Initial Survey - ASSETS AND ISSUES

ASSETS AND ISSUES

To help us draft some aims and objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan, which we can then all discuss together, we want to get a sense of what concerns you right now and what you value most about our community.  Using the jargon this means thinking about what our ‘issues’ and our ‘assets’ are. 

We have looked at the last two village surveys, the 2009 conservation area appraisal and the responses from the short Parish Council questionnaire this summer to give us a sense of what these might be, but we need you to tell us if you agree or disagree and add to them if you want, so we have an up to date picture.

This will also help us to understand what we will need to cover in our Community Survey and other consultations up ahead.  Please let us know what you think, so we can get it right!

 

Surveys tend to focus on finding out what the problems are, and spend less time looking at what is good already.  The ‘assets’ below were often only touched on, or listed in the village context and history sections.  We have added in a few extra things that we think are important too.

But have we got the right list now, or are there things you care about that need to be added?  Let us know ...

ASSETS ...

HERITAGE & DESIGN

1)    General character of the village – still rural, unspoilt and coherent

2)    Historic character and design of the village (recognised in its conservation area status)

3)    Distinctive linear street pattern with little backland development (so houses are one-deep and connect out to the landscape)

4)    Views of historic and notable landmark housing – including 28 listed buildings and a listed bridge

5)    Prevalent use of local materials, plus features and details (liked cobbles and decorative date-stones) contributing to a strong sense of local identity.

ENVIRONMENT

1)    Inclusion in the Forest of Bowland Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (recognising very high landscape quality, worthy of national protection)

2)    Rural setting, and key views out to surrounding landscape, Hornby castle, and along rivers

3)    Wooded surroundings and backdrop to village

4)    Surrounding green fields

5)    Surrounding wildlife

6)    Significant areas of open space within the village, including the playing field and flood gardens

HOUSING

1)    Mix of housing types

2)    More, smaller (terraced) houses than other villages, making it relatively affordable

ECONOMIC & BUSINESS

1)    Scarecrow fair (and the money it brings into the local economy)

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL

1)    Strong community spirit

2)    Village Institute (main shared village facility – our meeting place)

3)    Church, Chapel and Meeting House (places of worship)

4)    Pub and Tea-rooms (places to socialise)

5)    Shop and post-office

6)    School (village generations educated all together)

7)    Village play-ground

TRANSPORT & MOVEMENT

1)    Footpaths and riverside walks

2)    New long-distance cycle-way through the village

If we have missed anything, tell us using the questions on the back of your letter and post it back to us in The Meeting Room at Wray Institute or at the Post Office. 

Thank you.

 

Now to the issues .... are these the things that still concern you most?  Is there anything here you don’t worry about now?  Is there anything else that needs to be added?

Note:  issues shown in bold relate directly to land use planning, which is what a Neighbourhood Plan has to focus on.  Assets in italics are more indirectly related, but can still be referred to in a Plan and provided as context where relevant.

ISSUES ...

HERITAGE & DESIGN

1)    Ensuring the general character and design of the village is preserved/ enhanced

2)    Ensuring the conservation area is preserved/enhanced

3)    Ensuring key recreational/green spaces are preserved/enhanced

4)    Using traditional/appropriate signage, lighting etc

5)    ‘Greening’ the centre of the village with the introduction of flowers (window boxes etc)

ENVIRONMENT

1)    Protecting of greenfield land

2)    Protecting the surrounding landscape, rural setting and views

3)    Protecting wildlife and its habitats

4)    Incorporating renewable energy considerations into development

5)    Controlling litter and dog-fouling

6)    Encouraging recycling

7)    Improving roadside/verge maintenance

8)    Protecting the rivers from pollution

9)    Better signage and promotion of footpaths, including riverside walks and links to neighbouring villages and Millhouses

PLANNING

1)    Improving publicity for Planning issues and applications in Wray - more consultation Needed

2)    Greater information on Parish Council activities/powers needed

3)    Parish Council to pursue raising funds for local projects

TRANSPORT & MOVEMENT

1)    Parking congestion

2)    Speeding through the village

3)    Safer cycling and walking, including along the Hornby to Bentham road

4)    Buses – poor frequency, high cost

HOUSING

1)    Avoiding any large scale development.  Small groups of homes only to be considered.

2)    Discovering what the actual need for any housing is (including types)

3)    Discovering what the actual need for affordable housing is (including rented and starter homes)

4)    Making best use of what we have – ie existing buildings – before building extra homes

5)    Using any brownfield and/or infill sites before building on greenfield land

6)    Need to keep any additional building within the existing village boundaries

7)    Ensuring any new housing is environmentally sensitive and sympathetic in its design

8)    Ensuring any housing developed is matched to local needs

9)    Considering the potential for self-build schemes

COMMUNITY & SOCIAL

1)    Importance of retaining the village school

2)    Need for an after-school club

3)    Need for more sporting activities/ facilities, and/or better advertising of what activities already exist

4)    Improving or re-siting the Village Institute so that it can offer a wider range of facilities/activities

5)    Need for more classes/courses to be offered locally (adult education, focused on career progression)

6)    Need for faster Police response times, and Neighbourhood Watch scheme

7)    Need for projects/support that will help older residents to stay living independently in their own homes

ECONOMIC & BUSINESS

1)    Small-scale workshops to support local businesses, as needed

2)    Increasing local employment and the number of small businesses – supporting existing ones, and encouraging new ones

If we have missed anything, tell us using the questions on the back of your letter and post it back to us in The Meeting Room at Wray Institute or at the Post Office.   

Thank you.