Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

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1 Neighbourhood Planning came into force in 2011, through the Localism Bill. It gives us a unique opportunity to produce our own Neighbourhood Development Plan for our own area. Rothbury Parish Council, Thropton Parish Council and Cartington Parish Council and Whitton and Tosson Parish Council have joined together to produce this Plan. Since the last community consultation in 2015 we have been working hard to start drafting a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. We have listened to what you have said, and have come up with a Vision for the Neighbourhood Area and 7 Objectives that we think reflect what the community want, and which we think we can achieve through planning policies and community projects in the Neighbourhood Plan. With each objective, we have identified specific policy areas, which we think would help achieve those objectives. Are there things you disagree with? Are there things we have missed? If you don t tell us, we won t know. If you have further questions, we are having a Consultation Open Day on Saturday 11th March at Thropton Village Hall between 10am - 12pm and at Rothbury Jubilee Hall between 2pm and 4pm. OUR DRAFT VISION FOR THE MID-COQUETDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA: Our Neighbourhood Plan will ensure that Rothbury will retain its special historic appeal. Using its role as the main service centre to enhance the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the area and provide a warm, welcome to the Simonside Hills and the Upper Coquet Valley. With improved links to Rothbury, the nearby settlements of Thropton, Cartington and Whitton & Tosson will remain separate, retaining their distinctive character and their own sustainable communities. Do you agree with this Vision? How could it be changed? This form is also available online on the Rothbury Parish Council website (rothburyparishcouncil.org.uk) Responses are requested by the 22nd April 2017, rothburyparishcouncil@hotmail.com Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation March

2 Objective 1: Community Facilities We will protect our most highly valued local community facilities, and encourage new community facilities that will increase the sustainability of each of our settlements in the Plan area Potential Policy areas: We could Protect our Community Facilities where they are highly valued (e.g. pubs/post office/village hall/library/hospital/schools/small shops in the villages). We could provide a positive policy framework for the provision of further facilities - e.g. play areas, toilet facilities, etc. What community facilities do you think should be protected and why? What new community facilities do we need in the Neighbourhood Area? Where should they be? Objective 2: Natural Environment and Landscape We will strengthen the role the Plan Area plays as a gateway to the Simonside Hills, Upper Coquet Valley and Northumberland National Park, by preserving and enhancing the town's special historic character, the landscapes around it, the green spaces within it, and the special qualities of the Dark Sky Park. Define settlement boundaries to ensure that new development does not encroach into surrounding landscapes, and to prevent the 'merging' of settlements. Use existing policies in the Rothbury Village Design Statement and include these in the Neighbourhood Plan (at the moment these policies are just 'advisory' - if they are in the Neighbourhood Plan then they will carry much more weight in decision-making) Ensure all new development has appropriate outside lighting to protect Dark Skies Allocate land as 'Local Green Space' within the settlements, where it is highly valued by residents Do you agree with these proposals? Do you have other ideas? Which green spaces are important to you? Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation March

3 Objective 3: Accessibility To make the Plan area more accessible, we will work to improve public transport, improve and provide new cycle ways and enhance public rights of way elsewhere in the Plan area Potential Policy Areas: We could look for ways to improve access to Cragside (and the surrounding countryside) from within Rothbury itself (Rothbury Design Guide) We could support the installation of a cycle route between Rothbury and Thropton We could support improvements to pedestrian routes within the town We could seek to protect the railway line for future use as a walking/cycle route We could work more closely with public transport providers to get better bus services Do you think there are other ways we could improve transport and accessibility in the Neighbourhood Area? Objective 4: Housing To ensure we have a truly sustainable community, we will seek to ensure there is suitable type and mix of housing to meet the needs of all sectors of our community Have a policy to ensure all new housing on un-allocated sites in the Neighbourhood Area to be housing for affordable housing or people with a local connection only over the Plan period, once the housing requirement of 200 homes has been met. Conduct a housing survey to provide evidence to support the approach above, and see whether there are other specific housing needs in the area - for instance, housing for older people. Support the re-use of derelict buildings in rural areas for housing/economic purposes Is there a particular type of housing that we should be seeking to promote in the Neighbourhood Plan? Are there any locations that you think would be suitable - if so, where? Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation March

4 Objective 5: Flooding Ensure all new development is in areas at low risk of flooding and increase mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of flooding elsewhere. Identify areas that are at risk of flooding and direct development away from those areas Ensure that Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems are incorporated into all new development to manage and reduce run-off We could maximise opportunities for catchment land management within the Neighbourhood Area to minimise the impact of future flooding events Is this the right approach to take for flooding? Do you have other suggestions? Objective 6: The Local Economy Provide opportunities for, and support a more vibrant and diverse local economy in the Plan Area Seek to promote more small-scale enterprise hub type businesses We could incorporate policies that support rural enterprise (for example, farm diversification, businesses related to the National Park and its special qualities Seek to promote tourism development that respects the special qualities of our area What more could we do in relation to the local economy? Are there other areas that we should be looking at? Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation March

5 Objective 7: Local Heritage and Character Preserve and enhance the character of the Conservation Areas in Rothbury and Witton, and the historic environment in the Plan area Do you have any other comments? Either fill in the box, or us at XXXX: Incorporate policies from the Village Design Statement for Rothbury in relation to the built and historic environment in Rothbury Use the existing Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Whitton & Tosson and Rothbury and incorporate into planning policy Have a policy to maintain our historic shop fronts Identify which parts of Thropton are historically important We could identify and give additional protection to buildings which are not listed but are locally important Is this the right approach? Are there other things we should be doing in relation to local heritage and character? Are there particular buildings that you think need extra protection from inappropriate development? Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation March