Alvechurch Parish Council
serving Alvechurch, Bordesley, Forhill, Hopwood, Rowney Green and Weatheroak.
serving Alvechurch, Bordesley, Forhill, Hopwood, Rowney Green and Weatheroak.
| Text |
|---|
PRESS RELEASE A public statement from Alvechurch Parish Council - February 2025 INTRODUCTIONThis public statement is part of a review of the Alvechurch Parish Neighbourhood Plan (APNP). It mentions what national and local agencies like Bromsgrove District Council are doing and how our Parish Council is gearing up for what could be significant change. That change will affect everyone who lives or works in the Parish. THE ALVECHURCH PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The first APNP (APNP1) was completed by Alvechurch Parish Council (APC) in 2018 and formally adopted one year later. It was comprehensive in planning Parish futures, including topics such as housing need, the importance of the green belt, the impact of too much growth on our existing infrastructure and the local environment plus the need to protect local character and heritage. It was widely respected because local people felt included in its production. APNP1 recognised that some managed change is beneficial to communities. It stressed the need for more housing for older people, social housing and those embarking on the property ladder but warned that too much change could overwhelm local facilities and destroy the character and identity of a historic village. NATIONAL AND DISTRICT POLICIES – PARISH VULNERABILITIESCentral Government has made no secret of its desire to reform the planning system alongside a 5-year target of 1.5M new homes nationally, to be allocated by District Councils like Bromsgrove. Bromsgrove District Council (BDC) will require Parishes to take a proportion of new housing figures. All this will be set within a new Local District Plan. It is likely that this new Plan will emerge from Bromsgrove in the coming months. WHAT’S THE PARISH COUNCIL DOING? The urgency of the Government’s intentions has put pressure on Bromsgrove to update its Local Plan and for Parishes like ours to update their neighbourhood plans. A working group of APC Councillors and local residents has written a brief report for Bromsgrove DC stressing the validity of our existing APNP with the intent of recommending that a first phase of any future development should focus on areas indicated in the APNP APC recognises pressure may come for further phases of new housing but feels this should be considered only when there is clear evidence that Parish infrastructure can cope, such as improved primary healthcare facilities and only after community consultation. The Parish Council has recently engaged the services of a consultant who advises on planning law and policy.
A new work plan is being put together to assess in detail whether the Parish, its infrastructure and facilities would cope with significantly more houses, the council's preference as to where they might be located and how best to judge what local people want. The working group will present early findings to the Annual Parish meeting in March. CONSULTATION – A 2-WAY PROCESSAPC recognises the value of good, 2-way communication with the community. After March, events like Picnic in the Park will be part of the consultation process, alongside information on websites, social media and The Village magazine.
A blueprint for the next 10 years or so will eventually emerge as ANPv2 and you will play a key role in influencing its shape. “Alvechurch 2030 – where managed change and a celebration of rural character combine in a community made better by design” |
We Currently Have 3 x Councillor Vacancies From time to time during a four-year term, Member vacancies occur. If you are interested in being co-opted onto Alvechurch Parish Council please see the following link: Could you become a Councillor?, Alvechurch Parish Council / contact the Parish Clerk for further information - We look forward to hearing from you! |
| MEN's SHED PROJECT - Update Further the the recent 'Drop In' Sessions we are currently collating information. A further update will be published shortly - If you are interested in joining a Men's Shed do please contact Cllr Keith Wiseman - wiso1874@gmail.com |
 |
IN AN EMERGENCY .............. Please click on the following links: ALVECHURCH LOCALISED FLOODING – Emergency Info Information and advice on flooding is available here via North Worcestershire Water Management: https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/community-and-environment/emergencies/land-drainage-and-flooding/ Bromsgrove District Council have a supply of sandbags available for collection by residents from outside the Bromsgrove Council Depot, (limited supply). BDC only have limited capacity to support flooding incidents ‘out of hours’, and flooding can make it difficult for BDC to respond safely in such an emergency. Relevant Contact Details: Bromsgrove District Council: 01527 871565 (Out of hours number) West Mercia Police: 08457 444 888 Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service: 0845 122 4454 Worcestershire County Council: 01905 765765 Worcestershire Flooding Helpline: 08456 031296 www.worcestershire.gov.uk Environment Agency Floodline: 08459 881188 Environment Agency: 08708 506 506 www.environment-agency.gov.uk enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk Severn Trent Water: 0800 783 4444 National Flood Forum: 01299 403055 www.floodforum.org.uk Association of British Insurers: 0207 600 3333 www.abi.org.uk info@abi.org.uk --------------------------------------------------- EMEREGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS - call cascade - May 2023 (Unrestricted Version) WARM, COMMUNITY HUBS......... / ALVECHURCH'S COMMUNITY FOOD LARDER ---------------------------------------------------------------
To nominate an Unsung Community Hero please email details to: clerk@alvechurch.gov.uk |