Submission to the Local Plan Inquiry
of
Wychavon District Council

Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 Summary of Views

2. Background

3. Bishampton & Throckmorton Parish Plan

3.1 Views on Throckmorton Airfield: Econ 11

3.2 Views on Roads

3.3 Views on Hill & Moor Landfill Site

4. Public Consultation Meetings

4.1 Results from the Public Consultation Meetings

5. Conclusion

6 Appendices

6.1 Appendix 1: Data Collection & Analysis

6.2 Appendix 2: Hot Topic Comments

6.3 Appendix 3: The Public Consultation Meetings

6.4 Appendix 4: Handout to People Attending Consultation Meetings

1. Introduction

This paper presents the views of the Parish of Bishampton and Throckmorton on three of the issues which are the subject of the Local Plan Inquiry, and that have a highly significant impact on our parish.

These issues are:

• The Throckmorton Airfield
• The Hill & Moor Landfill Site
• Roads and road use in the surrounding area

These views have been gathered as part of the broader project of formulating our Parish Plan and have been confirmed through public consultation meetings held specifically to canvass parishioners’ views on these specific issues.

1.1 Summary of Views

The broad consensus from the data collected is

• · Econ 11
  There is support for the Econ11 proposal in the Local Plan provided that an exclusive link road from the Wyre Piddle bypass at George Lane provides access to such a development. Also that no access to the site should be permitted from Long Lane.
  
• · Hill & Moor Landfill Site
  As sections of the landfill site reach capacity they should be landscaped to provide agricultural or conservation areas.
  
• · Roads
  Steps should be taken to reduce the amount and speed of heavy transport using the local country lanes.

2. Background

Throckmorton airfield has had a very large impact on the area since its construction during World War II. At the time it resulted in the virtual decimation of the village and the consequences for local life were dramatic. Despite ceasing to function as an airfield, it has continued as a very troubling source of issues for the area with the introduction of a heavy transport facility; a chicken farm, which was not subject to an appropriate environmental survey; an extensive foot & mouth burial site; and, very recently, the proposal to put an Asylum Seekers Holding Centre on the site.

The landfill site has increased in size from a small facility operated by the local council to an extensive operation, disposing of and recycling materials from throughout Worcestershire and beyond.

As a result of the heavy transport fleet on the airfield, the landfill site, the chicken farm and expansion in the intensity of local grain operations, there has been a significant increase in recent years of large vehicles on the country lanes of our parish.

3. Bishampton & Throckmorton Parish Plan

Early in 2003 Bishampton & Throckmorton Parish Council began work on a Parish Plan, which is due to be completed in the late autumn of 2004. A Parish Plan Steering Group (PPSG) was formed functioning as a subcommittee of the Parish Council and made up of councillors and other local residents.

The Steering Group was open to anyone to attend, on an ad hoc or regular basis, and was advertised in the local newsletter which is delivered to every household in the parish, as well as on the parish website.

It was decided to survey residents by way of a ‘Hot Topics Questionnaire’ , asking people to write about their three top issues in relation to life in the parish. In order to maximise returns, questionnaires were delivered in person to one in four households and followed up by repeat calls until returned. This achieved a 100% response rate of 84 households. In addition all parishioners were invited to send in their ‘Hot Topics’ through the newsletter but, other than those directly contacted, none did.
The first analysis of the survey results are shown in Figure 1, Appendix 1. Nine main areas of interest/concern were identified in this way, with the future of the airfield generating most comments and being mentioned by 71% of the respondent households. Figure 1, Appendix 1 also shows that the third most commonly mentioned issue was that of the roads.

3.1 Views on the Airfield

The comments about the airfield were then further analysed on three occasions by three different parishioners who had no other involvement in the process. They were asked to sort the airfield comments into groups of like suggestions for its future. (see Figure 2, appendix 1).

This analysis yielded three main themes of the development parishioners wish for the airfield.

• Nature-Conservation: this grouping included suggestions for conservation areas, nature reserve, return to agricultural use, etc.
• Recreation/Sports use: this grouping included a wide range of views all coming under some form of sport or recreational use; from parkland with walking, cycling and fishing, to developed facilities for team and individual sports.
• Light Industry/Science Park: this grouping is self-explanatory.

3.2 Views on the Roads

Road comments were not analysed in this way, as they were largely comments on the existing state of the roads – complaints of the poor state of repair, speeding traffic and the danger and degradation due to the large number of HGV’s and other unsuitable vehicles using the narrow lanes. (see appendix 2)

3.3 Views on the Landfill Site

Comments making suggestions for the future of the landfill site were too few to subject to analysis. They are shown in full in appendix 2.

4. Public Consultation Meetings

The intention of the PPSG was to feed back the views expressed in the Hot Topics Questionnaire in public consultation meetings, and through those form a clearer picture of the development vision of the parish. However, with the imminent public inquiry into the Wychavon Local Plan, it was considered appropriate to hold some initial consultation meetings that focused specifically on the issues where the Local Plan impinges on the Parish Plan.

Two public consultation meetings were held, one at Bishampton and one at Throckmorton, both running from 2.00pm until 9.00pm to maximise access. All parishioners were notified of the meetings by advertisements and circulars to every household. Attendance at the two meetings was:-

The results of the survey regarding the airfield, landfill site and roads, were on view, with ‘pockets’ near each for people to add their comments. A map of the airfield, with Econ 11 marked on it together with an aerial photograph were displayed and parish councillors and members of the Parish Plan Steering Group were present to answer questions.

4.1 Results from the Public Consultation Meetings

Parishioners were also invited to place a signature against the following proposals:

5. Conclusion

We conclude that Bishampton & Throckmorton Parish supports Wychavon District Council’s development plan for the Econ 11 site of Throckmorton Airfield.

We put to the Local Plan the strong concerns felt by the Parish about the local road network, in particular the unsuitability of country lanes for the ever increasing HGV movements through our villages.

We also conclude that there is general support for the planned end use of the Hill & Moor Landfill site.

We urge the Local Plan Inquiry to take account of our views.