Several aspirations emerged from the Neighbourhood Plan public consultation surveys in October 2016 (10) and December 2017/January 2018 (11, 36) which do not relate directly to land use and development aspects of planning. These cannot therefore form policies but are included as action points for the community.
There is considerable support for tree preservation in the community (11, 36). Existing tree related issues cannot form part of planning policy, but it is important that these concerns are understood by third parties, including public and regulatory bodies. Within the conservation area, notification of tree work is legally required subject to exemption and the local authority has an option to consult with the local community. Recent financial pressures (2017) have caused this option to be withdrawn. The Local Planning Authority can place Tree Preservation Orders on individual, groups or areas of trees, although relatively few exist in the Neighbourhood Plan area and some of these relate to non-native species of an inappropriate size for the location. A priority will be to seek Tree Preservation Orders on those trees located in Local Green Spaces. Where the loss of trees is unavoidable, residents, businesses and landowners should seek to replace them with suitable trees of the same species or in keeping with established trees in the immediate locality. These aspirations are represented as action points AP 5.1.1 to AP 5.1.4 below. Recent research (5) provides evidence that the exposure to nature, and the natural environment, and involvement in community based green projects has a beneficial effect on mental and physical wellbeing and helps to reduce barriers to social isolation. Building on the existing co-operation between Wessex Water and the Sutton Poyntz Biodiversity Group, such eco-based community projects will continue to be developed by providing appropriate guidance and resource to landowners, residents and others by agreement. These aspirations are represented as action points AP 5.1.5 and 5.1.6 below.
| AP 5.1.1 - When planting trees and hedges in private gardens residents are encouraged to plant indigenous native species with due regard to location and long term management. AP 5.1.2 - Where a significant tree is felled due to it being diseased, dying or dangerous, at least one replacement will be planted in a suitable location and will be of a species appropriate to the local area. AP 5.1.3 - Tree Preservation Orders will be sought as appropriate on trees located in designated areas of local green space. AP 5.1.4 - The village will be consulted on all tree applications, notifications and planning applications where trees, orchards and hedges may be adversely affected. AP 5.1.5 - Seek opportunities to work, through appropriate community groups such as the Sutton Poyntz Biodiversity Group, with residents and a wider group of landowners on community biodiversity projects and the promotion of biodiversity knowledge and awareness. These will build upon well-established community involvement projects such as the monthly Garden Bird Watch (17). AP 5.1.6 - The Sutton Poyntz Biodiversity Group to review the 2009 Biodiversity report and include a section on guidance to residents on pro-active measures that could be adopted in gardens and homes to improve habitat and encourage wildlife as well as encouraging farmers and landowners to adopt wildlife friendly methods. |
A small majority (54%) were in favour of a village shop selling “general store” items, fruit and vegetables, locally sourced arts and crafts and incorporating a tea shop (36). However, given the proximity of two general stores to the village, it seems unlikely that an additional retail outlet in Sutton Poyntz would prove commercially viable. It would, however, be appropriate to pursue options for inclusion of a small outlet in existing used or under-used premises with a limited range of non-perishable or local produce and run by volunteers, which might develop over time.
Of the business development options provided in the community survey (11), the only one receiving majority support was home-based working (36). It is believed that the current standard of mobile phone and internet coverage, which is essential to effective home-working, is sufficient to make this sustainable.
The history of the village, together with its literary associations and surrounding countryside with a network of public rights of way (1, 25) provide the basis for sympathetic tourism. The Waterworks Museum is under-utilised, largely due to problems of staffing, and could provide an opportunity for resourcing through community volunteers - as part of an arrangement with Wessex Water, subject to meeting operational and safety concerns. Possibilities exist for incorporating other uses, such as a café, information point and arts and crafts exhibition area. The community will work together to achieve the following aspirations:
| AP 5.2.1 - Provision of a Village Shop. A small majority of people support the provision of a village shop and this needs to be balanced against the views of many in the community that this is not economically viable. It is therefore appropriate that opportunities are sought to establish a small retail outlet, initially on a limited basis within existing premises and staffed by community volunteers for example a pop-up shop in the Springhead Pub or Waterworks Museum (subject to operational and safety considerations). AP 5.2.2 - Encourage the development of small scale business through support for home working. We will liaise with third parties to help improve the viability of low key home working*, for example through further improvements in communications. *Any business activity will not generate a regular flow of visiting clients or parked vehicles outside or near the premises, will not result in a building frontage which has a shop front style window or features, and will not involve the installation of business signage which is visible from outside the premises. AP 5.2.3 - Support for Local Employment. We will co-operate with local businesses and residents to assist the creation of additional jobs through appropriate business expansion. We are mindful of the need to ensure that the infrastructure can accommodate such expansion including, for example, better public transport services. AP 5.2.4 - Small Scale Tourism. Promote small-scale non-commercial tourism through the provision of information on history, literary connections and nature within Sutton Poyntz. We will work with local businesses to enhance such tourist facilities, for example through sponsorship of information leaflets, guided walks, extended opening of the Waterworks Museum and greater use of the Springhead Pub as a drop-in point. |
Several transport related concerns were raised following the Neighbourhood Plan
public consultation surveys in October 2016 (10) and December 2017/January 2018 (11) which do not relate directly to land use and development aspects of planning and are designated as community aspirations for future action that complement the Neighbourhood Plan.
The public bus service is vital to several residents for access to doctors, shops, and other services in addition to providing essential links to the wider transport network and the recent decline in service levels have had a detrimental impact on accessibility. The need to retain and expand the village bus service has been a consistent message in the last two village surveys (19, 10) and these are reflected in these community aspirations. Community led transport options should be considered where commercial services are deemed inadequate.
Public rights of way are a key feature that give Sutton Poyntz a sense of place (1) and their preservation, maintenance and access in the face of modern day pressures are a key priority for the community (10, 25). Some specific road safety issues not directly related to planning policy have been identified as of concern to the community (1, 8, 10, 36, 19). The community through its various representative bodies is to pro-actively co-operate and collaborate with regulatory, public, commercial and other third parties in seeking to develop transport provision that aligns with the transport objective stated in the Sutton Poyntz Neighbourhood Plan. Specific issues identified by the community to be addressed include:
AP 5.3.1 - Public Bus Services
AP 5.3.2 - Public Rights of Way
AP 5.3.3 - Road Safety and Congestion
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The provision of better information on the village’s heritage was a repeated request by residents in the Stage 1 Survey (10). A History Information Board that has stood by the pond for about 30 years has recently been refurbished and relocated – this focused on the village’s geology and pre-history. The village’s History Group is currently working at the text and design of a new History Information Board, dealing with the village’s history from the 9th Century to the present day. Funding is available and this new Information Board should be in place well before the Neighbourhood Plan is made. It is also intended to produce a History Leaflet for sale to visitors to the village.
The appraisal for the Sutton Poyntz Conservation Area (30), first written by the Borough Council in 1972 and extended in 1979 and 2000, is rather brief and lacking in detail; equivalent documents for other Conservation Areas in Dorset contain much more detail on the features of the village that are of greatest value. The additional information provided is of value to the Local Authority, to householders, and to developers. A revised document would give much greater clarity on what features of the Conservation Area are of real significance, and therefore what genuinely needs protection. Some of the additional information is now available in the Place Appraisal (1) and a Heritage Assessment Report (47) which was commissioned as part of the Neighbourhood Planning work; in addition, the Sutton Poyntz History Group has collected information that may be useful and would be keen to be involved.
The NPPF (13) recognises the importance to local communities of buildings that are not of sufficient importance to merit Listing, but nevertheless contribute importantly to their own locality. The current Local Plan (14) also recognises the need to protect locally important heritage assets, particularly where they contribute to an area’s distinctiveness; the Local Plan encourages local communities to work to identify such locally important heritage assets. Sutton Poyntz contains a number of unlisted buildings that appear to be of significant age, as well as groups of buildings that provide important context to the Listed Buildings. There are also buildings of lesser age but architectural interest as examples of an attempt to recreate a rural style with local materials. The concept of a Local List, identifying the significance of locally important heritage assets, was well supported by the village in the Stage 2 Survey, with almost 80% voting in favour (36). The Heritage Assessment Report (47), prepared by a qualified and experienced Architect who has specialised in historic buildings, identifies and describes a number of candidate buildings for such a Local List. In the words of Historic England’s Guidance Note on Local Listing, such a list of locally important assets will provide a “sound, consistent and accountable means of identifying local heritage assets to the benefit of good strategic planning ... and to the benefit of owners and developers wishing to fully understand local development opportunities and constraints”.
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A policy on flood mitigation measures exists for new and existing developments where planning permission is required. It cannot be applied however to those small scale works such as creating impervious driveways which do not require planning permission, but which can add significantly to the volume of surface water run-off into the catchment area at times of high rainfall. It is therefore important to inform residents of the impact of such changes and provide guidance as to simple actions that can be taken to alleviate the problems created by such works.
Run-off from the chalk escarpment can also be increased by land management issues such as the removal of gorse scrub. A balanced approach to such management practice needs to be adopted whereby consideration is given to the effect on groundwater retention by the removal of plant root systems.
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Several recreation-related issues were raised following the public consultation surveys (10, 11) that fall into the category of community aspirations. Several public facilities were regarded as important to the sustainability of the community and should be protected by nomination as Assets of Community Value (ACV). The provision of a children’s play area is supported by the community (36). The network of public rights of way (25) are a key feature that give Sutton Poyntz a sense of place (1) and could be incorporated into a series of guided walks centred on the village that promote recreational interest in the history, ecology and literary connections within the area (10). The Waterworks museum is under used largely due to problems of staffing and so provides an opportunity for resourcing through community volunteers as part of an arrangement with Wessex Water which could enable a broader use of the facilities for other community purposes, such as a café, local produce sales, art exhibitions, etc. (subject to meeting security and safety concerns).
| AP 5.6.1 – Nomination of Assets of Community Value The following facilities should be registered as Assets of Community value with the Local Authority under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.
If any of these facilities are offered for sale, the community shall undertake a public consultation to decide whether to exercise the right to bid. AP 5.6.2 – Provision of a Children’s Play Area To explore the provision of a children’s play facility in the short term in co-operation with the Springhead Pub to assist the delivery of Policy SR 2. AP 5.6.3 – Visitor Guides Develop guides for local history, nature, literature trails and consider provision of personal guidance through the services of registered local volunteers. AP 5.6.4 – Promote the Use of Public Rights of Way for Recreational Purposes
AP 5.6.5 – Waterworks Museum: Promote in consultation with Wessex Water extended opening of the Waterworks Museum through community volunteers and greater community use of the visitor area facilities, for example as a small café, outlet for local arts and crafts, subject to operational and safety considerations AP 5.6.6 – Provision of Community Allotments and Village Green. Suitable sites are sought for the lease or purchase of land to provide a village green and community allotments. Possible sites include land immediately to the north of Mission Hall Lane (currently owned by Wessex Water) and adjoining land in private ownership to the east of Plaisters Lane. |
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