Preliminary Report Pytchley Neighbourhood Plan This document has been prepared following a consultation with residents of Pytchley Village on 14 th May 2016. It should be read in conjunction with the Parish Plan 2003 and its update in 2012 References to the Parish Plan are shown with their paragraph numbers in [square brackets]. To access the Parish Plan and its update go to http://www.kettering.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/1211/ planning_policy_committee. The report is named (Item 7), and the electronic copies of both the original Parish Plan from 2003 and the revised 2012, are listed as (7 Appendix 1 and 7 Appendix 2) respectively. Alternatively it can be viewed via a link on the Pytchley Village Web site pytchley-village.co.uk 1.0.Area covered Pytchley Parish Council as a qualifying Body registered the full extent of the administrative parish of Pytchley as the neighbourhood area for the purposes of developing a Neighbourhood Plan. This registration went out for consultation and was officially designated on 7 th December 2015. For the area in question see Appendix 1. 2.0. Legislation The development of a Neighbourhood Plan by local communities became possible with the introduction of The Localism Act 2011, which gives new rights and powers to communities and individuals. It specifically allows local communities to develop and adopt Neighbourhood Plans, which may be legally binding on local councils. This Pytchley Neighbourhood Plan has been produced to comply with and support the Strategic Plans of Kettering Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council, National Government and European legislation in-as-much-as they relate to the village of Pytchley. It has also been produced with due regard to the Parish Plan of 2003 and its update in 2012. 3.0. Purpose Of The Plan The aims of this plan are to set out the community s views on how the village can meet the challenges of the future, which changes should, or should not, take place in the village and suggest priorities and proposals in relation to them. The plan is based on the opinions of the local people and will become a powerful tool in influencing Northamptonshire County Council and Kettering Borough Council whenever they make decisions regarding the parish of Pytchley. It will also help the Parish Council to decide the priorities for the village and will act as guidance when making decisions on behalf of the village. 4.0. Process In order to develop this Neighbourhood Plan a working party of parish councillors and volunteers from the village was created. This working Party had the brief to develop the plan referring back to the parish council to keep them informed of progress. Throughout the process the parish council retained overall control
Members Cllr Alan Lodge Plan co-ordinator Julie Jelley Cllr Pat Hobson Cllr Richard Elias Steve Booker The parish council had already conducted a parish plan updating it in 2012. This Parish Plan had been developed after significant consultation with the village and it could be theorised that much of it was still relevant. However to test village opinion a presentation/consultation day was set for May 14 th 2016. At this presentation the original Parish Plan and its update were available to view plus display boards setting out aspects of the village. These included photographs and captions designed to encourage comment. Post-it notes were available for visitors to put comments up and comment sheets (Appendix 2) were available for visitors to make comment on the displays or any other aspect of the village they wished For details of the displays see Appendix 3.1. & 3.2. (reduced from A3 sizes) This Neighbourhood Plan builds on the Parish Plan adjusting where village opinion suggests that amendments are justified and updating in areas where further information has become available. The original 2003 Parish Plan and its revision 2012 from the consultation and general parish councils view based on feedback from the village appear still very relevant and valid. We have therefore taken the decision not to repeat information already published in the Parish Plan where it still applies. Where there is variance or further information/opinions have emanated then these have been documented 5.0. Parish Plan General observations From the consultation day (and supported by informal feedback and parish council views) it can be concluded that the 2003 Parish Plan and its update in 2012 are still relevant and valid and the conclusions/actions therein should be annexed to this Neighbourhood Plan. Clearly there was much support (and some frustration) that Pytchley still needs and has not yet got a safe cycle/pedestrian route to Kettering. Similarly the playground equipment does not meet the needs of the children in the village. [ 4.5 & 7.4.] Traffic issues still continues to be an area of real concern both regards parking and through traffic and its speed. [4.4. & 4.3.] There should be no development between Kettering and the built limit of Pytchley so as to prevent coalescing. [3.1.]. Some disappointment was expressed regarding the commercial development at the A14 J9 as this erodes the space between Pytchley and Kettering. No further development or expansion over that which has been scheduled must be allowed to take place. 6.0. Housing Parish Plan Section [2] There was agreement with the small scale development proposed by KBC (involving the development for housing in Isham Road). (Appendix 4). Similarly it was agreed that that there should be no large developments and the village envelope should be considered sacrosanct. This concurs with the Parish Plan section on Housing [ 2.3] and Development [3] where there was a reluctance to see large scale building but recognising the need for some affordable housing There was a distinct view that new properties should ideally be built in stone and in keeping with adjacent properties.
There was strong feeling that there in a need for starter houses rather than large properties. Concern was expressed regarding proposed development in the orchard at Dairy Farm in Orlingbury Road. Any development in this area or in the remaining green spaces within the village should be resisted. 7.0. Cars/Traffic [Parish Plan reference 4.3 & 4.4] There is real concern regarding the speed of through traffic using the village as a rat run Similarly there are parking issues around the village some areas having limited space and also there are many examples of poor and dangerous parking especially around the school. 7.0.1. Parking There were many requests for the grassed verges in certain areas to be replaced with hard surfacing to provide off road parking. Parking takes place informally on the grass with the result that the grass cannot be cut and it is invariable rutted and muddy. This is particularly relevant in Church Road. Whilst it would be preferred to retain the grass verges it has to be accepted that residents need somewhere convenient to park. The best compromise would be to replace the grassed verges with Grasscrete. The other areas where parking is an issue is in Lower End, where the only solution would be to cut back into the high bank providing parking bays, and the High Street where because of the narrowness of the road through traffic is hampered with the result that parked cars are frequently damaged. The problem in the High Street is compounded during term time with additional parked vehicles. There were many examples cited of both illegal and dangerous parking particularly at junctions with concern that there is no police presence to enforce regulations. The school is particularly bad especially at pick-up and drop-off times and children have been put in danger by thoughtless motorists. 7.0.2 Traffic As with the Parish Plan there was much concern regarding the speed and volume of through traffic and whilst it is accepted that motorists have an unquestionable right to use the roadways in the village there should be some recognition that it involves rural roads many narrow without pavements and that speed limits prevail. Where motorists wish to save time on their journeys then the main roads are more appropriate, speeding through the village is not acceptable. There was a clear demand for both traffic calming and enforcement by the police. These issues again are directly in line with the Parish Plan 8.0. Commercial Development There are areas adjacent to the A14 J9 (planned for commercial development including a site off Isham Road. Concern was expressed regarding traffic issues with the likelihood that vehicles will use Pytchley as a short-cut through to the A43 and may use it to circumvent any bottlenecks likely to occur on the A509 through Isham. There were a number of suggestions that this development should not take place until completion of the Isham By-pass. This will avoid further traffic issues in Isham and perhaps reduce the incidence of traffic using Pytchley to avoid Isham.. There were also requests that restrictions be put in place to minimise traffic accessing the development from Isham Road.. The development proposed in Isham Road is in conflict with the views expressed in the Parish Plan [3.2] but nevertheless has been imposed by a higher authority. It is important that the nature
of this development is sympathetic to the views and wishes of the village and some gain to the village should be extracted. It should not be taken as a precedent for further development in or around that area. Disappointment was also expressed that much of this development adjacent to the A14 J9 Symmetry Park) was likely to involve warehousing offering very few skilled jobs. A preference for manufacturing, hi tech and other skilled employment was clearly expressed. Concern was also expressed regarding both light and noise pollution and measures must be put in place to avoid these problems either by prevention or subsequent amelioration. Dix Chicken Farm to the South of Pytchley was cited as an example of both light and odour nuisance. It was specifically commented that there should be no waste recycling/processing facilities within Pytchley or ideally within close proximity to the parish boundary. Consistent with the Parish Plan there was strong feeling that there should be no further commercial development within the parish.[3.2]. 9.0. Gypsy/Traveller accommodation This did not feature in the Parish Plan and there is therefore no history. However from the consultation it was clear that there was strong opposition to the siting of a Gypsy/Traveller site within the parish of Pytchley on the grounds that there are no suitable sites that would meet either traveller or Pytchley needs. There was strong feeling that the one site previously suggested at Highcroft Farm on the edge of the village was totally unsuitable and also unviable from an ecological standpoint. 10.0. Renewable Energy As to be expected this received mixed opinions as it did in the update to the Parish Plan. Clearly there was feeling that there should be no wind farms or solar farms. Solar panels received mixed comments although there was suggestion that all new commercial building should be equipped with solar panels. There was one suggestion that the Isham Road part of the planned commercial development should be used for solar or wind energy rather than commercial buildings... 11.0.Miscellaneous From the general comments there were several themes 1. Litter [8.7.1.] One resident cited litter as a problem and another suggested that the food takeaway businesses should be responsible for clearing up the discarded food/drink containers which litter the village. 2. Dog mess [8.7.2.] There still appears one or two dog walkers who do not clear up after their dogs have fouled the pavements 11.3.. Playground Equipment [7.4.3.] There were several remarks about the inadequate playground equipment. One suggested that the slide/climbing frame could never meet children s needs as the climbing frame is too small for older children as is the attached slide, and for younger
children for whom the slide might be appropriate the climbing frame is too difficult for them to access the slide. 11.4. Facilities [7.1.] The absence of a shop was lamented with the suggestion that the Pub could meet this need. With a large superstore in the form of Tesco just over a mile away from the village it is unlikely that any shop would survive apart from small niche shops..local shops, as was the case of the butchers shop (now no longer trading) only survive by attracting customers from outside the village and would similarly attract more traffic rather than meet the main needs of the village. With facilities so close in Kettering the main centre being only approx. 3 miles from the village the village will never be sustainable in its own right and any suggestion that increasing housing might help is almost certainly flawed. 12.0. Next Step Whilst this first report is based on the findings of the consultation and the views of the parish council it has to be tested via a referendum within the village before final adoption as a Neighbourhood Plan. However before that it should be made available to the village for general comment plus the wider community and based on feedback the formal draft plan can be prepared. Copies are therefore to be sent to adjacent parishes, village organisations KBC, NCC and other interested parties for comment. Once these comments have been received and processed a draft Neigbourhood Plan will be offered up the Parish Council for approval.prior to submission to KBC for final approval and referendum.. Note All maps Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO Crown Copyright and Kettering Borough Council for the sole purpose of producing a Neighbourhood Plan. The support of Kettering Borough Council is noted in both the preparation of this first Report and the whole process of developing a Neighbourhood Plan.
APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
APPENDIX 3.1. Copies of display sheets (reduced)
APPENDIX 3.2. Copies of display sheets (reduced)
APPENDIX 4