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BELMONT RURAL PARISH PLAN Environment |
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| Planning | Communications | Crime | Division | App a.Survey | App b. Comment |
| App c. Reaction1 | App d. Reaction2 | App e. Fun Fair | App f.Updates |
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Present position Belmont Rural parish owns none of the land in the parish The parish boundary on the west is a 28-acre, sealed landfill which extends to the protected Hunderton Rough area bordering the River Wye. The Withy Brook crosses the parish and Newton Brook is a parish boundary to the south. A public footpath links Golden Post with Ruckhall Lane east-to-west near Belmont Abbey. Outside the parish, to the west, is Newton Coppice (owned by the District Council), and two good-sized pools, privately owned though access is open. Issues identified Environmentally valuable areas. Small areas round the parish provide breathing spaces and visual amenities. Most have been planted with shrubs by the developers. Further planting (daffodils, wetland flowers) has been done by volunteers from the Parish Council and from SHARP (South Hereford Area Regeneration Project - a Belmont body formed in 2001 as a means of attracting funds for local projects, especially those outlined in the Belmont-Haywood Country Park plan. Supported by Herefordshire Council Parks Department and Community First).
TRUNK ROAD ROUNDABOUT. A significantly visible open space. At present planted with maturing trees and daffodil bulbs. Hereford in Bloom has suggested the roundabout be more formally planted. Both the Funding Fair and the Estate Survey showed that residents who were interested in planting on the roundabout favoured wild flowers. This accords with the view that the roundabout acts as a link between the city and open country to the Welsh border and that any further planting should be carefully thought-out to maintain the rural part of the parish name. Herefordshire Council parks department has been granted some authority over this and the PC will work closely with the department, and with SHARP, to plant bluebells, daisies, etc. LANDFILL. Potentially Belmont Rurals greatest asset; seen as such by residents, including those furthest away from it (ie, south of the A465). At present it is still owned by developers but should be adopted by Herefordshire Council in the near future. The area is included in the Unitary Development Plan and will become part of the proposed Belmont - Haywood Country Park when funds become available. Such funds are not imminent but, in preparation for when they are, the Belmont community came together to form SHARP (see above) which will eventually assume the necessary charitable status to handle such funds. Any use of the Landfill can only be with the help and approval of Herefordshire Council, after the site has been adopted.
The area edged by the stream to the north of Dorchester Way is owned privately. Planning permission has been refused, as has an appeal, and the Unitary Development Plan proposes it for recreational use. Appendix b for official views on these features. STREAMS. Water plants have already been planted by SHARP volunteers working under the guidance of Community First. Further planting will occur as more funds become available and as advisable. FOOTPATH. The Herefordshire Council transport planning officer has commissioned a feasibility study from Halcrow for a cycleway from Golden Post to Ruckhall Lane and beyond, paying particular attention to the points where it crosses roads. Improvement to the CH7 footpaths junction with Abbotsmead is scheduled for the next financial year. Barriers where CH7 crosses Northolme Road now protect the verge but do not prevent children from moving directly on to the road. NEWTON COPPICE. At present managed by Herefordshire Council parks department under the supervision of a warden. Supervised activities by SHARP, supported by Herefordshire Council parks department, have included the installation of bird boxes. Information boards about plants and wild-life are also planned. Policy Build on the potential for voluntary help revealed in the survey to achieve: Careful planting on estate areas and roundabout in consultation with SHARP and Herefordshire Council parks department Continuous pressure towards adoption of Landfill and development of the Belmont - Haywood Country Park. After Landfill adoption, balance the expressed needs for leisure support (eg, picnic areas, kickabout mowed area) with protection of wildlife Continued planting along the streams in partnership with SHARP and Community First. Continued monitoring of progress on cycleway with Herefordshire Council transport planning office. Support for SHARP on finding funds for further nature/trail information boards at Newton Coppice. Promote the rural nature of the parish Time scales Planting on estate, roundabout, streams. Ongoing Adoption of Landfill. Depends on Herefordshire Council Belmont - Haywood Country Park. Long term (Three- plus years) Cycleway. Medium term (One to three years) Newton Coppice: Development. Short term. Improved access. Long term Partners Herefordshire Council parks department Herefordshire Council policy & community Herefordshire Council transport planning SHARP Community First Volunteers from survey and other residents
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