Neighbourhood Plans
Localism Act
The UK Localism Act of 2011 set the requirement for all local districts to create Neighbourghood Plans. These were to be created by the local community and voted on in public referenda and thereafter become local law. Each plan lasts for 10 years after which a new one is enacted.
The scope of the plans requires policies for: Environment. Transport. Heritage. Renewables. Education. Well-Being. Shopping. Housing.
_______________________________________________________
Calne Communities Neighbourhood Pan
I was asked by the Calne Communities Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee to join it to be responsible for creating the Environmental Policies. During my time there I created and pushed through the parameters and the outline policies for greening/environmental protection/landscape/wildlife and so on. I also created a Working group to research and produce, in very fine detail, each policy together with details referencing law and regional and national and E.U. environmental requirements.
I am pleased to say that some of my policies were adopted into law.
_______________________________________________________
My Policies For a Better Future
I have strong and practical views and proposals for the environment and sustainable living in line with my philosophy of 'Arcadia'. This does not mean shunning development or technology. It means mitigation and managing. The areas of my interests and research and my concerns includes: (i) climate change reduction; (ii) prevention of habitat destruction; (iii) renewable energy; (iv) protection of species and arresting decline; (v) enhancing ecological balance; (vi) safeguarding traditional landscapes and rural heritage;
My proposals for future neighbourhood plans in the U.K. include the following:
1. No urbanization of country lanes.
2. No street lighting in country lanes.
3. Protecting the night sky from light pollution by not having street lighting in new developments and reducing lighting elsewhere and having softer lighting everywhere.
2. Wherever possible new housing developments should not have street lights but either low-level bollard lights and/or house pirs.
3. At the planning stage, local residents should be consulted as to their knowledge of local wildlife. Very often registered lists/records are out of date and incomplete and not realistic.
4. New housing should have bat boxes and bird boxes etc included.
5. New housing developments must have public open space, and playgrounds.
6. New housing development must include wild-flower meadow areas and wetlands.
7. New housing developments must have tree screening, hedges, and intensive provision of planting.
8. All wider roadside grass verges should be converted to wildflower planting.
9. All new housing should be carbon neutral That is both the buildings should be zero-carbon and have a minimum need for heating and also the sites should produce electricity from renewable sources.
10. All new housing developments should include links to public footpaths and safe pedestrian access to shopping centres.
11. All new housing developments should include new local shopping facilities to reduce the need for transport and increase community spirit..
12. All supermarket car parks to have standing covers. This provides shelter from sun and rain for pedestrians and the roofs will be covered with solar energy panels.
13. New housing materials must be in keeping with local traditions and design. Likewise that the design is reflective of local historical and traditional architectural style.
14. Watercourses must not be culverted/straightened/covered over. Springs must not be blocked. Permanent and seasonal standing water areas should be encouraged.
15. Flood plains/water meadows must not be built on.
16. Car parks etc to have increased planting to help connect with wildlife corridors. Same goes for existing housing developments and commercial sites.
17. A policy on reforestation + hedgerows to ensure the green heritage is enhanced.
18. Planting of new local community forests.
19. Local nature reserve (s). Areas are to be adopted for the protection of flora, fauna, wildlife.
20. Protect historic watercourses and their adjacent landscape.
21. Protect extant historic sites, as well as archaeological sites, sites or places of historical tradition and/or event. As well as their landscape/environmental context.
22. Ensuring that all future development is in harmony with and enhances the above. This is especially important in terms of the scale, design, location, architecture of new buildings.
23. Local landowners, companies, businesses etc are to be encouraged to sponsor and adopt policies and projects and make them their own. This will also further aid the integration of the farming and business community in the life of the town, villages and landscape in general.
24. Registering & protecting: Landmarks, architecture, woodlands, sunken lanes, etc.
25. Develop wildlife corridors.
26. All new developments must produce a plan on how its site will integrate with green transport including cycle paths and community public transport.
27. New developments must minimise the impact on local wildlife colonies and the ecology. Builders must demonstrate how this is to be achieved before planning consent is considered.
28. New housing developments must not be built directly adjacent to existing housing but have a green corridor or buffer separating them. This enhances the sense of community, identity and well-being.
29. All local government authorities to have legally binding targets to become carbon neutral and to have 100% renewable energy sources. This should also include proposals to go 'off-grid'.
30 Before licenses are granted to new businesses, (especially big companies and supermarkets), they must submit to their local authority a legally binding agreement for the production of their own renewable energy, minimal carbon footprint, and greening.
31. All supermarkets to be required to give unused food at the end of each day or week to registered charities. No waste!
32. All supermarket carparks and new public infrastructures, and major tourist venues to have electric car charging points.
33. All commercial properties and offices with flat roofs to have greening, and gardens and solar energy/renewable energy production.
________________________________________________________________________
STEPHEN COX GARDEN TRUST
is a Registered Charity (number: 1174239) in England & Wales
PURPOSE: To advance education in horticulture, conservation, wildlife, and heritage by providing study courses, training placements, talks, and workshops and other means for the enrichment of society and improvement of human well being in general based upon the Founder's garden, library, writings, teaching, and philosophy. Including skill enhancement for the young unemployed or those facing learning difficulties or other barriers to employment or self-advancement.
stephencox.gardentrust@gmail.com
PLEASE DONATE: You can donate by pressing the button below to securely donate via PayPal or credit card. This will take you directly to our PayPal secure portal:
Press here >> DONATIONS BUTTON <<