BELMONT RURAL PARISH PLAN

Leisure
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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    

Present position

The parish owns no land or buildings. There is no playing field, cycle track or recreation facilities - other than small play areas extracted as planning permission conditions. The five-a-side pitch (see below) is not big enough for official children's games. There is nowhere suitable for a skatepark or motocross circuit, as several residents requested.

QUOTE

"Build a youth club. Young adults have nowehere to go but the streets"

 

The Landfill, the area north of Dorchester Way and the Northolme “pavilion” are still in the

hands of developers. The last sizeable plot of land, previously owned by Bass, has been sold to Tesco to enable an expansion programme which involves

SAD FOOTNOTE

No land, so no pub - despite many requests

transferring the store’s petrol station from one side of Abbotsmead Road to the other.

See Appendix b for Herefordshire Council’s latest views on the above.

LANDFILL USE

Intervention vs non intervention
Leave as is............................ 6.9%
Improve............................... 88.1%
No opinion............................ 5.0%

Sow wildflowers
For...................................... 69.4%
Against................................ 7.7%
No opinion.......................... 23.1%

Create kick-about area
For...................................... 42.8%
Against............................... 25.6%
No opinion......................... 31.6%

Create barbecue/picnic area
For...................................... 43.4%
Against............................... 24.4%
No opinion......................... 32.2%

The Eastholme Community Centre is controlled by the South Wye Community Trust. The centre houses the small branch library plus two usable rooms. One o f these is on the first floor, hindering disabled access.

Policy

All actions depend on Herefordshire Council adopting the Landfill, the Northolme “pavilion” and the adjacent five-a-side pitch. Adoption is being actively pursued by the district and parish councillors. When this has happened, the following aims should be observed:

• The “planning gain” funds from Tesco, should be used to complete and equip the Northolme pavilion to form the Northolme Community Centre. Furnishing the NCC will be overseen by Herefordshire Council parks department.

• SHARP provisionally agreed to run the Centre. The PC will consider supporting its development.

• Set up goalposts on the newly prepared and seeded five-a-side pitch.

• Consider applying for funds to create a “parish green” on the remainder of the site.

• Decide on recreational use(s) for the Landfill, bearing in mind that Herefordshire Council must first adopt it. Balance support for a kick-about area, a picnic area and controlled planting of wild flowers.

• Press for land north of Dorchester Way to be taken into public ownership. Since it is not part of the Landfill it is not sealed and may be used to create a wetlands park or other leisure facilities.

• Northolme Community Centre. Success or failure depends on residents’ support of the Centre and will dictate the activities presented

Time scales

• Northolme Community Centre. Medium term

• Five-a-side pitch. Short term - as with NCC, above

• Parish green. Medium term (One to three years)

• Landfill: some leisure use. Short term (one year). Belmont-Haywood Country Park . Long term (Five- plus years)

• Dorchester Way land. Long term (Five-plus years)

Partners

Tesco
Belmont Rural parish council
SHARP Herefordshire Council parks department
Herefordshire policy and community

Landfill renaming

Full list of residents’ suggestions in appendix a, page 27. These will be considered by the Plan working group, after which a shortlist will be passed to the PC for a final decision.