Tasley Parish CouncilCore Strategy

21stJune 2017

1. Wenlock Rise

The Wenlock Rise development is currently the most populated part of Tasley. There were some issues with a small minority of unsuitable tenants in the early days of this estate. Cllr Sue Ealey worked closely with the various housing associations and worked towards a satisfactory resolution of these issues. The housing associations that currently have properties in Wenlock Rise are:-

  • Bromford
  • Sanctuary
  • Wrekin
  • South Staffs

There are some ongoing issues which need attention:-

  • Concern over the delay in adoption of highways and streetlights by Shropshire Council
  • Need to continue a good relationship with the various social housing providers on that development
  • Parking and traffic problems on the access route in to the estate.

2. Tasley Nature Zone

This is our only major asset (apart from 12 street lights!) and we have a responsibility to maintain it in good order, consistent with our financial situation.

Looking back to 7 years ago:-

  • The land was mostly overgrown and unkempt apart from the occasional cutting of grass
  • The Chairman (Cllr Dent) had planted some damson trees at the southern end of the area
  • There was a vagrant living in the NW corner
  • It had the reputation of being council waste land
  • Surface water caused neighbouring gardens at 21 Fairfield to be flooded
  • Alcohol abuse and litter was prevalent and some evidence of occasional drug abuse
  • It was predominantly a dog loo (Cllr Dent’s description)

Since then, we have made significant progress:-

  • It is now identified as the Tasley Nature Zone
  • The grass is cut on a regular schedule at the end of June
  • The East side is kept in trim and excessive vegetation cut back
  • Bushes are kept to shoulder height at the suggestion of the police
  • Notices have been posted about dog fouling and there has been a noticeable improvement with most (but not all) dog walkers cleaning up after their dogs
  • Local residents value the effort that is being made to enhance the facility
  • A bund, soakaway and drainage channel has been installed to prevent flooding
  • Trees have been inspected and two trees removed

There is still room for improvement in the longer term:-

  • The path is a mud-bath in bad weather and needs a proper surface
  • Dog fouling notices could be improved and be more forceful
  • Still some evidence of antisocial behaviour in NW and SW corners
  • NW and SW corners need to be trimmed to avoid making natural dens

3. SAMDev and Development Schemes

There are two different routes which allow contractors to apply for permission to develop on brown-field and green-field land (but not green-belt land):-

(i)NPPF National Planning Policy Framework

(ii)SAMDev Site Allocation, Management and Development

There is a legal requirement for councils to provide for housing growth at a rate just over 6% per annum. There is no zero option. If SAMDev is agreed then development takes place under the provision of land allocated by SAMDev. If SAMDev is not agreed, developersmay make applicationsunder the less stringent NPPF regulations.

TPC has worked hard with SC and BTC to get a realistic and achievable plan agreed under SAMDev. There were three versions of SAMDev:-

March 2012Originally 700 new dwellings were proposed in Tasley. As a result of pressure from TPC and BTC working together, this was quickly changed to 500 new dwellings to be erected 200 West of Church Lane and 300 East of Church Lane. The Cattle Market was to be moved SW of the bypass on land allocated for employment use. A period of public consultation followed. Although TPC and BTC were broadly in agreement with this plan, there was considerable unrest at the public meeting and representations were made to SC to reduce the number of dwellings and not allow any development SW of the bypass.

July 2013In response to the public consultation a revised plan was published which reduced the total number of dwellings to 450 and kept the Cattle Market in situ. However, it also had employment land allocated East of the bypass from the back of the Cattle Market, north and west towards to Church Lane. The council thought that this would have a detrimental effect on the old village of Tasley built on Church Lane. The developer didn’t think the plan was feasible because of the gradient of the land behind the cattle market so this plan was rejected.

January 2014A final version was published after a draft version in December 2013 and this was accepted by HM Inspectors. The content was based on the original 2012 SAMDev with 500 dwellings in Tasley and all employment land SW of the bypass, but there were several important clarifications as a result of TPC input:-

  • Employment land was restricted to classes B1, B2 and B8 developments

(small offices, light industrial and warehouses)

  • Retail and Trade Counters explicitly forbidden
  • Community facilities such as a petrol station and small convenience store was included as part of the plan
  • Housing to be of high quality with a green buffer zone to Tasley Park
  • Phased development with employment land only being available when Stanmore Estate fully occupied and Chartwells at least 50% developed

(at this time Chartwells had been undeveloped for over 20 years)

CurrentlySAMDev has been agreed by HM Inspectors but the development in Tasley has been on hold because of the long term illness and subsequent death of the developer. Stuart Hickman was sympathetic to the suggestions from TPC and we hope that the family who now run his business will be equally helpful.

Our decision to work with SC and BTC produced significant benefits and some positive enhancements to the SAMDev proposal. By way of contrast, another council objected to a proposal for 800 dwellings in their parish. Since SAMDev was not agreed, NPPF regulations applied and a contractor successfully applied for permission to build 1500 dwellings in their parish.

We will need to be vigilant at the detailed planning stages of this development.

4. Dog Fouling

This is a significant problem in Bridgnorth and Tasley. The council view is that dog fouling is disgusting, antisocial and is a health hazard. Most dog owners clear up after their pet but some do not. There are signs in Bridgnorth and Tasley which encourage owners to be vigilant in clearing up after their dog but these are faded (in Bridgnorth) and rather wordy.

SC have responded quickly to a recent request from a resident to clean up the area in Clee View Road. BTC regularly sweep pavements. But the problem continues.

Our strategy is to talk to dog owners and promote a positive ethos of cleaning up after dog fouling. This is appreciated by residents and good dog owners alike. It has had an effect on the fouling in the Nature Zone which has been less in recent weeks. But there are still some antisocial dog owners who need to be convinced to clean up!

5. Footbridge Farm

We were initially advised to tread cautiously regarding an application by the owners of Footbridge Farm to develop a poultry farming facility. Some of the objections had been parochial, inflammatory and lacking in substance.

Dr John Jenkins presented the council with well-reasoned concerns about the scheme which were:-

  • Dust from poultry sheds can cause or exacerbate asthmaand there does not seem to be any provision for filters on the extractor fans proposed for the sheds.
  • The litter from the sheds is going to be placed on land very near to where the new housing for Tasley is proposedand some of this land is designated for housing or commercial development.
  • Some of the land where the litter is to be spread is crossed by a public footpath. Since it is known that cattle cannot be grazed on land for 2/3 weeks after spreading has taken place, does this mean that people will be unable to use the footpath during that period?
  • A paper submitted by Professor Nicholas Lockerbie of Strathclyde University describes the impact of odour and dust from poultry farm installations such as that proposed.
  • This application is so near to a built up area that it cannot be assessed using the standard criteria used for poultry units in more rural areas. This application needs to be examined with great care.

Consequently Tasley Parish Council decided to ask Shropshire Councillors to ensure that this application goes to the full planning committee and will not dealt with under delegated powers. Cllr Les Winwood has given his backing to this proposal.

6. Traffic and Highways

There are several ongoing issues concerning traffic and highways:-

  • Excessive speeding on Wenlock Road between A458 and Church Lane
  • Visibility at Wenlock Road / Church Lane traffic island
  • Overgrown hedgerow on Church Lane
  • Suitability of Church Lane to accommodate wide agricultural vehicles
  • Limited access to petrol station in Low Town causing congestion

7. Antisocial Behaviour from some Tenants in Clee View Road and Wrekin Road

There were some significant incidents about 4 years ago in this area involving drug dealing and alcohol abuse. After several police raids and some rehousing, the frequency of incidents substantially reduced. Recently there seems to have been an increase in antisocial behaviour which has been attributed to a small minority of SC/STAR Housing tenants. Incidents have been reported by councillors of Tasley and Bridgnorth. There are known drug dealers in this area, but they are not necessarily SC/STAR Housing tenants. The council’s strategy to deal with this issue is developing but generally our approach has been:-

  • Antisocial behaviour in and around Tasley will not be tolerated
  • Incidents should be reported to the police as well as to the council using 101 or the Crime Stoppers number 0800 555 111 if anonymity is preferred
  • We will work with the police through our Council Meetings whenever possible
  • We will work with SC / STAR Housing and through partnerships to raise awareness of incidents and help to identify miscreants whenever possible

8. Relationships with Bridgnorth Town Council and Local Parish Councils

We would like to foster good a working relationship between TPC and BTC. This was prevalent during the early stages of SAMDev discussion when Ray Gill was Mayor of Bridgnorth. However, the relationship deteriorated when we read in The Bridgnorth Journal in the summer of 2015 that BTC wishes to take over TPC.

The argument BTC forwarded was based on fairness as people of Tasley used BTC facilities. Their application was rejected by SC and was notto be considered again until after the 2017 local government elections.

BTC have indicated that they intend to pursue another bid to have the boundaries changed in favour of TPC being consumed within BTC. TPC are opposed to this arrangement and the people of Tasley seem to equally be opposed to this takeover (although we have not undertaken a formal consultation with Tasley residents).

Some local parish councils have suggested that we work closer together to achieve our common objectives. They have made overtures to the TPC Clerk and the council welcome an opportunity to enhance our links with other councils.

It would be beneficial for TPC to consider and explore ways of working together with other nearby parish councils.