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Minutes of a meeting of the above Committee held at Wickham Community Centre on Monday 10^th March 2008 at 9.45am.

Present: Michael Sadler-Forster (Chairman), Thérèse Evans, Mike Carter, Parish Clerk Nicki Oliver

1. To receive apologies for absence: Angela Clear, Mike Bennett.

2. To receive declarations of interest on agenda items: none.

3. To adjourn meeting to allow participation by members of the public: not required.

4. To progress discussions regarding the following proposals:

4.1 To consider all options for the immediate, middle and long term development of the village and after consultation with all the relevant parties to recommend to the Parish Council a "Wickham Development Strategy" to cover the period up to 2030.

4.4.1 To consider developing issues and options in respect of item 4.1: traffic and parking, infill development, physical, social and economic infrastructure requirements and tourism.

Traffic and parking were the main issues for this meeting, it was agreed to arrange a meeting with WCC and HCC to discuss possible options further.

Measures to reduce through traffic, enhance The Square, to consider existing and future parking arrangements and to improve pedestrian, cycle and public transport facilities were discussed.

4.4.2 To monitor progress of Winchester City Council LDF process and to respond to consultations where appropriate. It was agreed to circulate the notes from the WCC LDF Workshop held in Wickham. The summary included on WCC’s website is appended below.

4.2 To determine a brief for, and agree upon a list of, not less than four planning consultants appropriate to carry out an "impact assessment" study to reveal the likely consequences for the village of the proposed SDA north of the M27, together with the implications of the recently announced Government initiative to create a City Region in South Hampshire. To obtain methodology, timescale and cost bids for presentation and recommendation to the Parish Council.

4.2.1 To monitor progress of Fareham BC LDF process in respect of planning the SDA, and to respond to consultations where appropriate.

A response to Fareham BC’s Issues and Options consultation has been submitted, copy circulated to all councillors.

4.2.2 To highlight in particular, the need to consider the affect of the SDA on roads north of the development.

4.3 To identify possible sources of support funding to assist aspects of the Forward Planning Committee recommendations with specific reference to the cost of consultants where relevant.

5. To review progress of the Village Design Statement and Market Town Health Check in light of the above proposals and to discuss next steps. It was agreed to begin drafting the VDS and an action plan for the Market Town Health Check using information gathered to date.

6. To receive update on WAHG plans and progress of WCC/ CAH affordable housing site option study. CAH Housing Enabler Debbie Rhodes is now working for WCC, the site options report is still within her remit and is on target for completion by 23^rd April (when it could be made public at the Annual Parish Assembly.) No site will be progressed without the support of the Parish Council.

7. To receive update on Rookesbury Estate plans for north of The Circle.

In addition to the LDF Core Strategy, WCC is working on a second planning policy document the Development Provision and Applications Development Plan Document which will allocate all site specific designations to meet the needs of retail, housing, employment, community, leisure and transport.

WCC has invited landowners and others to submit sites they wish to be considered as part of this process. The sites will be assessed against sustainability criteria and WCC advises that:

..only development which conforms to the strategic distribution strategy of the Core Strategy can be promoted in the Site Allocations DPD .

Rookesbury has submitted the site North of the Circle for housing development with the offer to make good the recreation space shortfall in Mill Lane and to provide a site for up to 24 exception site houses adjoining Gwynn Way.

Initial planning work has been carried out to ensure highways concerns for access onto both Winchester Road and Mill Lane can be addressed. A new access from Mill Lane to any new houses is envisaged so access will not be through Dickson Park.

Rookesbury’s remaining land north of The Circle has also been submitted for consideration. It is likely that other sites in Wickham Parish will be promoted by their owners. It is not clear at this stage if or when these sites will become public knowledge but presumably they will influence WCC’s Preferred Options.

Other issues:

It was agreed to explore the possibility of co-opting or appointing members of Wickham Society to a Village Design Statement working party.

Meeting closed 11.50am

Wickham LDF Workshop notes

From WCC’s website http://www.winchester.gov.uk/General.asp?nc=P07N&id=18881

The Wickham LDF workshop took place on January 24 2008.

The bullet points below indicate some of the main issues that were raised at the event. This is not a comprehensive list but should give an indication of the key points that were made.

Wickham is a large village rather than a town, concern that development will ruin the character of the area.
There are a lack of facilities including employment opportunities for Wickham to be designated as a key hub.
Concern about the impact of the large developments planned at north of Fareham and the impact this will have on local roads and the locality in general, must retain a green gap south of Wickham
Wickham acts as a service centre for the surrounding communities and there is a recognition of the need to retain the critical mass to support these services.
Affordable housing is not such an issue in Wickham but there is a need for family housing for local people
Car parking needs to be resolved in the village centre and all new development must have sufficient parking provision.