Farmborough Community Plan 2016 Contents Welcome to the Farmborough Community Plan 3 Why a Community Plan? 4 Farmborough History 6 Our Village — Current and Future 8 Village Facilities 12 Village Life 15 Village Services 17 Roads and Transport & Safety and Security 20 Action Plan 23 • Our Village — Current and Future 24 • Village Facilities 26 • Village Life 28 • Village Services 29 • Roads and Transport & Safety and Security 31 Farmborough Community Plan — questionnaire results data 32 Map of households that responded to the questionnaire 43 Farmborough Community Plan 2016 2 Welcome to the Farmborough Community Plan The views contained in this document are based on the New groups and volunteers are likely to be needed to resolve responses received from Farmborough residents following some of the issues highlighted and move forward on some a questionnaire sent to every household in the Parish of the actions identified. in March 2013. A wide range of issues were covered in the questionnaire Questionnaires were hand delivered with The Farmborough and the responses indicated concerns relating to the Flyer to all 480 households in the Farmborough Parish protection of the village character and landscape, which, according to the 2011 census has 1035 residents. the impact of development and the use of Green Belt land. Thanks to the persistence of the collection team a total Traffic and roads were also high on people’s agenda, but of 293 questionnaires were returned, which represents just the low instances of crime provides a relatively safe and over 60% of the Parish households. secure place in which to live and work. The overall response rate was exceptional for a survey of this The plan reflects the hopes and aspirations of the residents nature and the results can therefore be treated with some of Farmborough, as revealed by the results of the survey. confidence. To achieve success and reach the aims laid out in the Action In general most respondents felt Farmborough is a great Plan will rely on a positive commitment from many people place to live, but it could be even better. to implement and achieve the actions identified. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of various Thanks go to the Steering Committee for their commitment in community groups, their leaders and volunteers, that the seeing the Plan through to publication and special thanks to village flourishes and there is a positive feeling about the the late Val Hart who contributed so much to the project and potential for the village to develop in the future. to whom this document is dedicated. 3 Farmborough Community Plan 2016 Why a Community Plan? The benefits Producing this plan will put our community in a much better position to influence local and national government in determining our future. It really does carry weight when trying to persuade Bath and North East Somerset Council how we would like our village to develop. The results from the questionnaire were used to draw up this Plan, which is a five‐year working document that: • Prioritises the issues • Outlines any solutions • Defines an Action Plan for their implementation • Specifies who will carry out the actions • Outlines a timeframe for their completion A copy of the Community Plan has been delivered to every household and is also available from www.farmborough.org.uk or the Parish Council. Farmborough Community Plan 2016 4 The Community Plan process The Action Plan is presented under the who at a conservative estimate donated following headings: around £6000 worth of their time. A Community Plan Steering Committee made up of volunteers who live in the • Our village ‐ current and future Parish and independent of Farmborough • Village facilities The Steering Committee The Farmborough Community Plan Parish Council was set up in 2009. • Village life Steering Committee were: The aim of the Steering Committee was • Village services to produce this Community Plan, which • Patrick Bridges • Roads and transport & includes an Action Plan for Farmborough • Martin Carter safety and security covering the next five years. • Christine Cordrey The Steering Committee contacted all The costs • Val Hart the village organisations and also held A grant of £3000 was received from • Chris Pike both a Coffee Morning, as well as a stall Bath and North East Somerset Council’s • Sam Ross at the 2010 Village Day to help establish Local Strategic Partnership. The funds • Dave Stone the community’s likes and dislikes and were administered by the Parish Council. • Nicky Stone discover any changes thought necessary. The funding was used for printing of • Ray Taylor Areas of the questionnaire the questionnaire, analysing the results, and printing the final document. The questionnaire was broken down Further information into various categories to ease analysis Nine people, over a five year period, were email: [email protected] and to summarise the results. involved in the development of the plan, tel: 01761 471 074 5 Farmborough Community Plan 2016 Farmborough History The present day name for the village camp at Stantonbury and that the of Farmborough is a complete southern approach road passed disguise for its ancient name, as through the village of Farmborough. the spelling has succumbed to Other finds of historical interest many changes throughout its history. include the ‘Farmborough Hoard’ The first mention of the place and which was discovered in 1954 earliest spelling, ‘Fearenbergas’, and more recently 61 gold Celtic is found in an Anglo Saxon Charter coins of the 1st century. In days past of 901AD. the village was noted for making superior Cheddar cheese. In the Doomsday Book it appears as ‘Ferenberge’, a name probably derived Farmborough’s history as a manor is from the Anglo Saxon word for a clearly traceable for close to a stronghold which is supported and thousand years. The village formed suggests that the Barrow Hill area part of the Hunstrete Estate which at the western extremity of the village has a long lineage from King Athelstan was a main defence point. in 963AD to the Popham family who held it for over 350 years. A number of stone coffins, thought to be of Roman origin, have been A second manor has been spoken of unearthed in the locality. It is well in the village that of ‘Frenborough’ or established that there was a Roman ‘Fryenborough’, now Barrow Hill Farm, Farmborough Community Plan 2016 6 which, until the dissolution of the tower are all that remain of what might in 1894. A new block containing a main Monasteries by Henry VIII, was the have been a 14th century building. hall, classrooms, offices and kitchen property of St John’s Hospital, Bristol. was added in 1975. Before the school Much of the history of the church and This would possibly have been the was built a number of penny schools the village is recorded in the registers commencement of the Barrow Farms existed within the Parish. and churchwardens’ accounts dating and Hobbs Wall Community. from 1559 which give a wealth of Agriculture and coal mining provided The King granted the whole manor to information about village life. The the main employment for the local George Owen in 1545 and eventually list of rectors begin on an unknown population. The mining industry which it was sold to Alexander Popham date with one W. de Troubrugg; his had a huge effect on village life dates in 1664. It was Alexander Popham successor being appointed in 1328. from the 1700s. Two coal pits existed who built Farmborough’s Manor House One notable Rector was 15th century in Farmborough and both were said to in 1667 and the family remained in incumbent John Stafford (recorded in be spectacular failures. The last of the the village until 1911 when much the church as ‘J. Staffad’) who went Somerset coalfields closed in the 1970s. of the estate was sold. A second sale on to become Archbishop of Canterbury Farmborough, with its various thriving took place in 1917 and the remainder (1443—1452). Non‐conformist businesses, farms, shops and public was disposed of in 1956. chapels existed at Clutton Hill, houses was self‐sufficient and an Hobbs Wall, The Green and The Batch; The church is dedicated to All Saints. important part of the local economy. all of which have now closed. It is rumoured that a church has However, with most businesses stood on the present site since before The Church of England was responsible relocated and the shops having closed, the 14th century. The building was for opening Farmborough School in it has become a commuter village for restored and enlarged in 1869 and 1857, the cost of which was met mainly Bath and Bristol and a Parish with the chancel and lower sections of the by public subscription. It was enlarged few facilities. 7 Farmborough Community Plan 2016 Our Village - Current and Future Visual Impression and Landscape Assets The village of Farmborough has many characteristics from the main village area through Cold Bath and on to Hobbs Wall. These centres are complemented by a number of more remote collections of dwellings that are within the Farmborough Parish boundary. The countryside and proximity to Bristol and/or Bath were the main reasons for over 50% of the respondents to move to Farmborough, with village life and amenities an important factor for around 30%. Reasons to stay included community spirit, friendliness, and helpfulness of the residents. The appearance of Farmborough village and its surrounding areas is important to the residents. The peace and quiet, tidiness and general character were rated important or very important by around 90% of respondents, with over three quarters also identifying the traditional style of the buildings as significant.