COLTON PARISH PLAN

Background

The Government's Rural White Paper 'Our countryside, the future' (2000) proposed that all rural communities should develop 'Town, Village and Parish Plans' to identify key facilities and services, to set out the problems that need to be tackled and to demonstrate how distinctive characters and features could be preserved.

Parish plans are produced by and for local communities. A parish plan is an opportunity for a community to work together to collect the representative views, opinions and ideas of all local people. From these, a consensus will need to be reached in areas of conflicting views and an action plan can be developed to lay out a shared vision for the future of the community over the next 5-10 years. There are many areas of interest and importance and it is up to the community to define the issues to be tackled by the parish plan.                                                                                                                            (summary taken from Hart District Council website)

Parish Plans will inform the content of strategic documents such as the South Lakeland Community Strategy and the Cumbria Sub-Regional Strategy. They are seen as valuable resource for identifying issues that not only affect specific parishes but also the District and County as a whole (see SLDC Parish Plan webpage).

 

Colton's Parish Plan

 

Colton developed its Parish Plan in 2003. It was a community effort, coordinated by the Parish Council, and funded by the Countryside Agency and Low Furness and Ulverston Neighbourhood Forum. The objectives were to:

A key part of the work concerned consultation with the community. This consultation included a questionnaire survey sent to all households in the parish to determine the population profile, use of services and facilities, and likes and dislikes about living in Colton Parish. From the results, an action plan was devised to take forward the issues and priorities raised by householders. Parish Plans are reviewed and parishioners consulted every few years to ensure that action plans are adapted to meet current needs.

PARISH PLAN UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2007

 

Introduction

 

Since the original Parish Plan was published in 2003, several changes to the parish council have been made.  Most importantly the parish has gained Quality Parish status, after more than two years of work and preparation. 

 

The certificate was presented at the parish council meeting on 12th February by Winston Collinge, Chairman of  Cumbria Association of Local Councils, seen in the photograph with Chairman Ron Mein and Clerk Judith Dove.

 

 

                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                 

 

There have also been changes in the make-up of the council.   Bobbie Dobson, who was Chairman of the council throughout the preparation of the original Parish Plan,  retired in 2004 and was succeeded by Ron Mein.  Geoff Mather and Bill Jackson have sadly since died.  Jim Johnson, Margaret Dryden, and David Dunford retired and Sylvia Nichols left the area. 

                                                                                                         

Present council

 

                                                                              

 

                                         From Left.  Back Row:  Ian Cunliffe. Colin Barr. Tony Atkinson.  Chris Potts.  Peter Harrington (Vice Chair). John Watson.

                                                                 Front Row:  Penny Lovegrove.  Judith Dove (clerk).  Ron Mein (Chair).  Sally Baxter.

 

Council Members’ Details

 

Name

Address

Tel

Mr Ron Mein

(Chair)

Bouth House Cottage,  Bouth,  Ulverston,  LA12 8JE

01229 861452

Mr Peter Harrington

(Vice chair)

Birch How,  4 Woodland Close,  Ulverston,  LA12 8AR

015395 30376

Mr Tony Atkinson

Ridding Side Farm,  Colton,  Ulverston,  LA12 8HF

01229 861164

Mr Colin Barr                                     

Lilac Cottage,  Oxen Park,  Ulverston,  LA12 8HG

01229 861408

Mrs Sally Baxter

2 The Nook,  Finsthwaite,  Ulverston,  LA12 8BL

 

015395 31150

Mr Ian Cunliffe

Springfield Cottage,  Colton,  Ulverston,  LA12 8HE

 

01229 861440

Mrs Penny Lovegrove

3 The Square,  Bouth,  Ulverston,   LA12 8JB

 

01229 861091

Mr Chris Potts

The Old Vicarage,  Finsthwaite,  Ulverston,  LA12 8BJ

 

015395 31735

Mr John Watson

New Close,  Oxen Park,  Ulverston,  LA12 8HQ

01229 861450

Mrs Judith Dove

(clerk)

Fell View Cottage,  Lowick Bridge,  Ulverston,  LA12 8EA

01229 885647

 

The Consultation Process.

 

With the August Newsletter we sent out consultation forms asking parishioners to report any concerns about issues within the parish.  Although the return was modest, the council did act on suggestions made, and took this modest response as an indication of general satisfaction with what the parish council are doing.  We had several returns expressing support for the actions of the parish council.  Most of the original steering group, made up of councillors and parishioners, agreed to be involved with the update.

 

The following is the original Action Plan with amendments and additions in italics:

 

COLTON PARISH PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATE FEBRUARY 2007

 

Completed Actions, Amendments and New Actions in Bold Italics


 

 

Lobbying issues identified

Proposed Action

Review and New proposals

1

Changing and ageing population of the Parish.

 

 

 

Affordable housing  for youngsters and workers in the parish.

Represent rural related issues of an ageing/retired population. Respond to the rapidly changing with the influx of new residents and an increasing proportion of second/holiday homes.

 

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

Continue to respond to consultations, attend and provide input at meetings with relevant bodies on issues relating to welfare of an ageing population.

 

Monitor and  follow up results of survey.

2

Cost of Council Tax related to the services received.

 

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.

 

Continue to use the hotline to highlight problems.

Continue to lobby SLDC and CCC  on problem issues. 

 

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.

3

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.

 

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

4

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.

Continue to monitor implementation of  Traffic Restriction  Order (TRO) at Strands Pool.  Bethecar Moor and Colton Heights still have problems with off road vehicles trail bikes and mountain bikes.  Monitor and encourage the public to report incidents to Tony Hill 015394 46892.

 

5

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.

 

 

Continue to support local planning applications for small business ventures.

 

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

 

 
6 Protection on the visual amenity of the Parish.

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

Enhance the environment of parish.

 

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

Provide planters around the parish and 2 seats at suitable sites.

 

 

7

Resistance of applications for further holiday lets within the Parish.

 

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

 

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.

 

8

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

 

 

 

 

 

Provision of better signposting to the Colton Parish Church.

 

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

 

Monitor progress on the Grizedale Project Traffic Management plan. At the council’s request a Consultative Group has been set up with other parishes and interested parties.

 

Survey carried out and submitted to CCC who agreed to replace, repair or clean signposts as appropriate and when funds allow.

9

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.

 

Investigate the  provision of clinical waste collection point.

 

 

10

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

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

Monitor SLDC promise to clear roadside on A590 to Tottlebank cross road on monthly rota.

11

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)

 

Publicise hotline number and encourage local people to  report problems. 

Phone Number -  0845 6096609.

 

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

 
12 Better communication through electronic communication.

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.

 

 

6 new notice boards erected.

 

Continue to update Website regularly and   encourage contributions from parishioners.

Continue and improve quarterly Newsletter.

Press for improved broadband access in the parish.

 
13 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 Collaboration 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

 

 

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.

 

 
14 Better Public Transport.

Support any initiatives for providing and improving

public transport within the Parish Including:

 

 

 Promote Community Transport South Lakeland. Advertise in parish newsletter  co-ordinators for Colton Parish area - Mrs M Dryden 01229 861432 and Mrs H Ellwood 01229 885319.
15

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

To provide focal points for communicating awareness

 

·   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.

 
16 Poacher Watch Scheme. To encourage the public to be vigilant and to report any unusual or suspicious vehicles or activity.

Report incidents to  07967 572135

 
17 Quality Parish Status. Achieved November 2006 Maintain standards and investigate any additional requirements and responsibilities that the new status brings.

 

 

 

 

Parish Plan St                              Steering  Group:               Mr Ron Mein                            Mr Bobbie Dodson 

                                                          Mr Colin Barr                           Mr David Dunford 

                                                          Mr David Baxter                       Mrs Judith Dove

                                                                     Mrs Margaret Dryden

 

 

Timetable for                                       Review: 

                        Next Update:  January 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

 

Parish Plan St