Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan
Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan 

July-September 2018 consultation

The current consultation is live betwen July 2nd and September 7th 2018. Please provide feedback using the online questionnaire by following the link below: 

 

Full questionnaire: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MU0KG/

 

Quick questionnaire: http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TAETN/

 

Hard copies of the questionnaires are available from Bridport Library, Bridport Tourist Information Centre, Town Council Offices or from Parish Clerks.

 

 

July-August 2017 consultation

Full details of this consultation and the responses from the community can be found here.

Autumn 2016 survey of the under 25s

Thank you to those under 25s that responded to the survey that was run through October to December. Here is what you have told us:

 

The on-line survey was left open for two months following presentations to Colfox Academy assemblies and the Youth Council. 89 responses were received overall (55% girls, 45% boys). Over 90% of respondents were aged 15 or under. The 8 responses in the 16 + and 18+ age groups were from 6 girls and 2 boys.

What things about the Bridport area do you most value?

  • 66% included “beautiful surroundings” in their responses;

  • 45% mentioned “peaceful and secure”;

  • 34% said “shops and facilities”;

  • 33% mentioned “family connections”.

What do you feel is missing?

There was a significant difference between the views of the older and younger respondents. The need for housing featured strongly in the considerations of the older group:

  • chance of my own place to live – 75%

  • More job opportunities – 50%

  • Enough places to buy the things I need- 50%

  • Better night life – 50%

  • Transport connections at better times

but was ranked much lower by the younger group, who rated shops most highly:

  • Enough places to buy the things I need- 49%

  • More job opportunities – 42%

  • Better night life – 35%

  • Transport connections at better times – 30%

  • Chance of my own place – 18%

What facilities (e.g. venues, open spaces, services) do you use now?

Most young people only rarely or occasionally used Bridport’s leisure facilities, including the Arts Centre, Electric Palace, Youth Centre, Skate Park, Library and cycle paths).  The three facilities most highly ranked where:

  • Shops: used regularly by 70% respondents (but only 25% of older group)

  • Leisure centre: used regularly by 50%

  • Cafs: 42% ( but 63% of older group)

How do you think facilities could they be improved?

A wide range of individual views and suggestions were expressed, which can be summarised as:

  • More high street shops /fewer less charity shops and coffee shops (28% of respondents)

  • More things to do in the evening, including films and young music entertainment

  • More places to have fun. i.e. climbing wall , trampolines and more sporty things, with better visibility and publicity for those opportunities.

What would you like to be able to do in or near Bridport that you can’t do now?

Here is a representative selection of quotes :

“I would love to be able to buy my first home in Bridport to raise a family in the town I’ve grown up in”

“go to the cinema in town”

“go to bigger shops”

“a skills club”

“catch a bus to Dorchester on a Sunday”

“more things to do at night time instead of staying at home”.

“have more jobs for younger people ,for a part-time job, for people who are still in school”

How far do you agree/disagree with the following statements?

 

I’m OK about the range of shops we have in Bridport, as I enjoy going on shopping trips to other towns

 68% AGREED

Many young people leave the area to study or start work, but I would rather be able to stay if opportunities existed locally

 70% AGREED

The Neighbourhood Plan is for older people to sort out, it’s not relevant to young people like me

 73% DISAGREED

For me, the lack of public transport is a real constraint to getting out and about

No consensus,  though older group tended to disagree

I don’t think it matters what we say in the Neighbourhood Plan, the government will do what it wants anyway

 About the same number agreed & disagreed across all age groups

 

Additional individual comments

“Why don't we have more small flats built in Bridport near the town for young people.. all everyone does is objects about new building near the town or just build old people flats”.

“Housing prices need to be affordable a one bed house in Bridport is over £120,000 but if you look in Yeovil and the surrounding area they are around £90,000 which is a big difference.”

“Please don't overcrowd Bridport with too much stuff because then lots of people will come and it won't feel like the beautiful place it is now. Also, I would like there to be recycling bins in the centre of town”.

“a trampoline park and a massive shopping centre”

Summer 2016 Questionnaire

The results of our summer 2016 questionairre can be found here 

Vision and Objectives Consultation Summary

QUESTIONNAIRE SUMMER 2015   Consultation report 

Vision & Objectives Consultation Summary 2015
This is the link to the full document for you to download, or you can read some of the key points below
2015 consultation summary.docx
Microsoft Word document [339.9 KB]

Why we have produced this summary

 

This is a record of the consultation that was carried out during Summer 2015, and how it helped us prepare the Neighbourhood Plan.  It will form part of the evidence base for the plan, detailing how we consulted, the main issues and concerns that people raised, and how these concerns and issues have been considered.

 

The consultation stage                                                                                  

In preparing the neighbourhood plan we had a number of consultation stages.  The Summer 2015 consultation focused on the vision and objectives for the plan, following the Launch event that was held in Autumn 2014.

 

Further consultations will be held as work progresses on the Neighbourhood Plan

 

How we consulted

 

The Summer 2105 consultation ran from 30 May to 1 September 2015.  Steering Group representatives and the Neighbourhood Plan display were at a number of events over the summer. This included:

 

Bradpole Fete 30 May
Walditch Village Hall 6 June
Bridport Food Festival 13 June
Allington Hillbillies Fete 21 June
Charter Fair 4 July
Bothenhampton Church Fete 18 July
Bucky Doo Square 8 August
Melplash Show 27 August
Symondsbury Fete 30 August

 

The questionnaire was available online at the Vision2030 web site with hard copies at the Town Council offices at Mountfield, the Tourist Information Centre, Bridport Library and at the Leisure Centre. 

Who responded

 

Some 343 questionnaire responses were received, primarily from local residents, but also including those that either work or visit the area but did not live locally. 

 

Priorities

 

Respondents were asked to rate a range of features for the area, to help the Steering Group gauge what may need to be focus of future change.

The feedback highlighted that possible priorities should be:

 

  • the provision of affordable housing that the community needs
  • the provision of job opportunities through new or expanded businesses (which would include tourism)
  • improved transport infrastructure

 

It was also clear that there would be considerable support for maintaining what are considered very good community facilities (healthcare, shops, culture and leisure).

Possible focus areas

 

The questionnaire also asked people to consider and suggest possible areas for development (housing, employment etc.) or areas for protection, as well as opportunities and threats. 

The most common response in terms of areas for protection was green spaces (46 responses).  This included

  • Local recreational trails and rights of way
  • Askers Meadow, Watton Hill and other green areas within the A35 on the edge of Bridport
  • Journeys End, Skilling
  • Jelly Fields nature reserve and the green gap between Bridport and Walditch village
  • Green fields between Lake Lane and Bothenhampton village
  • Green spaces in Bradpole such as Gore Cross, Pageants Close play area, the green area on Wellfields Drive and the fields between Happy Island and Jessop Avenue
  • Allington Hill
  • Conegar Hill
  • All existing play areas and parks
  • The community orchard

The need for employment sites were suggested (37 as possible development responses, and 40 as opportunities), with many (19) commenting specifically on the future of St Michael’s Estate for small business units, and tourism (20)

Local cost housing was also a common suggestion (29 responses), with some specific sites mentioned including Vearse Farm, land behind the CAB where the salt etc is deposited, the Mountjoy School site, and the old Magistrates Court

There were a diverse range of ideas, with many linked to making the most of the specific character and heritage of the area, through to more eco/green ideas, and more general ideas such as better shops, parking and employment base.

The main concern (in terms of threats) linked to possible over-development (with a number of comments specifically mentioning Vearse Farm) but this was set against concerns of housing and employment availability.  The loss of young people, due to them leaving the area because of limited opportunities, was also a general theme arising from the comments.  Traffic and parking problems was another common theme, along with losing the character of the town as it grows further.

 

The Vision and Objectives

 

The proposed vision and draft objectives were tested as part of the consultation.  These were:

 

Our vision takes us to 2030 and is ambitious and demanding. The neighbourhood plan will help us as a community to develop the area and its surrounding parishes as a place that people want to live in; where there is economic and educational opportunity and our community is inclusive, dynamic and successful.

 

Our objectives

  • To maintain, protect and enhance the unique nature, heritage, important features, character and assets of the Neighbourhood Plan Area, including the independent nature and vitality of the town centre.
  • To enhance and protect our AONB status, the conservation areas and the Jurassic Coast.
  • Encourage sustainable tourism which uses local services, facilities and locally produced goods creating an accessible and attractive destination for visitors and local people. This will further our AONB status.
  • To protect and develop key services and facilities in sustainable rural areas.
  • To encourage the development of increased facilities including education, health, leisure, cultural and community services where these bring benefits to our community in line with this devolved Plan.
  • To provide housing that the community needs, of high quality, accessible to services and affordable, in appropriate locations.
  • To facilitate the expansion of the local economy to extend opportunity for established local businesses and the creation of new ones, ensuring that our economy is robust with high quality jobs and skills.
  • To have excellent leisure, cultural and sporting opportunities, which are accessible to all.
  • To alleviate the impact of climate change, develop renewable energy and encourage efficient waste management.
  • To facilitate the expansion of the local economy to extend opportunity for established local businesses and the creation of new ones, ensuring that our economy is robust with high quality jobs and skills.
  • To have excellent leisure, cultural and sporting opportunities, which are accessible to all.
  • To alleviate the impact of climate change, develop renewable energy and encourage efficient waste management.

In general most people (over 90%) said that the vision and objectives were good or excellent.  Some people pointed out that some elements were a bit vague and some may conflict (such as increasing visitor numbers impacting on the environment).  Having more local control and say was mentioned in a number of comments.  A number of comments centred around whether the Neighbourhood Plan could deliver against those objectives, giving possible funding and other limitations. 

A number of respondents referred to improved transport such as bus services as a missing element

 

Conclusions and next steps

 

The consultation helped raise awareness of the work being progressed on the Neighbourhood Plan and to check that the vision and objectives were broadly right.

 

The responses highlighted the potential need for a specific objective relating to sustainable transport.  Although the Neighbourhood Plan cannot deal with all transport matters as many do not require planning permission, it can help deliver projects that may be routed through development sites, or potentially funded from the community infrastructure levy on new development. 

 

There have been some minor changes to more closely align the objective with the themes being used to guide the work on the plan (such as moving the town centre ‘objective’ to sit within the economic-based objectives), and reduce those elements that cannot readily be delivered through the Neighbourhood Plan. 

In general most people (over 90%) said that the vision and objectives were good or excellent.  Some people pointed out that some elements were a bit vague and some may conflict (such as increasing visitor numbers impacting on the environment).  Having more local control and say was mentioned in a number of comments.  A number of comments centred around whether the Neighbourhood Plan could deliver against those objectives, giving possible funding and other limitations. 

 

A number of respondents referred to improved transport such as bus services as a missing element

 

Conclusions and next steps

 

The consultation helped raise awareness of the work being progressed on the Neighbourhood Plan and to check that the vision and objectives were broadly right.

 

The responses highlighted the potential need for a specific objective relating to sustainable transport.  Although the Neighbourhood Plan cannot deal with all transport matters as many do not require planning permission, it can help deliver projects that may be routed through development sites, or potentially funded from the community infrastructure levy on new development. 

 

There have been some minor changes to more closely align the objective with the themes being used to guide the work on the plan (such as moving the town centre ‘objective’ to sit within the economic-based objectives), and reduce those elements that cannot readily be delivered through the Neighbourhood Plan. 

Theme

Objectives

Revised / new objective

 

ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE

To enhance and protect our AONB status, the conservation areas and the Jurassic Coast.

No change proposed.

 

To maintain, protect and enhance the unique nature, heritage, important features, character and assets of the Neighbourhood Plan Area, including the independent nature and vitality of the town centre.

To maintain, protect and enhance the unique nature, heritage, important features, character and environmental assets of the Neighbourhood Plan Area.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE

To alleviate the impact of climate change, develop renewable energy and encourage efficient waste management.

No change proposed

 

HOUSING

To provide housing that the community needs, of high quality, accessible to services and affordable, in appropriate locations.

No change proposed

 
 

LOCAL ECONOMY EMPLOYMENT AND RETAIL AND TOURISM

To facilitate the expansion of the local economy to extend opportunity for established local businesses and the creation of new ones, ensuring that our economy is robust with high quality jobs and skills.

To facilitate the expansion of the local economy, extending opportunities for established local and for new businesses, ensuring that our economy is robust with high quality jobs and skills.

 

 

To maintain, protect and enhance the independent nature and vitality of our town centre.

 

Encourage sustainable tourism which uses local services, facilities and locally produced goods creating an accessible and attractive destination for visitors and local people. This will further our AONB status.

To encourage sustainable tourism which uses local services, facilities and locally produced goods, creating an accessible and attractive destination for visitors and local people.

 

COMMUNITY FACILITIES SERVICES, EDUCATION AND CULTURAL FACILITIES

To encourage the development of increased facilities including education, health, leisure, cultural and community services where these bring benefits to our community in line with this devolved Plan.

To protect our excellent community facilities including education, health, cultural, sport and leisure facilities.  To increase their range and availability where these bring benefits to our community.  To make sure that these facilities are accessible to all, including those living in the more rural parts of the plan area. 

 

To have excellent leisure, cultural and sporting opportunities, which are accessible to all.

 

To protect and develop key services and facilities in sustainable rural areas.

 

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

No draft objective

To improve access for local residents and visitors around the town, particularly to local services, and reduce reliance on the car

 

DEVELOPMENT SITES

No draft objective

To ensure that sites that are needed for development are selected to best meet the range of local needs identified in the Plan, and designed in keeping with the local character of that area.

 

Address:

c/o Bridport Town Council

Mountfield

Rax Lane

Bridport

DT6 3JP

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