village websites at www.scgplan.co.uk and Gresty Neighbourhood Plan and subsequently formed the basis for the key policies set out in the www.shavingtononline.co.uk. Plan. 2.4 Social media was used to great effect in publicising the Neighbourhood Plan, with twitter and Facebook posts in particular being used to raise awareness. The steering group were also a visible presence at village events, with displays explaining the Neighbourhood Plan, and members of the group being available to answer questions and make a note of comments. Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement 6 7 3. DESIGNATION 4.5 How have the issues and concerns been considered? The results highlighted what issues were of importance to the community, and gave the Steering Group ideas for drafting the vision and objectives, and helped to determine what issues should be covered and what questions asked in the more detailed questionnaires. 3.1 Formal consultation on designation of the Neighbourhood Area was organised by Cheshire East and ran from 4h July2016 until 15th August 2016, the required 6 week period. During which time, the proposed area could be accessed on Cheshire East website by statutory consultees and interested parties. No comments were received. Official designation took place on 17th August 2016. 4. INITIAL FACT FINDING SURVEY 4.1 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? 5. MAIN QUESTIONNAIRE During the consultation on the designation of the Neighbourhood Area, work began on consulting the local residents. A short fact finding survey was prepared by the Steering Group. This asked four main questions, and was designed to highlight the issues which were deemed to be important to the 5.1 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? community and to help inform the vision, objectives and the direction of planning policies, along with A more in depth, comprehensive questionnaire was prepared by the Steering Group, along with an other evidence. The survey was delivered to all households during July and was also promoted on eight page information leaflet explaining the purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan, along with the the Neighbourhood Plan website, where it could be completed online. Residents could leave their Neighbourhood Planning process. These were hand delivered to every household in the Parish in returned surveys at the village hall, the Co-op or Nisa shop. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group October 2016, to be completed by 14th November 2016. The questionnaires and information leaflet carried out the data entry and analysed the results from 256 returns. can be viewed at https://shavingtononline.co.uk/shavington-cum-gresty-neighbourhood-plan- questionnaire-results-65c27a5d38d 4.2 The survey asked:- • What do you think is wrong with Shavington-cum-Gresty? • What do you love about Shavington-cum-Gresty? • What would you change about Shavington-cum-Gresty? • What facility or feature is missing from Shavington-cum-Gresty? Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement 4.3 The fact finding survey also asked how long residents had lived in Shavington-cum-Gresty, what respondents’ postcodes were; would they like to be kept informed by email or post, and how they had heard about the Neighbourhood Plan. It was hoped that by asking this last question, the group would be able to tell which methods of communication were the most successful – directly through 5.2 The questionnaire was delivered by a team of 28 volunteers, in specially prepared branded t-shirts, the door, Facebook, or village newsletters. The majority of responses actually came via Facebook, who split the parish into manageable routes to ensure that each household received a copy. The so it was ensured that Neighbourhood Plan information was regularly posted on the village Facebook volunteers were also able to answer any queries regarding the Neighbourhood Plan, or help with pages, as well as being available in paper versions for those residents not online. filling them in. The questionnaires could be filled in online, picked up by volunteers, or returned to four convenient locations in the parish (the Co-op, Nisa, village hall and New Life Church). A 4.4 What Issues and Concerns were raised? telephone number was also given for queries. A cash price for returning the completed questionnaire The main issues and concerns were regarding the need to ensure that future house building was was given, in the hope that this would encourage more returns. Publicity regarding the questionnaires more strictly controlled; concerns regarding lack of green recreational space; requests for additional was given through the village newsletter, village and Neighbourhood Plan websites, and via local facilities, shops and businesses, and issues not relating necessarily to a Neighbourhood Plan, facebook. such as road maintenance and public transport. Shavington-cum-Gresty Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation Statement 8 9 Banners were on the village hall railings and on 5.4 The questionnaire asked a number of questions, such as whether respondents or their families were fences at road junctions in the village to advertise intending to move within the Parish or outside; which local facilities and services residents used; the Neighbourhood Plan (above, “Your Vision, what transport methods were used; whether respondents used the public footpaths and bridleways Our Community, Our Future”) and banners also and play areas; and whether or not residents agreed with statements that would be used to help announced the Oct-Nov 16’ Consultation and draw up a vision for the community. 812 responses were received, an excellent response rate of dates. approximately 45%. Unusually, the largest response rate came from 25-44 year olds, with 48% of responses fitting into his age group. The full age range of the community was covered however, with 6% of responses from 18-24 year olds, and 16% from the over 60s. 5.5 What Issues and Concerns were raised? The results highlighted that there is high car usage and some parking issues at local services and amenities; almost everyone who replied was connected to the internet; most people live in a privately owned semi-detached or detached house; a number of people had family who wanted to move within the Parish, or move back into the Parish but had been unable to find suitable housing for their needs; the public footpaths are well used; and more recreation space would be welcomed. Many residents commented on the large amount of new building that was taking place in the Parish, and worried that Shavington-cum-Gresty did not have adequate infrastructure to cope with the pressure that the new developments would bring.