Parish Plan

The Parish Plan for the Feock Parish (which includes, Carnon Downs, Devoran, Point, Penpol and Feock) is now complete. This leaflet summarises the key findings and subsequent actions that should be taken to deal with the issues that residents have raised. The Plan has been produced through consultation with the local community, along with the County Council, the District Council, local Councillors, the Police, other partners, and local groups and organisations. To view a full copy of the Plan or for more information please contact Feock Parish Council (details on opposite page).

The Evolution of the Plan

Three public meetings were held throughout the parish from November 2005 to May 2006. These were addressed by the Parish Council and Community Planning Officers from the County and District Council and the Police who have all given a commitment to share in the results. Over 350 residents, which is around 10% of the overall population of the parish area, attended these meetings and gave overwhelming support for the evolution of a Parish Plan. Questionnaires were subsequently delivered to 1655 households in the area based on a whole range of topics including Planning, Housing, Roads and Public Transport and Village Facilities. Returns were made from 770 households representing around 46% of the total households in the parish area, and 1650 residents, an extremely encouraging result.

Over 60 local residents and all 14 local councillors subsequently formed Community Working Groups to work on the evolution of the Parish Plan. These groups held 59 separate meetings between November 2005 and January 2007, undertaking additional research, reviewing expectations, considering realities and identifying priorities for inclusion in the Plan. The proposals in the Plan have evolved from a great deal of research and statistical analysing of residents views. The results have been shared and endorsed at 3 separate Village Plan Exhibitions by over 450 residents, and the results are proposed as a realistic set of aspirations for the future.

The Future

For practical purposes, the Parish Council is expecting the Plan to have a currency of 7 years. The Plan will be used as a tool to guide and assist the completion of a programme of agreed priorities, and draw on financial support as and when appropriate. It is hoped that having a set of realistic objectives will encourage local agencies and authorities to get involved and help the parish realise its aspirations. The success of any project will, however, also depend on the contributions made by residents of the parish. It is important that residents lead the way and get involved with issues highlighted in the Plan. A Steering Group of local people, supported by the Parish Council, is being set up to monitor progress. To get involved please contact Feock Parish Council.

Planning and The Local Environment

Residents from all the settlements within the parish area value the existing character and setting of their local villages. Important issues include the rural situation, outlook, special character and ‘feel’ of the local villages and having a clean, peaceful and safe local environment. The landscapes around the villages, the open spaces and the farmland within them and the quays and creeks were also considered of key importance along with the grass verges, the lanes and hedgerows, trees and the local wildlife. All contribute to the quality of life in the parish area.

It has been highlighted that Devoran Village needs further conservation and efforts need to be made to retain its separate identity. Residents also feel that all of the existing villages in the parish area need to retain their distinctiveness and further protection from indiscriminate development.

Actions to be taken include:

• Stronger planning policies need to be developed to protect the Creeks, the Conservation Area in Devoran, and the local character of villages.
• Local Landscape Assessments and Design Statements need preparation to meet this end and clearly define understandable local land use and development criteria for the parish area in the future.
• A Conservation Management Plan is necessary in Devoran to preserve and enhance the village, amend the existing conservation boundaries, promote awareness of the special nature of the village, and form the basis for any regeneration opportunities.
• The Parish Council and residents need to work together to define the most appropriate uses for the former school site in Devoran.
• The Parish Council needs to further develop its statutory role, particularly to ensure that any future housing development in the area is carried forward only as set out in the housing section of the Parish Plan.
• The Parish Council needs to continue to work closely with the Planning Authority on enforcement and other planning issues.
• Action is also necessary, through various initiatives, to reduce highway signage and light pollution and improve the design of traffic schemes to respect the rural nature of villages, and improve and protect open spaces, verges, farmland, and mature trees which make a significant contribution to the visual aspect of the area.

Traffic, Roads And Public Transport

Residents from all the settlements in the parish area have highlighted local transport problems.

CARNON DOWNS
Residents endure too much commuter traffic through the village and traffic speed needs greater control and enforcement, particularly on the major routes through the village. The village has serious congestion and parking problems around the village shop. Residents are seriously concerned about their safety, particularly when walking or cycling. Public transport has improved over recent years and generally meets local needs. Residents believe that until transport flows though the village are resolved there should be no more housing development. There is also growing concern in the village about the flow of heavy goods vehicles in the area, and particularly their effect on road safety.

DEVORAN
Traffic speeding is a problem through the village and particularly along the Tram Road. Access to the village is currently a problem, but this should be relieved following completion of the ongoing major improvement works to the A39. Residents in Devoran are also seriously concerned about their safety, particularly when walking or cycling along the Tram Road. Public transport facilities to and from the village are poorly provided and used, and need urgent review. Greenbank Road needs improvement to sustain increased use from cyclists, walkers and additional traffic over the next few years. Residents are pleased that traffic flows will be reduced on the main route through the village as a result of the new access road to the School, and they want to use this opportunity to help promote the rural nature of their village.

FEOCK
Residents are concerned about traffic speeding along the relatively narrow roads and lanes in their area. There is also great concern about road safety when cycling or walking on these roads, particularly as the grass verges are not well maintained. Although public transport facilities in the village have improved over the last few years, they are still relatively poorly provided and used, and are in need of review.

Actions to be taken include:

• Traffic that does not need to use local village facilities should, wherever possible, be discouraged from driving through local settlements.
• Heavy Good Vehicles need to be encouraged to use only the major roads in the area and not those running through local settlements,
• Traffic speeding needs to reduce through a combination of lower and clearer speed limits, traffic calming (where appropriate) and improved enforcement of speed limits.
• Road safety initiatives are necessary to raise local awareness for drivers, walkers and cyclists.
• Opportunities to enhance and provide better opportunities for using public transport need to be taken forward.
• Investment is necessary into additional bus stops and shelters as improvements in transport provision is made.
• Opportunities need to be taken, where possible and practical, to reduce traffic congestion and ease parking problems.
• Improved and safer facilities are necessary for walkers and cyclists.
• The effects of urbanisation needs to be reduced throughout the parish area by making changes to traffic control arrangements that encourage drivers to feel they are in a rural environment.

Village Facilities

Residents from all the settlements in the parish area have highlighted a number of issues that would bring benefit to local communities including village enhancements in Devoran (financed from the Mineral Tramways Strategy) and small scale commercial use and local housing development at the former school site. The medical facilities in Carnon Downs and Devoran meet most of the local needs for those villages but local NHS Dentist facilities would be welcomed. The Village Halls in local settlements are well used and meet most of the local social needs, but facilities need to improve to meet the needs of children. A social club and informal meeting place for all ages would be welcomed in each of the local communities. The village shop and Post Office is valued in Carnon Downs but community needs are not met in either Devoran or Feock villages. Playing fields for younger children are well catered for in Carnon Downs, Devoran, and Feock but there are no facilities in Point and Penpol. Facilities for older children are also in need of improvement throughout the parish. The Neighbourhood Watch Schemes are valued locally but need further support and residents feel they need more direct contact with their community police. Residents feel generally that a greater sense of community could develop from improved local communications covering all aspects of village life.

Actions to be taken include:

• Village Enhancements in Devoran - Enhancements (proposed from the Mineral Tramways Strategy or carried out by other means) include investigating the feasibility and potential benefits to local communities of land currently in the ownership of the Environment Agency. Car parking could be appropriately placed on redundant elements of the A39 in due course to provide parking for those using the Mineral Tramways Trails locally. Signage, streetlights, street furniture and a bus stop are also required.
• Re-development of School Site at Devoran - Existing owners, the community, and the local authorities in the area need to work together, with studies being undertaken to ensure community aspirations are not overlooked.
• Local Medical Facilities - Support for the retention and development of medical facilities in the area. Every effort should be made to encourage the provision of NHS dentist facilities locally.
• Village Hall and Meeting Places - Support all local village halls and Methodist Chapels, seeking finance and grants for improving and diversifying existing village hall facilities and buildings. Seek opportunities to encourage greater use of local village halls by younger people and children and investigate the feasibility for enhancing local community facilities through some future use of the existing school site in Devoran.
• Recreational facilities - Improve facilities for older children and provide outside sports facilities. Investigate the potential for provision of playing field facilities for younger children in Point and in the new school in Devoran. Support clubs and societies to help develop their facilities.
• Footpaths & Access - Maintain local footpath networks to their current high standard and improve signage. Local “walk cards” for the major footpaths could also encourage walking in the area. Cycling also needs encouragement, assisting local cycle hire outlets and promoting the existing formal cycle routes.
• Community Safety - Continued liaisons with the Police, supporting local Neighbourhood Watch Schemes and developing community initiatives to help combat crime and the fear of crime.
• Local Business Opportunities - Develop partnerships with local shops and businesses to help facilitate and support their continued existence. Investigate mobile retail facilities and encourage local markets.
• Communication - Develop a community newsletter, and a community based website.
• Recycling - Continue to work with the Local Authority to improve recycling facilities.

Housing

Residents from all the settlements within the parish area want to see that any future housing development in the area will respect the existing character, identity, and distinctiveness of all the settlements and their local landscapes. It is also important that any development causes minimum stress to existing roads and other village infrastructure and is controlled to avoid speculative building and provided only to meet local needs. In addition residents do not want future infill development to diminish the general amenity value of the existing housing stock.

Residents believe there ought to be small scale housing growth in the parish area over the next ten years or so to meet the local needs of young families (in particular those needing affordable homes) and the elderly. Residents also support District Council proposals for housing development and their alignment with future planning strategies for rural areas.

Actions to be taken include:

• Future development should only take place if it can meet the sustainability criteria set out in the Local Planning Development Framework.
• Lobby for more robust planning controls for the area based on the issues set out in the Parish Plan under "Planning and the Local Environment".
• Conduct a local housing needs survey to ensure that the type of future housing built in the area meets local needs.
• Work with the County Council and District Council to determine a clear set of priorities to reduce the impact of additional housing on the existing road networks.
• Parish Council to work closely with the District Council Housing and Planning Departments on the design and planning of defined sites in the parish area to ensure:
  • Easy pedestrian access to village facilities and public transport.
  • The retention of spaces and hedgerows.
  • The retention of the existing landscape character and distinctiveness of the area.
  • Appropriate design.

Feock Parish Council

Feock Parish Council is practical in the manner in which it supports the communities it serves. Council members are well trained, professional and accessible to the community and constantly strive to represent the communities they serve.

The Parish Plan has been adopted as a set of clear policies for the Council for the next seven years and appropriate finance has been provided. The Council will work with existing local authorities, the new Unitary County Authority in due course, the Police, and other agencies, local organisations and residents to help bring the overall aspirations set out in this leaflet to reality.

Thanks

The Parish Council would like to express their thanks to all those who helped in the process of creating the Parish Plan, especially those on the steering groups for their help and commitment. Thanks also to all the residents that have shown an interest in the Plan and attended the village exhibitions and meetings. The Plan would not have been possible without the valuable contributions made.