BELMONT
RURAL PARISH PLAN
THE PARISH PLAN
One year on
This information, in newsletter form, was distributed to residents in January 2005 and December 2006
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BELMONT
RURAL PARISH PLAN This information, in newsletter form, was distributed to residents in January 2005 and December 2006 |
| HOME | Intro | Environment | Traffic | Transport | Leisure |
| 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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Here is a progress report on plan proposals covering the past year. The “snapshot” targets were thought to be those that carried the highest priorities and to be reasonably achievable "SNAPSHOT" TARGETS • Mark out five-a-side pitch and put up goal posts. What happened: Goal posts done. Marking out: pitch too small for FA recognition. Future action: No further action Medium term action (one to three years) • Establish Northolme Community Centre and encourage use. What happened: South Wye Foundation formed. PC already providing financial support. Future action: Actively continue financial support • Boost Neighbourhood Watch and Road Reps. What happened: NW under national reorganisation. Nighttime patrols already taking place. Future action: Progress according to new national scheme. Long term (three-plus years) • Press for Landfill adoption and Country Park establishment, including PC/SHARP direct action re. picnic and kick-about areas. What happened: Operating licence now passed to Envir. Agency. Legal process continuing. Future action: Continue to monitor progress • Establish policy on dog mess, including local volunteers if necessary. What happened: Dog signs put up by PC and DC. Active policing. Future action: Continue ENVIRONMENT • Promote the rural nature of the parish. What happened: PC helped fund Sustain project at Newton Coppice. Future action: Continue TRAFFIC • A city bypass, if it happens, will form part of a 25-year integrated transport plan. A consultant report suggests a cost of £42m for a relief road on the west, and £61m to the east. The PC will consider all proposals and consult residents before deciding stance. What happened: No change. Future action: Continue • If the CH7 footpath is upgraded, it should be possible to include traffic calming at three points on Abbotsmead and Northolme roads. What happened: Abbotsmead cyclists' "chicane" and pelican crossing near Tesco introduced. Future action: Continue to pursue calming for Northolme • To continue to monitor traffic on the estate and to support, in principle, a relief road. What happened: Provision of traffic calming signs and child awareness signs near play areas being discussed. Future action: Continue TRANSPORT • Press for 100% use of lowline buses. What happened: Lowliners now in use. • Any new bus shelters should be positioned to ensure maximum use with least offence. What happened: One replaced on A465. Future action: Continue • Continue to explore possibility of extending services to Southolme and Westholme roads despite repeated refusals of present provider. What happened: WyseMove service now covers Southolme, service unlikely for Westholme. Future action: Continue LEISURE • Continue to resist further development within the parish. What happened: Development complete. • Continue to oppose development within 50 m of Landfill. What happened: Development complete. • Continue to press for the principle of off-street parking where residence extensions increase the number of bed-spaces and/or reduce the availability of garage parking. What happened: Parking included as condition in most planning applications. Future action: Continue • Continue involvement in the Tesco planning application to ensure the parish gets as much benefit as possible. What happened: Some planning gain achieved. Tesco development now complete. Future action: Monitoring of all applications. • Monitor developments round the parish boundary (ie, the site at Belmont Abbey and the "housing / country park proposals"). What happened: No change. Future action: Waiting UDP outcomes COMMUNICATIONS
• Develop sports and recreation facilities to alleviate problems with noisy teenagers. What happened: Teenage seat unit under consideration. Police consulted. Future action: Continue • Work closely with West Mercia police to monitor criminal and minor criminal activity and report back to the community. What happened: Police reports appear on PC noticeboards; also regular police presence at PC meetings. Future action: Continue • Encourage residents to clear up after dogs, collecting dog mess in plastic bags and disposing of it in bins, or taking it home. What happened: Signs installed, plus active policing. •
Litter bins are provided all over the estate, and SHARP has done litter
pick-ups. Worst areas are the A465 and the brooks. The latter work should
be publicised and a wider area of volunteers sought. The estate survey
showed more people than expected may be willing to help with this problem |
BELMONT
RURAL Parish council
Some proposals for formal communications policy Regular newsletter. Two sides of A4 devoted solely to PC activities, to appear three or four times a year. Cost allocation: up to £150 per newsletter covering printing and distribution. Contents to be approved by chairman. "Urgent" newsletters. Covering specific problems. Clerk, chairman and vice-chairman authorised to spend up to £150 on each issue. Noticeboard material. In descending priority: (1) PC notices, (2) Neighbourhood Watch info, (3) Website address, (4) Other material approved by Parish Clerk. Website. Open to contributions from all parish residents. Website not owned by PC but actively supported by it.
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The Parish Plan - three years on |
| Belmont Rural’s Parish Plan - a long look at today’s parish and a prediction on desirable changes in five years’ time - was adopted by the parish council in late 2003. A condensed version appeared in the December 2003 issue of Belmont Voice and was distributed to all residents. Printed versions of the plan are held by the clerk, the parish councillors and by Belmont Library. A CD version is available for inspection at library terminals. See also panel about the website below. This progress report on plan proposals covers the past eighteen months. The “snapshot” targets were thought to be those that carried the highest priorities and to be reasonably achievable. A PC spokesperson says: “There has been more response from residents, notably in connection with the future of the site behind Dorchester Way and in renaming the landfill - just one event at the Fun Day in July organised jointly by the PC and the new Northolme Community Centre Association. The event was well attended and provided residents with the opportunity to meet district and parish councillors, and NCC association members. “On the downside, attempts to solve the ever-present problem of facilities for teenagers have caused some local tensions. “If any resident has a particular problem or hobby-horse, bring it to the PC’s attention by telephone, letter or by email to the website (which is updated daily) "SNAPSHOT"
TARGETS • Mark out five-a-side pitch and put up goal posts. What happened: Objects achieved. Now subject of long-term action Medium term
action • Boost Neighbourhood Watch and Road Reps. What happened: NW still under national reorganisation. Parish NW patrols continue. Road Reps scheme ceased because of lack local interest. • Discourage parking of cars (for sale) on site near Tesco roundabout. What happened: Seeking permission from Highways Agency to landscape site. Long term
(three-plus years) • Landfill adoption. What happened: Area renamed Abbey View Park at July 2006 Fun Day. Recent fires resulted in protest to Hfds environment director. Legal delays prevent local action but better care sought. Future action: Continue to maintain pressure on owners (addresses on website). PC to maintain pressure on HDA • Establish policy on dog mess. What happened: Now responsibility of Hfds DA. Dog Fouling of Land Act in place but no positive action as yet. Future action: Active policing. Progress must depend on conscience of dog owners. • Play area by Northolme CC. Future action: PC investigating viability of all-weather surface. ENVIRONMENT • Promote a “rural” parish. What happened: Landfill renamed Abbey View Park. • Discourage car parking on grass verges. Co-operation of Hfds DA obtained to monitor and ensure no parking. • Annual weed-spraying to continue. • Planning application for larger car wash at Tesco site resisted. TRAFFIC
• To continue to monitor traffic on the estate and to support, in principle, a relief road. What happened: Traffic calming signs and child awareness signs near play areas provided. Future action: Continue TRANSPORT
LEISURE
PLANNING • Continue involvement in Tesco and other commercial planning applications to ensure the parish gets as much benefit as possible. What happened: Press for Tesco landscaping specified in planning permission to be completed. Expansion of car wash resisted; planning permission turned down. Future action: Monitoring of all applications. COMMUNICATIONS CRIME • Encourage residents to clear up after dogs, collecting dog mess in plastic bags and disposing of it in bins, or taking it home. What happened: Signs installed. •
Litter. Worst areas are the A465 and the brooks. Possibility of installing
more (or larger) bins or arranging more frequent collections. THE
WEBSITE AND YOU Plus much more, including an email exchange column where intemperacy is daily becoming rampant. And if you don’t use computers, the library has a printed copy. LIKE
DEATH AND TAXES |