APPENDIX 2 Consultation Statement Shepherd and Flock Roundabout Proposed Conservation Area and draft Conservation Area Appraisal Introduction Waverley Borough Council prepared a draft Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA) to support the proposal for the Shepherd and Flock roundabout to be designated as a Conservation Area (CA) and carried out an associated consultation. This report outlines how the consultation was undertaken, who was involved and how responses were considered. Consultation Process A walkabout was conducted on 10 September 2020 with Local and Town Councillors and environmental enhancement projects for the management plan were highlighted. The formal consultation started on Friday 2 October 2020 for six weeks, ending on Friday 13 November 2020 and included a public meeting held on Monday 2 November 2020 at 7pm. This was held virtually, via Zoom, due to the Covid -19 pandemic. The following methods to inform the public of the consultation included: Letter to all residents and businesses within the proposed CA. Letter to key stakeholders including: Farnham Town Council Farnham Society Surrey County Council Highways and Rights of Way Statutory consultees (Historic England, Natural England and Environment Agency) Thames Water Relevant internal Waverley officers Local Councillors Due to the Council offices not being open to the public a hard copy of the draft Shepherd and Flock roundabout CAA document was not available at the Council Offices for viewing but residents could request a copy be sent to them and a copy could also be viewed online at the following link: www.waverley.gov.uk/shepherdandflockcaa Whilst the consultation was focused, it did not preclude other interested parties from responding. In addition to the webpage on the Council’s website, a press release (Appendix A) was issued to inform the public of the consultation and public meeting and this subsequently appeared in the Farnham Herald on 2 October 2020. Respondents were able to comment on the proposed Conservation Area designation and draft Shepherd and Flock roundabout CAA in a variety of ways: Via the online Innovem (consultation) database accessed via the website (with no need to register) By email to the heritage inbox ([email protected]) By letter At the public meeting held on 2 November 2020 A number of key questions were asked: Do you agree with the proposed designation of the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout as a Conservation Area? Do you have any comments on the draft Shepherd and Flock Conservation Area Appraisal, and should it cover any other issues? Do you have any comments on the draft Management Plan, and should it cover any other issues? Do you agree with the proposed boundary for the Conservation Area?If not, please provide details or any areas you think should be included or excluded. A full summary of the consultation responses is set out below. The main issues have been identified as a result of this process and, where appropriate and/or necessary, amendments made to the CAA. Consultation Responses Nineteen people attended the public meeting where questions ranged from the reasons behind the appraisal and management plan, whether it would affect owners on a day to day basis and how the management plan would be carried out. Specific questions and our response are outlined below together with the 29 written responses which were received. They fell into one of five categories: 1) Key consultees 2) Comments on the proposed designation 3) Comments on the draft conservation area appraisal 4) Comments on the draft management plan 5) Comments on the proposed boundary The comments are summarised below. 1) Key consultees Consultee Comment Historic England We welcome this conservation area appraisal, which refers and responds well to the key points raised in our published guidance. We do not consider it necessary to offer detailed comments but offer the following observations: We note the unique character of this proposed conservation area which has a distinct rural and historic character but is entirely enclosed by a large modern roundabout with urban development of Farnham town close by; In light of this it may be helpful to expand on the setting section, for example explaining how setting shows historic relationships and uses or maintains a sense of this small distinct area Natural England Natural England does not have any specific comments on the proposal or conservation area appraisal. Environment The Environment Agency does not have any specific Agency comments on the proposal or conservation area appraisal. Surrey County Request that the SCC land currently being utilised as a Council (SCC) highways depot is excluded from the conservation area so Highways that the operational functionality of the site is not restricted. Any existing highway assets that form part of the public highway within the roundabout, will remain as they currently exist. If rationalisation or alteration is required, this could be considered subject to approval and the necessary funding being made available. The highway budget for this type of work is currently zero this financial year with the outlook for the next financial year predicted to be the same. Improvements identified in the management plan may therefore require alternative funding sources. Officer response The reasons for why this area is included is expanded on in section 5) of this report. Conservation area designation will not impact the operational functionality of the highways depot. Surrey County Consider the proposed designation to be operationally and Council Land and historically inappropriate. Property There are concerns that a future designation would fetter the ability to safeguard the site for operational highway requirements or for appropriate development on the northern section of the site. The planning policy requirements that would be triggered by such a designation would create onerous requirements and design considerations that hinder existing and potential future uses. Whilst SCC share the ambitions of improving the wider public realm across the county, it is considered that the contents of the management plan present an unrealistic position of what works could be achievable from an operational or safety point of view. SCC is therefore concerned that the CAA will be used as leverage for improvements to the area which are neither warranted not viable. We consider that most of the historical associations have been lost with the 20th century construction of the roundabout and therefore there is only a very marginal case to argue significant value to warrant designation as a conservation area. In particular this relates to the northern section of the roundabout and therefore SCC would not object if only the southern section was designated. Officer response Conservation area designation would not impact the operational functionality of SCC land and it does not prevent development. It is a material consideration in planning applications but this is not considered to be onerous and the development’s location within a conservation area is often found to be beneficial to the owner once works is complete. The reasons for why the northern section of the roundabout is included is expanded on in section 5 of this report. Farnham Town Consider the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout to be Council (FTC) worthy of becoming a conservation area as it as a unique site with listed buildings, heritages assets, and interesting history all within an unusual setting of a roundabout. FTC is content that the area has been thoroughly assessed and notes the inclusion of the Battle of Moor Park. The consultation has highlighted that residents' dedicate time and their own resources in ensuring the underpass is graffiti free. The residents' have requested SCC include the underpass on a maintenance programme for drains and clearing leaves to support their efforts. Changes to the railings and the removal of unnecessary clutter would improve the conservation area. FTC looks forward to a detailed action plan covering matters that have emerged from this process. The Farnham The Society supports the proposed designation of the Society Shepherd and Flock roundabout as a conservation area. However, we have discovered several issues and errors that require revisiting within the appraisal and management plan - We have inputted these more specific comments into the relevant sections below. 2) Comments on the proposed designation We received 28 supports and three objections to the proposed designation. Only two of the objections provided reasons: Comment Officer Response The roundabout does have some Disagree for reasons outlined in section 3 of historic features in the identified the CAA. ChA1 which we agree is very pleasant, however it is not representative of the complete roundabout and there is no benefit to making the whole area an conservation area for a few houses which can easily be covered individually within the current legislation. Conservation area designation Planning decisions will be still be decided adds an additional level of the usual way, it just adds an additional unwarranted costs and hindrance constraint which once development is to the housing needs of Farnham. complete is often seen as beneficial. The roundabout is not suitable for Designation as a conservation area does the number of vehicles that use it not prevent change and it’s not possible to on a daily basis, improvements to hold the designation indefinitely for works site lines, signage and larger that are not even in the pipeline or infrastructure improvements are considered possible, some of which could required. The roundabout’s irretrievably damage the character of the designation as a conservation area area. would make it difficult to get it altered in any way, which, should be considered. If and when it is ever done then the conservation plan would probably be a good idea. 3) Comments on the draft conservation area appraisal The majority of respondees were happy with the contents of the document but we did receive the following comments: Comment Officer Response It should just be about preventing Conservation area designation is about deterioration.