WING VILLAGE PLAN
This document represents the discussions held during an open meeting at the Wing Small Hall on 21st February 2007. The notes are presented in the categories as would potentially be provided by the Village Plan. Thank you to all who participated in the meeting.
A village plan is not a physical plan, but more a wish list for and about the village. It should represent the views of the villagers and should aid planners in planning considerations.
A village plan questionnaire was issued to all residents and
households in Wing. The response rate
was 5%. Buckinghamshire Community
Action Group has assisted with this plan and has advised they would like to see
a higher input and response. A meeting
was held on 21st February to try and identify the way forward and it
was agreed that we should prioritise the top key areas and publicise these in
What’s on in Wing so that parishioners could have another opportunity to
feedback on the Village Plan ideas. We
will aim to make people aware of the percentage requirements and advertise on
half a page in What’s on in Wing.
Of those who responded 30% were retired.
The BCAG have provided examples of village plans. They would like the plan set out in four
categories. We are proposing there is 5
categories i.e. an additional category relating to Green Issues. A vote was taken on 21/2 as to whether those
present felt a separate Green Issue category was required. Yes 13, No 7. It was agreed that whilst green issues are very important, they
span all categories and as such it was felt that green issues should be
incorporated within each of the 4 categories.
The areas of the plan for discussion and notes taken at the
meeting for each of those categories are detailed below under the relevant
heading.
Areas presented as highlighted for discussion were as follows:
· Access to local services/shops and parking issues
Out of drinking hours parking suggested as made available at the pubs to ease congestion along the High Street.
· Promoting local produce – local producers guide
Bucks CC do have a guide already
· Local Trader and services guide
· Developing Wing website to include local services information
There was discussion about whether more business should be
encouraged in Wing. Views were
expressed that we should encourage more people to work in Wing, but
consideration needs to be made in respect of the type of business. It was noted that there actually is quite a
lot of employment in the Parish as many people work from home running their own
businesses and Wing Parish also has light industrial and specialist skill jobs
in Wingbury Farm and Cublington Road etc.
The major employer would be the schools. One has to consider that larger businesses would probably not be
suitable for a rural location and in any event there are cheap alternatives in
major towns and cities nearby i.e. Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Dunstable which
would be able to provide the relevant skilled workforce for those firms.
Areas presented as highlighted for discussion were as follows:
· A green space/play area
Edmund Waller presented his idea
for creating a village pond and village green area by diverting the A418
through the existing recreation ground thereby cutting off the problematic
corners in the village on that road and providing more parking space via the
old road. Edmund request a vote on this
plan as he wished to present this idea to the planners. Outcome was Yes towards plan 7, Against 8.
Concern was expressed over such planning ideas being presented and voted on without prior knowledge of the Parish Council. Edmund to take advice from the Parish Council before proceeding with any planning discussions on this idea.
Various discussions and opinions were expressed citing that there is already 2 well used green spaces i.e. Jubilee Green which is safer for small children as it does not involve the crossing of the A418 and the recreation ground (which if the plans were put in place would be divided in half and would affect the football pitch).
A village pond already exists in the Garden Pond field. Currently the pond is overgrown with bulrushes, but there are rare birds using this area and hence it has been left.
· Tree planting project
It was agreed that this would be a good idea and that a
layout plan for more trees and planting should be considered along with
landscaping within the village. It was
felt that the trees around the allotment area should be preserved and the
woodland area should be protected.
Refer to conservation document.
· FRECYCLE recycling initiative
This is an initiative which could be actioned today and it was felt that this did not really belong in the plan as such.
· Involving young people in recycling
The idea is to involve young people via the
schools. It was pointed out that the
vast majority of students at the Cottesloe school are not actually from Wing
and therefore there may be little incentive for the schools involvement when
considering other activities and coursework they have to achieve as part of the
curriculum.
· Local heritage – create a local history group
It was felt that creating a history group was something that could be done and should not form part of the Village Plan. However a general view that the Village Plan should support tourism and the economy was agreed.
Areas presented as highlighted for discussion were as follows:
· Community Safety – Extend N Watch scheme with Police C.S.O support
All present felt strongly about policing crime and
safety. It was felt an ongoing presence
was needed in the village and we should encourage the community to support the
CSO.
· Develop a young person’s needs analysis
Such focus would enable us to determine what young people need. It should consider babies right through to teenagers
· Develop an older persons needs analysis
Such focus would enable us to determine what older people need. Factors such as transport, respite care and consideration in respect of services at Wing Lodge should be included.
· Produce a village welcome pack
It was felt that What’s on in Wing represented the village welcome pack and as long as this was kept up to date and in place there was no need for an additional document.
A regular cheese and wine welcome was suggested as an
idea.
· Review affordable housing need and opportunities
It was felt infill would be the preferable route as opposed to expansion which would dramatically affect the village.
Areas presented as highlighted for discussion were as follows:
· Review access to trains/Leighton Buzzard and consider options
It was felt this was more a general aspiration and
should be reworded. Currently there are
no bus services to Leighton Buzzard station and Aylesbury Station. All go to the towns. Furthermore the buses don’t run late
enough. Last bus is 8.15pm which is
prohibitive for social events and entertainment in the towns for both young and
old alike. A general policy point
should be included that the village should have good access to railways
stations and that the bus service times and frequency should be extended.
· Review access to schools and consider options
The schools have a transport forum. The idea presented was to drop children off at the Wing Village Hall with a safe route walk to school. It was felt that the village needed bypass solutions which were already being consulted on. The village should be preserved as a village. Footpaths should be documented in detail and tied up with policy maintenance.
· Through Traffic issues
It was discussed that this is really separate from the Village Plan and should be taken out as Traffic issues are already being consulted on in the village and decisions will be made by the County in due course.
· Safe walking and cycling routes through the village
Pedestrian and cycle routes should be considered.
· Cycle route to Leighton Buzzard
Concern was raised over the lack of pedestrian bridge on route to Leighton Buzzard once the bypass is finished.
Edmund Waller explained that he envisaged the group breaking into 4 groups to discuss the issues further. Meeting again in 1 month’s time. All agreed.
Next meeting date is 25th April (Wednesday) in the Village Small Hall 7.30pm onwards.