Blewbury Parish Plan Project
Archive Page
The Parish Plan was completed in 2004. This page has not been updated since then.For current information on Blewbury go to the main Blewbury site.
Blewbury Parish Plan ProjectArchive PageThe Parish Plan was completed in 2004. This page has not been updated since then.For current information on Blewbury go to the main Blewbury site. |
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Poster Presentation October 2003 |
Following the survey of the live issues in Blewbury between February and May this year, five working parties have been discussing the policies that should be in a 10 year plan for the Parish.
A presentation on the 3rd October, 2003 showed in outline what the working parties have suggested. The proposals are ideas of what might be chosen to be included in the long term plan for Blewbury. The proposals had not been reviewed outside the individual working parties, and they had not been discussed by the Parish Council. Over 100 people attended the presentation in the form of a poster display, and 29 comment forms were returned. This paper includes the text of the posters at this presentation, with the feedback received from those who filled up comment forms.
The proposals for the Plan do not address all the concerns raised in the survey of live issues for three main reasons:
The poster display did not attempt to cover all the arguments for each proposed policy.
L1 Policy - The management of the Recreation Ground should be reconsidered with a view to setting up a management structure devolving more responsibility for developments on the Recreation Ground and its management on the users of the Recreation Ground, and particularly the active sports clubs.
Votes 6 ticks 1 query 3 crosses
Ideas for additional facilities which have been raised include:
L2 Policy - Additional provision for sport is to be welcomed provided there is a suitable group or club who will sponsor and oversee the provision. The community should not develop such provisions speculatively without such sponsorship.
Votes 11 ticks no crosses1. Provided it has support and is maintainable.
L3 Policy - Any new provision for active outdoor sport should be sited on the Recreation Ground. This allows best use of the common facilities on the site such as the pavilion.
Votes 10 ticks no crosses
L4 Policy - A larger pavilion with more facilities is required. Redevelopment on the current site is appropriate.
Votes 9 ticks no crosses
1. Cost?
L5 Policy - The Pavilion should be managed in a way which allows proper maintenance and use of its facilities.
Votes 13 ticks no crosses
The Scout Hut is a good sized building leased by the Scouting Association. It is used occasionally by the venture scouts from Hagbourne. There is no longer a scout group in Blewbury.
L6 Policy - The Parish Council should seek to regain responsibility for the Scout Hut so that this valuable asset can be used more effectively. Ideally it should be managed with the rest of the Recreation Ground.
Votes 11 ticks no crosses
L7 Policy - Consideration should be given to selling the old tennis court opposite the Barley Mow and using the money to improve other facilities in the village, provided the donors who kindly provided this tennis court for the Village are happy with the proposal.
Votes 12 ticks no crosses
The Village Hall meeting rooms are heavily booked for weekday evenings, in many cases on a regular weekly basis. There is pressure for more rooms to book. The current supply makes it difficult to arrange occasional activities. At present noisy activities in one part of the hall affect the other part. Some users, notably the Bridge Club, find the Vale Room is too small for their purposes and would benefit from a larger venue. The school would like to make more use of the hall, for example for music. The Methodist Church would like to enhance its role as an alternative venue; however additional facilities at the Village Hall site have the advantages of parking and shared use with other facilities.
L8 Policy - The Parish supports efforts to upgrade the facilities at the Methodist Church, but recognises the problems of parking and vehicular access for the disabled.
Votes 8 ticks 2 crosses
1. No Parking impossible
2. Parking is impossible at the Methodist Chapel and Space should not be made.
L9 Policy - The Parish should enhance the Village Hall, providing a third attractive meeting and activity room in the Village Hall Complex. This should be able to be let independently and be larger than the Vale Room. It should be linked to the other meeting rooms so that functions may use all three when appropriate, but should not be affected by noise in the main hall. It should be able to be shared with the school. It will require additional storage, catering and toilet facilities. A joint development with the School for shared use should be sought.
Votes 12 ticks 2 crosses
1. Strongly agree
2. Disagree – Increasing the size of the hall can only decrease the
available parking and increase traffic using Westbrook Street and Berry Lane!!!
3. The extra traffic this would generate would not be tolerated on Westbrook
Street. Noisy night and ?? – Blewbury is already full.
4. and the exterior which is so ugly! Also is it not high time the two containers
were removed?
5. Reservations on cost
Parking for large events with participants from outside the Village can be a problem.
L10 Policy - Private events should make arrangements for off-street parking for their guests.
Votes 11 ticks no crosses
1. Where?
L11 Policy - Public events should make use of existing parking facilities at the Village Hall and/or Ticker's Folly Field - these may need sign posting.
Votes 7 ticks 1 cross
1. Will not work (i.e. Tickers Folly)
More should be done to work with the surrounding villages to provide activities which may not be viable in a single village. Examples might be ‘Evening classes’ on topics of interest to residents in all co-operating villages.
L12 Policy - The Parish should actively seek greater co-operation with its neighbours, including the use of each other's facilities and shared initiatives
Votes 8 ticks no crosses
Most traffic and most serious accidents occur on the two main roads – the A417 and the B4016. These issues are being addressed by the Didcot Area Integrated Transport Strategy project team, which is working with the Parish in producing its recommendations. Thus the Parish Plan does not cover these roads.
The minor roads within the Village are narrow, have sharp bends and were never designed for motor vehicles. Some, such as Church Road, end without provision for turning. A number of the older houses do not have spaces for cars or garages. Even in those that do the occupiers may have more cars than spaces available. Thus in common with many similar villages sections of the internal roads are often obstructed by parked vehicles. This is not only an inconvenience to other road users, but is a serious safety hazard to pedestrians where no footpath exists.
Some drivers have parked in ways that block buses, farm vehicles and emergency vehicles. Others try to avoid this by parking across footpaths blocking users with invalid carriages, pushchairs and the "walking bus" to school. As a result, in feedback from the community requests were made for restrictions on parking on the internal roads and for more off-street parking facilities.
We have concluded that additional public car parks would not reduce significantly the problem of residential parking on the streets. Residents seem reluctant to use remote public car parks for security reasons. More secure private off-street parking facilities for residents should be encouraged.
However, additional well signed public off-street car parking facilities are required for visitors.
T1 Policy - Landholders who can supply safe off-road parking for vehicles should be encouraged to offer this as a service.
Votes 13 ticks no crosses
T2 Policy - A continuing effort should be made to persuade drivers not to park on footpaths and not to park where they are blocking access and causing a visual obstruction to other road users, including pedestrians. Except for loading/unloading vehicles should not park on the internal Village roads without footpaths.
Votes 12 ticks 2 crosses
1. Against - Where?
2. Against - The problem is ridiculously overstated and the policy is unworkable
if not illegal.
Although the nature of the roads means that drivers on the internal roads rarely exceed 30 mph, many drivers have been observed to drive too fast for the prevailing road conditions. For example parents are nervous about allowing their children to walk to and from the school.
T3 Policy - The speed limit on the internal roads should be 20 mph.
Votes 14 ticks no crosses
1. And on the main A417
2. Definitely 20 mph on internal roads.
3. Impossible to police
4. MWT
5. Noone drives at 20 mph anywhere. There is as danger that this will make
all traffic measures look OTT.
6. Am in favour of this – everywhere in the village.
The following internal roads have identified as in need of additional safety improvement.
T4 Policy - Prior's Corner is a blind corner with a junction leading to the Village Hall, the School and Manor Farm. It is dangerous for pedestrians and cars, and awkward for farm machinery and HGV's. It also suffers from severe flooding in wet weather. A comprehensive solution is required - this may involve the widening of the junction of Heather Way with Church End, together with a traffic priority system for the corner and a footpath on the northern side of Church End between the chestnut trees and the houses. The Westbrook should be channelled along its original course on the western side of Manor Farm to eliminate flooding.
Votes 10 ticks 1 cross
1. A mirror would help
2. A metallic mirror is badly needed.
3. Pryors corner needs a metallic mirror as well as the suggested improvements.
4. No traffic lights
5. Agree with flood measures – not convinced that the traffic problem
is as bad as stated.
Note by co-ordinator: The working party were told by the transport advisors that a mirror in this location was not a good idea as it could not cover the whole area and would give a false sense of security.
T5 Policy - Berry Lane is very narrow at the point it crosses the Mill Brook. Any pedestrian can be vulnerable if vehicles arrive from both directions at the same time. A solution which allows the pedestrians to walk the road without danger from motor vehicles is required - this may involve a traffic priority system incorporating a marked pedestrian lane.
Votes 10 ticks 5 crosses
1. Especially support T5
2. See objection to larger hall numbered 2. (encouraging additional traffic?)
3. No urban white lines on Village Roads please.
4. Support only if in keeping with rural character of village.
5. Suggestion for pedestrian marked lane would be ugly – the markings
would be permanent – the pedestrians temporary. Where would the lane
end?
6. Please no “urban” road markings with lots of signs and paint
on the road. The pedestrians could go on a walkway over the stream at the
narrowest point.
T6 Policy - The maintenance of the internal roads should be improved. In particular Church End leading to the Church and parts of Church Road are dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, especially at night.
Votes 9 ticks 1 cross
1. as is Chapel Lane
1. (Against T4,T5,T6) Traffic Calming, reduced speeds and use of mirrors
should suffice – making the roads wider will encourage faster speeds!
2. The village should accept that with a medieval; layout a 21st century
solution to parking will not be possible. You can’t get a quart into
a pint pot!
3. The policy proposals for parking make no constructive solutions. There
are more cars in the village than there are or could physically be spaces
for. Are the people of Blewbury to change to helicopters which we keep hovered
above our homes? Positive solutions not whinging please.
4. No mention of encouraging public transport.
T7 Policy - The Parish supports the proposed cycle paths to Upton and the Astons. The styles on the Hagbourne path should be altered to make them suitable for cyclists.
Votes 11 ticks 1 cross
T8 Policy - The footpath beside the A417 from Westbrook Street to Nottingham Fee is unsatisfactory, and is flooded for much of the winter. A long term solution is required not only to eliminate flooding, but also to give adequate width and stability for push chairs and invalid carriages.
Votes 14 ticks 2 crosses
1. Stop the spring!?
T9 Policy - The internal paths should be adapted to encourage their use by young cyclists and invalid carriages. This requires removal of barriers except those required to discourage cyclists from emerging directly onto roads. A barrier should be retained on the Besselsleigh Road end of the footpath from London Road to discourage the use of this path by motor cycles and horses. For the same reason the end barriers on the path between Rubble Pit Lane and Cow Lane should be retained.
Votes 11 ticks 1 query 2 crosses
1. How wide do you think a footpath that is suitable for use as a cycleway
and footpath would need to be?
2. Internal paths should not be adapted for young cyclists – only for
invalid carriages.
3. All cyclists should have bells fitted and use them. I have personally been
driven into by a cyclist.
4. Will need to be kept under review – not sure about emphasis on cyclists
T10 Policy - The width and surface treatment of internal footpaths (including those across the Playclose) should be maintained so that they are convenient for invalid carriages and push chairs.
Votes 9 ticks 2 crosses
1. Surfacing is of course necessary, but the present use of gravel chips
is unsatisfactory and sometimes dangerous.
2. Well maintained gravel is actually bad for push chairs.
3. (Against T7,T8,T9,T10) Change to the character of the footpaths should
be avoided otherwise their rural charm will be lost and we will be in danger
of creating a high speed cycleway at the expense of pedestrians!
T11 Policy - A right of way linking the driveway to the water pumping station to the path across Downside Farm to Woodway should be sought from the landowners.
Votes 10 ticks no crosses
1. Please may there be an official pathway/steps to give access to and from Rubble Pit Lane and Tickers Folly Field.
CF1 Policy - Every effort should be made to retain the provision of a surgery in Blewbury.
Votes 15 ticks no crosses
CF2 Policy - Every effort should be made to retain the provision of local shops in Blewbury. If this requires redevelopments or changes in use – such changes should be considered favourably.
Votes 12 ticks no crosses
1. We used to have a shop
2. What about a community shop? Instead of whinging about the lack of a
shop who amongst us would like the work involved in running one.
CF3 Policy - Agreement should be obtained with Thames Water to overcome the problems with water supply to the fringes of the Village.
Votes 12 ticks no crosses
Although Blewbury is in a relatively low crime rate area, there are significant concerns about the level of crime and the ability of the Police to combat it. It is not clear that there many additional local initiatives that would help. However the Parish would welcome more local Policing, for example the use of the empty police house in the Village.
CF4 Policy - The Parish will press the Police Authority to use the Police House in Blewbury.
Votes 15 ticks no crosses
1. No it’s been empty for 2 years at least!
CF5 Policy - The Parish will encourage the fitting of spy-holes on the doors of houses occupied by retired people.
Votes 13 ticks no crosses
1. CF1-5 All these would help to reduce crime.
The issue of litter raised the highest number of complaints in the surveys.
CF6. Policy - The Parish will set up a scheme in which people are asked to look after specific areas of the village.
Votes 10 ticks 1 query no crosses
CF7 Policy - The Parish will recommend the placing of a few more litter bins to increase the coverage round the village, and will ensure that these are emptied regularly.
Votes 10 ticks no crosses
‘Wheelie bins’ have been suggested as an alternative to the current collection methods. However this does not appear to be practical in many parts of Blewbury.
1. Should be mindful of cost not only of installing but also of emptying
the bins.
2. Wheelie bins in front or near every house would look terrible.
Dog Fouling is also a subject raised frequently in the survey. Dogs fouling public areas is the fault of their owners. It is particularly objectionable in the Recreation Ground and the Playclose, where it makes recreational activities unpleasant and unsafe.
CF8 Policy - There should be an order prohibiting dogs being let off their leads at either Tickler’s Folly Field or the Playclose.
Votes 12 ticks 3 crosses
1. Also Church Yard
2. Dog Bins – I have only found one.
The use of poles and trees for posters is untidy, and the use of trees may harm the trees. Out of date posters are particularly disliked. One solution proposed is to supply a few official notice boards; however such boards would not be seen by many residents.
CF9. Policy - Posters on poles are acceptable for advertising an event taking place within a few weeks, or to advertise missing pets. Those placing posters should be encouraged to remove them when the event is past or the pet is found. Residents should also be encouraged to remove out of date posters.
Votes 11 ticks no crosses
CF10 Policy - Placing posters on trees is to be discouraged.
Votes 11 ticks 1 query no crosses
1. and on my cob wall!
2. Trees damaged by drawing pins? Come off it!
CF11 Policy - No new notice boards are recommended.
Votes 10 ticks 2 crosses
1. If you are not encouraged to use poles or trees, are the notices supposed to self levitate?
Note by Co-coordinator: The working party accepted posters on poles (see policy 9.
The Parish Plan will have a separate section covering the features of the village, with suitable maps and photographs. This is not yet ready for presentation. Policies included in this section may include the following.
U1 Policy - There should be no major changes in land use in the Parish in the period of this village plan.
Votes 14 ticks no crosses
U2 Policy -There must be no developments on the green spaces within the village conservation area shown as open land and uncultivated marshland on the Environmental Map.
Votes 15 ticks no crosses
U3 Policy - The Village Envelope as shown in the Landscape Map must be retained. Thus there should be no further development east of Bessels Way; on Woodway Road; south of Pilgrims Way. The green corridors seen from the main road (A417and B4016) approaches to the village should be preserved.
Votes 15 ticks no crosses
1. No more development on the North Side of Pilgrims Way.
U4 Policy - Where circumstances allow, developments
of small, mainly affordable housing would be encouraged. The building of any
new larger dwellings would be resisted. This is in line with the policies
in the Vale of White Horse District Plan.
[Note: Affordable housing is taken to be that which caters for people who
are unable to buy or rent a home, suitable for their needs, on the open market.]
Votes 9 ticks 2 crosses
1. U1/U4 How will you resolve this dichotomy?
2. Thin end of a wedge
3. No flats
4. Multiple occupancy is a danger with this – traffic/noise –
so be careful.
5. Any Planning proposals should be taken on their merits and larger dwellings
should be permitted as long as they are of sound design and embrace the vernacular
architectural features.
U5 Policy - Provision of sufficient parking spaces is required on any new development.
Votes 12 ticks no crosses
1. Very important to stop further street parking and congestion.
H1 Policy - In alteration or extension, particularly of the older village properties, the use of traditional materials (brick, thatch and plain clay tile) to match or complement the existing is essential. The use of reclaimed or second hand materials should be encouraged. The scale of any extension should be subordinate to the existing building. The relationship with adjacent properties, and the form and massing, materials, scale, proportions and details of the existing building and proposed works should be carefully considered. Detail of roof edges, window and door jambs and sills and the style, proportion of fenestration is of utmost importance.
Property owners should take account of the Vale of White Horse District Council published guidelines for design whenever alterations, extensions are contemplated.
Votes 12 ticks no crosses
H2 Policy - In the design of any new development relationships with other buildings, form and massing, materials, scale, proportion and detail are also of great importance. Consideration should be given to the relationship of buildings and other features to the street, and to the desirability of providing enclosure and interest.
Votes 11 ticks no crosses
1. This has not happened to date, why start now?
H3 Policy - Building and property owners are encouraged in all instances to seek qualified advice from the district council or an appropriate professional and to strive for the highest architectural standards.
Votes 10 ticks no crosses
The following issues which will be raised with the appropriate bodies outside the Parish Plan.
The Bulletin is good at publishing future events but information on the past is noticeably lacking. The Initiatives Working Party recommended that Clubs and Societies are encouraged to write articles in the Bulletin recording their activities, both past and future.
Concern was expressed about the lack of current Blewbury players in the Blewbury football team. This does not apparently mean a lack of interest from Blewbury players. There is a lot of competition from other clubs in the area who regularly pinch our better players.
Many issues have been raised about the Village Hall. Some can be addressed if funds can be found. Others would require an impractical rebuild of the structure.
Do we want to suggest the 134 service avoids South Street now that larger buses are being used? The suggested route would be via London Road and Bessels Way with stops by the Barley Mow, East fields and Bessels Leigh Road. The requirement for a service to and from Didcot Hospital / Woodlands Surgery is being considered in the forthcoming Area Transport Review.
1. Integrated bus timetable needed e.g. getting to Wantage/Wallingford or
Henley.
2. Also bus connections to Woodlands surgery.
3. There is no need to reroute the A134 service. It is meant to serve the
village – e.g. Dibleys would not be served. As a bus user the bus seems
to negotiate the roads OK – perhaps could slow down a bit therefore
20 mph
4. The 134 bus should continue to use South Street for the Dibleys Folk.
5. Is there any way of getting far smaller buses for school use? Huge buses/coaches
and Westbrook St do not go well together.
6. Buses – yes change the route.
7. 134 bus is too large for South Street.
The lack of volunteers to help community projects was felt to be an important topic and one, if cracked, would help many aspects of life in the village.
It was felt that this was a growing problem with the youth of the village. The recreation ground is a particular problem. What thought is being given to education on this topic?
“We need to find out what the young adults in the village would like to do that is not already catered for. We also need to investigate what is available in Didcot and Wantage and also investigate transport.”
There is a problem with refuse collection in some parts of Dibleys and Grahame Close; the latter being primarily due to the amount of car parking.
1. Refuse Collection – Encourage use of smaller vehicles
2. Please remove old rusting vehicles from Besselsleigh roadside and pavement
– what an eyesore.
1. Well done – but please can we still keep a village feel/aspect.
2. Many thanks for an excellent and thoughtful display.
3. Beware of any policy that makes Blewbury less like a village and more like
suburbia.
1. Opposed to any speed humps in Oxfordshire Plan – slows up ambulances
and fire engines, causes vibration including damage to buildings and noise.
2. A speed camera is required on the A417 to slow traffic travelling east
to west approaching the narrow part between the war memorial and the Blewbury
Inn.
3. If roundabouts are introduced they should be reasonably large. Mini-roundabouts
are not effective in my opinion.