Chapter 8

 

Community Facilities

 

Introduction

8.1This chapter deals with community facilities. There are a wide range of different types of community facilities but for the purpose of the Local Plan, community facilities are defined as: education, libraries, social services, fire, police, health, and voluntary organisations, including Community Centres and churches. Other facilities such as shopping and sport and recreation are covered in different chapters of the Local Plan.

8.2 The main concern of the Local Plan is to look at the land use implications of any decreases or increases in the current level of provision, having regard to changes in the population and household structure, especially the need for new sites or the re-use of surplus land and buildings.  The City Council has generally no powers to provide these services which are mainly the responsibility of other agencies.  Notwithstanding this, it is important for the Local Plan to make appropriate provision to meet future needs.

8.3 This chapter looks at the different facilities under the topics set out above, with policies and proposals incorporated at the end of each section, where applicable.

 

Education

 

Schools

8.4 Cheshire County Council is the Local Education Authority for the plan area. Generally the provision of education is retracting rather than expanding, in response to changes in the population structure. Current proposals to replace or extend schools in the plan area are set out below. The County Council will need to review these and other proposals, in the light of the level of available resources, and changing circumstances.

8.5 A site for the possible replacement of the Thomas Wedge CE (Controlled) Junior School in Saughall has been reserved alongside the Ridings Primary School in Rake Lane. This site lies within the Green Belt but as most of it will be used as playing fields, this is considered to be compatible with the functions of the Green Belt.

Policy CF 1

Land is allocated for a primary school alongside the Ridings Primary School, Rake Way, Saughall.

Reason/Explanation

To provide for the possible replacement of the Thomas Wedge CE (Controlled) Junior School in Saughall.

 

(For the location of this site see Inset Map for Saughall.)

 

University of Chester

8.6 The University of Chester offers a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate courses.  Policy CF 2 below is designed to help the University achieve this objective.

Policy CF 2

The land bounded by Parkgate Road, the Chester Western Bypass and the former Mickle Trafford/Shotton railway line and as shown on the Proposals Map, is removed from the Green Belt to cater for the expansion of the educational facilities at the University of Chester.

Reason/Explanation

In accordance with guidance in paragraph C16 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: Green Belts, the site has been removed from the Green Belt to enable the University to expand. The site is allocated for educational facilities only; student accommodation would only be acceptable where it was ancillary to new educational buildings on the site.

 

A Development Brief for the site will be drawn up in conjunction with the University and other interested parties. This will address issues such as building density and height, landscaping and cycle and footpath links.

 

Libraries and Archives

8.7 The library services within the plan area are the responsibility of Cheshire County Council. The County Council generally expects the continuance of these service points in their current locations. The Northgate redevelopment scheme includes a proposal for a new, larger library in the city centre to replace the existing central library.

 

Health

8.8 In April 1996 the South Cheshire Health Authority was set up to form a single Authority with responsibilities for planning, supporting and monitoring all aspects of health and health care delivery. The Authority is responsible for an area much larger than that covered by the Local Plan.

8.9 The South Cheshire Health Authority does not itself manage hospitals or other health services but "buys" these in from a number of Health Trusts.

8.10 Various Trusts provide services at the Countess of Chester Health Park. The Countess of Chester Health Park lies within the Green Belt and any proposals to extend it will be considered against Policies ENV 68 and 69 in the section on Green Belt in the chapter on the Environment.  However, the Council is concerned that the Trusts are able to provide for the future health needs of the plan area and will consider any proposals to extend and improve facilities against this background.

 

Voluntary Organisations/Community Centres

8.11 There are a wide range of voluntary organisations within the plan area which include; churches, village halls, youth clubs, charitable groups, to name but a few. Such organisations are important partners in delivering services which meet the needs and aspirations of residents and communities and because of tight controls on public sector expenditure, more reliance than ever is now being placed on voluntary services. However, the funding of some voluntary agencies has been affected by reductions in local authority budgets.

8.12 The Council and other partners contribute towards the cost of a mobile Citizens Advice Bureau service in the Malpas/Tilston area because the agencies involved consider that this is a very cost effective way of dealing with problems in a rural area.

8.13 There are six community centres within the urban area. The Council owns Blacon and Lache Community Centres and leases the Hoole Community Centre to a local organisation. There are also community centres at Westminster Park and Caldy Valley. Within the rural area there are some thirty-five village halls, the majority of which are constituted as charities recognised under the Charity Commission's criteria, i.e. the halls are owned by the residents of the area they serve and are operated by elected voluntary management committees.

8.14 The above facilities provide a focus for a wide range of needs, be they social, educational, cultural or recreational. Initiatives such as Area Committees, Neighbourhood Partnerships, Parish Councils and vibrant community groups also play an increasingly important role in developing social interaction and a sense of community.

8.15 The Council will encourage and assist these organisations, wherever possible, and where they have land and building requirements will consider such proposals against relevant policies in the Plan.

 

The Re-use of Surplus Land and Buildings

8.16 Where land and buildings used for community facilities become surplus to requirements, proposals for their re-use or redevelopment will be considered against policy CF 3 below.

Policy CF 3

Reason/Explanation

To safeguard and maintain the level of community facilities.

 

Where proposals involve the loss of an existing community facility, the Council will require developers to demonstrate that there is no longer a need for the facility, either now or in the foreseeable future. The possibility of using the premises for any other community facilities for which there is an identified need in the locality should be fully investigated by the applicants and evidence of this provided to the Council.

 

Monitoring

8.17 The following issues arising from this chapter will be monitored during the Plan period.  This information will inform the application of policies and will help to assess their effectiveness:

• loss of existing community facilities to other uses
• requirements for new community facilities across the District

Environmental Appraisal of Policeis and Proposals

 

Global Sustainability

8.18 In terms of global sustainability the effect of these policies is to an extent difficult to determine. The policies relate to allocations for use and do not include any specific design details. However, if implemented in accordance with other policies contained in the Local Plan, their effect on the wider global issue should be minimal.

8.19 Although the global effect of these policies cannot be categorically determined, the Environmental Appraisal indicates that by providing additional community facilities there should be an increase in transport efficiency – this is an important contribution to achieving sustainability.

 

Natural Resources

8.20 The provision of community facilities, although important at a human level, has a detrimental effect upon natural resources.  The construction of the facilities included in policies CF 1 and CF 2 will require the use of greenfield land.

8.21 The extent to which these facilities will generate more waste or consume fuel is again difficult to determine, although the environmental appraisal would indicate that any form of development is likely to lead to an increase in these criteria.

8.22 However, these policies are more positive with regard to recycling which is strongly advocated in schools and the Local Plan also seeks to ensure the re-use of any redundant community buildings.

 

Local Environment

8.23 The appraisal shows that the provision of community facilities makes a very positive contribution to the environmental quality of life for residents in Chester and the villages.

8.24 On the other hand, these policies have a negative impact upon the landscape and open countryside.

 

Environmental Impact Significance

8.25 At this stage, without detailed design information, it would appear from the appraisal that the positive impact upon the local environment is greater than the negative impact upon natural resources.