Date

Lobbying issues identified

Proposed Action

Review and Progress

1

Parish Plan 2003

Changing and ageing population of the Parish.

Plus: Resistance of applications for further holiday lets within the Parish.

·       Represent rural related issues of an ageing/retired population.

·       Respond to the rapidly changing social environment caused by the influx of new residents and an increasing proportion of second/holiday homes.

·       Lobby for greater resistance of applications for further holiday lets unless they support other rural objectives such as the livelihood of farmers

·       Responded to consultations, lobbied and provided input to meetings with relevant bodies on issues relating to welfare of an ageing population.

Update

2007

Plus: Affordable housing  for youngsters and workers in the parish.

·       Undertake Housing Survey in conjunction with Cumbria Rural Housing Trust and SLDC.

·       Monitor plan submitted to SLDC for the return to Parish Councils of a proportion of the council tax levied on holiday lets and second homes for them to use locally.

·       Housing Survey completed (through Cumbria Rural Housing Trust) and published in 2007.

Update

2008

Plus: Suitable housing for elderly wanting to down-size.

·      Monitor and  follow up results of survey

·      Continue to lobby authorities on policy and solutions

·       Set up Working Group to consider policy, procedures and possible solutions, and make recommendations to Council on practical actions to fulfill the need defined by the survey.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Housing Working Group set up Nov 2007.

·       Attended CRHT Conference 'Owning the Assets'.

·       Arranged meeting with Witherslack Community Housing Trust.

2

Parish Plan 2003

Cost of Council Tax related to the services received.

·       Seek better equality of access for the Parish to services paid for out of Council Tax.

·       Identify needs as and when they arise, to inform SLDC and Cumbria County Council, of issues with regard to the services provided that are considered important by local residents.

·       Cumbria CC hotline used to highlight problems.

·       Issues raised with SLDC and CCC as they arose.

Update

2007

·       Monitor traffic at Tottlebank cross roads.  Request SLOW signs on road and investigate other traffic management options on approach to cross roads.

·       Take part in the Parish Lengthsman Pilot Scheme.  Monitor and evaluate

·       SLOW signs requested.

·       Lengthsman scheme adopted which proved popular and effective.

Update

2008

·        Seek support and funding for Scheme continuation.

·        Continue to lobby CCC and SLDC about issues of concern (e.g. state of roads, rubbish collection, policing).

Progress by December 2008:

·        Funding obtained for continuation of Lengthsman Scheme in FY 08/09.

·        Lobbied Cumbia Highways on state of roads and lack of provision of grit/salt.

3

Parish Plan 2003

Diminishing facilities located within the Parish.

·       Support the key role in the community of local pubs, village and church halls and mobile traders and remaining retail and post office facilities

·       Encourage new service and retail providers in any way possible.

Update

2007

·       Promote page on website for local enterprises and businesses and encourage them to use the parish council and the website to lobby problem areas.

·       Webpage set up for local enterprises and businesses.

Update

2008

·       Encourage and publicise mobile traders.

·       Consider how library facilities can best be provided in rural areas

·       Campaign against Post Office closures

Progress by December 2008:

·        Campaigned against closure of Post Offices by writing letter to Post Office Ltd. from Colton PC and joint letters with other parishes.

4

Parish Plan 2003

Protection of the peace and quite qualities enjoyed in the Parish especially the use of footpaths, bridleways and green lanes.

·       Lobby strongly for planning policies that protect the attractions of the quality of life, recognizing how quickly the composition of the Parish is changing and how intrusive aspects of modem leisure can be on valued peace and quiet of Parish.

·       Lobby where appropriate for restrictions on the use of local footpaths, bridleways and green lanes by off road vehicles and motorbikes.

·       Incidents reported to Tony Hill, LDNPA Ranger.

·       Traffic Restriction Order (TRO) placed at Strands Pool.

Update

2007

·       Continue to monitor implementation of  Traffic Restriction  Order (TRO) at Strands Pool.

·       Monitor Bethecar Moor and Colton Heights which still have problems with off road vehicles trail bikes and mountain bikes. 

·       Incidents monitored and reported to Tony Hill, LDNPA.

Update

2008

·       Find out status of designated 'quiet areas' in the Parish.

·       Place information on incident reporting on Notice Boards, in newsletters and on the website.

·       Produce map of green lanes and TPOs in the Parish.

·       Continue to lobby Grizedale about reducing traffic.

Progress by December 2008:

·         Information on incident reporting put on Notice Boards and website.

·         List of green lanes and TPOs on notices. Map on website.

·         Letter written to Cumbria Highways with pictures about the state of UCRs.

·         Letters written to Grizedale about reducing traffic.

5

Parish Plan 2003

Requirement for more flexible planning policies to assist the local economy.

·       Lobby for more responsive application of planning policies that currently inhibit mixed use of residential buildings in order to support local residents' livelihoods and encouraging small businesses by allowing for efficient working from a home base.

·       Identify possible opportunities for shared workspace and discuss with the LDNPA the feasibility of providing such a facility.

·         Used this as guiding principle in responding to planning applications.

Update

2007

·       Continue to support local planning applications for small business ventures.

·         Support continued through planning consultation process.

Update

2008

·       Encourage appropriate development to support the local economy and check that business development remains as such.

·       Encourage small business developments, particularly where these can be linked to affordable housing.

Progress by December 2008:

·         Continuing to support this through planning consultation process when opportunities arise.

6

Parish Plan 2003

Protection of the visual amenity of the Parish.

·       Oppose major visual intrusions proposed for the area that might arise through planning applications, in order to preserve the unique visual amenity of the Parish.

·       Planning process used to object to any development that threaten the unique visual amenity of the Parish.

Update

2007

·       Continue to make objections to planning applications deemed to intrude on the visual amenity of the parish.

·       Enhance the environment of parish.

·       Planning process  used to continue to object to any development that threaten the unique visual amenity of the Parish.

·       Planters provided at Notice Boards and 2 seats at suitable sites.

Update

2008

·       Continue to use the planning process to object as appropriate.

·       Ask for ideas about placement of more seats around the Parish

·       Consider wild-flower planting at suitable sites.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Planning process  used to continue to object to any development that threaten the unique visual amenity of the Parish - e.g. Stribers Wind farm response to Scoping Study.

7 (see under 1)

8

Parish Plan 2003

Increased and speeding traffic within the Parish and a limited further application of signposting.

·       Maintain objections to speed and especially the use of lanes by coaches and other heavy traffic not conducting business in the Parish

·       Lobbied for speed limit through Spark Bridge (achieved – will be implemented in 2007)

·       Grizedale Project Traffic Management Plan monitored and representations made. At the Council’s request, a Consultative Group was set up with other parishes and interested parties.

Update

2007

·       Provision of better signposting, e.g. to the Colton Parish Church.

·       Survey carried out and submitted to CCC who agreed to replace, repair or clean signposts as appropriate and when funds allow. Some signposts have now been replaced.

Update

2008

·       Follow up Claife initiative on speeding traffic in villages.

·       Write to tourist attractions lobbying for mini-buses instead of huge coaches.

·       Re-visit Bouth and Spark Bridge speed limit initiatives.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Claife initiative meeting cancelled.

·       Attended meetings at Grizedale and lobbied for mini-buses rather than coaches.

·       Responded to Spark Bridge proposed 30mph speed limits with suggestion for different placement of signs.

9

Parish Plan 2003

Provision of Recycling facilities.

·       Develop the provision of local recycling facilities in collaboration with SLDC

·       The parish plan group organized a questionnaire to find out about level of satisfaction and identify any problems with the recycling scheme. Problems identified were addressed by SLDC.

Update 2007

·       Investigate provision of a clinical waste collection point.

Update 2008

·       Ask SLDC about plastic recycling

·       Promote new collection point at Whitewater

·       Investigate provision of a clinical waste collection point.

Progress by December 2008:

·       County/District Councillors explained that plastics recycling not viable for doorstep collection.

10

Parish Plan 2003

Increased amount of litter particularly adjacent to roads passing through the Parish.

·       Discuss with SLDC and CCC the feasibility of introducing measures that will assist in curbing indiscriminant litter dumping.

·       SLDC contacted and agreed to fulfill obligations to clear road from A590 to Tottlebank cross-roads on a monthly rota.

Update 2007

·       Encourage the public to report “fly tipping” and areas in need of clearing.   0845 050 4434

·       Monitor SLDC promise to clear litter from Tottlebank road.

·       Litter problem from A590 to Tottlebank -  continued monitoring and reporting to SLDC.

Update 2008

·       Check up on monthly 'sweeps' on Tottlebank road.

·       Write to Grizedale and Sellafield and also the Westmorland Gazette to launch a litter campaign.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Litter problem from A590 to Tottlebank -  continued monitoring and reporting to SLDC.

11

Parish Plan 2003

Overhanging hedgerows on local roads and poorly maintained verges.

·       Press for better maintenance of hedgerows, verges and walls (for example by securing a second cut vs. the current annual cut arrangement).

Update 2007

·       Publicise hotline number and encourage local people to  report problems.  Phone Number -  0845 6096609.

·       Hotline number included in newsletters.

·       Lengthsman asked to notify landowners who have overhanging hedges and will maintain some verges.

Update 2008

·       Ask County Council to cut verges when required.

·       Ask Highways Authority to clear blocked drains.

·       Contact contractors when hedge trimmings not cleared.

·       Moor-burning outside season - include information on how to report this in newsletters and on notice boards.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Highways contacted as necessary.

·       New Highway Steward  informed.

·       Hotline number on website.

12

Parish Plan 2003

Better communication, including through electronic means.

·       Act to develop a Web site for better communication, working with others as the option emerges (e.g. Rusland Valley Community Trust) and providing links to other websites in the Parish.

·       Support broadband access.

·       Encourage the greater use of computer skills courses within the Parish, in particular the use of the mobile learning facility.

·       Six new notice boards erected

·       Colton Parish Council website created

Update 2007

·       Continue to update Website regularly and   encourage contributions from parishioners.

·       Continue and improve quarterly Newsletter.

·       Press for improved broadband access in the parish.

·       Website regularly updated and developed

·       Quarterly newsletter continued

·       Letters written to BT and local MP concerning the poor speed and quality of Broadband in the Parish.

Update 2008

·       Continue to develop website

·       Continue to press for improved Broadband access.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Website updated and developed regularly

13

Parish Plan 2003

Encouragement for newcomers and assist them to integrate into the community.

·       Develop proposals that will help to involve newcomers to the parish and offer them ways to integrate with the established community.

·       Collaborate with the Village Halls and Churches Womens Institutes, the Rusland Valley Community Trust, the Horticultural Society, Oxen Park Cinema Club and various other organizations that provide a facility for the community

·       Continuing collaboration with local community groups through membership of Committees, fund-raising activities, etc.

Update 2007

·       To produce  a ‘welcome pack’ for newcomers to the parish to be given on a visit by ward councillor.  To include information about the parish council, local amenities and local activity groups.

·       (Limited time - postponed).

Update 2008

·       To produce  a ‘welcome pack’ for newcomers to the parish to be given on a visit by ward councillor.  To include information about the parish council, local amenities and local activity groups.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Tips for Visitors sheet produced for website and for giving to Holiday Let owners.

14

Parish Plan 2003

Better Public Transport.

·       Support any initiatives for providing and improving public transport within the Parish Including:

-         Rural Wheels

-         Transport for Young Persons

-         Post Bus

-         Other initiatives put forward by the High Furness Transport Group

·       Promotion and information included in newsletters and on notice boards.

Update 2007

·       Promote Community Transport South Lakeland.

·       Advertise in parish newsletter the co-ordinators for Colton Parish area - Mrs M Dryden 01229 861432 and Mrs H Ellwood 01229 885319.

·       Promotion and information included in newsletters and on notice boards.

Update 2008

·       Canvas opinion for the Booths bus to come further up the Rusland Valley.

·       Continue to promote Community Transport

·       Publicise bus services, including the new Grizedale bus X30.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Notices on notice boards. X30 bus service promoted and time-table on notice boards.

15

Parish Plan 2003

Better community understanding of the work of the Parish Council.

·       Consider collaborative action with centres where people congregate with a view to providing better notice boards and places where important documents can be read such as:

-         Local Church display boards

-         Village display points

-         Village Hall display boards

-         Local Public Houses

-         Hay Bridge

·       Notice Boards purchased through Sustainable Development Funding, giving a total of 8 notice boards in the parish.

Update 2007

·   Each notice board to be maintained by the Councillor responsible.

·   Information packs put in Village Halls to be kept updated.

·   Website to include agendas for and minutes of meetings, web address of documents being considered by the council and contact numbers.

·   Quarterly newsletters to be continued to be delivered to every home with news and information.

·       System of maintenance of Notice Boards set up with Councillors.

·       Website updated with documentation, agendas and minutes.

·       Quarterly newsletters initiated - delivered to every home and put on website.

Update 2008

·       Continue to promote better understanding through notice boards, newsletters, website and information packs.

Progress by December 2008:

·       Website, newsletters, notice board information all kept up-to-date. (Information packs to be checked and updated).

16

Parish Plan 2003 and Updates

Poacher Watch Scheme.

·       To encourage the public to be vigilant and to report any unusual or suspicious vehicles or activity.

·       Encouraging reporting of  incidents to Local Community Officer, PC John Baldwin.

17

Parish Plan 2003 and Updates

Quality Parish Status.

·       Achieved November 2006

·       Maintenance of standards

Progress by December 2008

·       New Clerk working towards CiLCA qualification.