Archived decisions
A Community Strategy for
Winchester
2004 - 2014
DRAFT
Contents:
Introduction 3
Map of District 5
Our Vision for the Future 6
Housing 8
Health and Well Being 12
Freedom from Fear 17
Transport and Access 21
Economic Prosperity 26
High Quality Environment 31
Lifelong Learning 36
Leisure and Recreation 39
Inclusive Society 43
Introduction
1. `Winchester and District Working Together ...' is a broad partnership of organisations which is committed to working with all interested groups and individuals to achieve a good quality of life for the people of this District.
2. In this strategy we set out a vision for the future of this District that reflects the views of the people who live, work and visit here and provides a common framework that we can work to. By sharing our aims through this strategy, we can direct our resources most effectively to promote the future prosperity of the area, working with and through local communities.
3. Our strategy sets out a future that will be sustainable, in that future generations should be able to benefit from a quality of life that is at least as good as the one we enjoy.
4. Over the next five to ten years, we will be working to deliver the aims set out in this document. To do this, we will draw together the work of private businesses, public bodies and voluntary and community groups into a set of co-ordinated partnerships which accept responsibility for delivering the medium term improvements identified in each chapter.
5. We have also identified the following key areas where we will all focus our attention to deliver a significant impact:
· Investing in youth: we will work across agencies to audit our current knowledge of issues facing young people, develop our understanding through discussion with young people and those who work with them and look to develop and deliver a strategy that will enhance their positive contribution to the life of the District and seek to reduce negative perceptions and impacts.
· Housing the community: we will work together to deliver housing to meet the needs of the community. This will include vulnerable people who are unable to enjoy the same quality of life as others because they lack appropriate, secure and supported housing.
· Improving access: we will work together to improve access to services for all in our communities, including those with disabilities and those who live in rural areas.
· Reducing and recycling our waste: linking to the work of the Hampshire Natural Resources Initiative, we will draw together our individual efforts to reduce waste and maximise opportunities for reuse of `waste' materials.
6. As organisations and partnerships develop their major plans and strategies for the area, we will check that they are in line with and are working towards the aims set out in this document.
7. We will be monitoring progress against these key areas and the medium term improvements set out in the chapters of this document on a regular basis. We will publish a review of progress against this strategy each year, with a major review after five years.
8. In addition we will be looking at other ways in which we, and other partner organisations, can work more closely together to deliver joined up services to the public and to share resources and information to give best value for money.
9. We invite you to join with us in delivering the future of the Winchester District.
Councillor Sheila Campbell, Chair Winchester & District Working Together and Leader, Winchester City Council (representing the City Council and local community)
Diana Wooldridge, Winchester Area Community Action and Vice-Chair Winchester & District Working Together (representing the Voluntary Sector)
Councillor David Kirk, Hampshire County Council (representing Hampshire County Council and the local community)
Alison Matthews, Winchester & District Association of Parish & Town Councils (representing Parish and Town Councils and the local community)
Margaret Newbiggin, Winchester Housing Group (representing the housing sector)
Superintendent Bob Rose, Hampshire Constabulary (representing the Community Safety Group)
North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry (representing the business sector)
Professor Chris Turner, Community Learning Partnership (representing the learning sector)
Bridget Phelps, Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust (representing the health sector)
Beth Taylor, Winchester Churches Together (representing the Faith Sector)
Map of District
Our Vision for the Future
Our vision for the Winchester District is of diverse and dynamic communities, where people work together to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life now and in the future.
Our District
10. The Winchester District lies at the heart of Hampshire, with good road and rail links and easy access to air travel and the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. It is primarily rural, covering 250 square miles (65,934 hectares) of countryside, from the top of Portsdown Hill in the south through to Micheldever Station in the north.
11. Winchester is the main settlement in the District and forms a focus for villages and communities in the north of the District, with the historic town of Alresford forming a smaller centre to its east. Residents in these areas will also look beyond the District for some of their needs.
12. Main settlements in the south of the District include the old market towns of Bishops Waltham and Wickham, the growing village of Denmead and the new communities at Whiteley and Knowle. Another major development area is planned in the south east of Winchester District, abutting the town of Waterlooville in the adjoining Borough of Havant. Communities in the south of the District tend to look to major centres outside the District for work, shopping and larger leisure facilities.
13. The District is home to some 107,0001 people of whom about half live in or around Winchester, with the remainder living in the market towns, rural villages and countryside. Many others work in the District, with Winchester and Whiteley in particular providing jobs for people who live elsewhere. The District also attracts over 3 million visitors each year who swell its population and give a boost to its economy.
14. The population is predominantly white British2, with those from other backgrounds covering a wide diversity in terms of their ethnicity and geographic spread throughout the District. There is a bias towards older age groups, although this is offset within Winchester by a sizeable student population.
15. In general terms, the communities within the District are healthy, affluent and well educated. However, these general figures hide the fact that some people are relatively less well off and require more support to allow them to share the quality of life that others take for granted. In particular, in some rural areas, those without their own car can find it very difficult to get to basic services, such as shops3.
Future Trends and Pressures
16. While more detailed information is given in the chapters that follow, there are some changes taking place that affect all aspects of life. Key amongst these are:
· Growth pressures: There is high demand in our District, in common with much of south east England, for new housing to meet the needs of those who wish to live and work in the area. Many local people fear the loss of countryside and pressure on local roads and services that new development will bring. Plans are at an advanced stage for a new community to be built in the south east of the District. Reserve sites have also been identified for a significant new development `north of Winchester', and as phase 2 of the development west of Waterlooville. Criteria have to be met to trigger the release of these sites. Our challenge will be to work with neighbouring communities to site new developments sympathetically, ensure that development takes place with least possible disruption and that the new communities created are excellent places to live.
· Ageing population: Current projections suggest that the number of frail elderly residents will rise significantly over the next ten years. This is likely to put increased pressure on health services and services that provide social support and care and also to increase demand for `housing packages' which deliver care and support in addition to basic accommodation. In response to issues raised through public consultation, actions are identified where relevant in the following chapters that seek to address the needs of this group, in particular with respect to housing, health care and access to services.
· Changing technology: The growth of the Internet is already having an impact on the way we all live our lives, offering the ability to work, shop and bank on-line, while mobile phones allow us to contact friends, families and public services almost at anytime from any place. These technologies and others, such as interactive digital TV, are still in their infancy and we have yet to see the full impact they will have on society - whether they will fundamentally change the way things are done or simply be an interesting sideline. Others, such as automated cash tills, are now fully integrated into our way of thinking. Our challenge is to be able to make best use of new technology as it emerges, while ensuring that no one loses out because they do not have access to the latest technology.
· Greater European integration: The continued development of the European Union following its recent enlargement will have an impact on life in this District. Any national decision on whether or not to move to the Euro as the basis of currency will have a significant impact on the local economy.
Moving towards our Vision
17. The following chapters look at different facets of life in this District where we need to make changes to realise our overall Vision. Each chapter looks at the challenges currently facing us and how these will be addressed, building on existing plans and strategies to meet needs identified through consultation and factual evidence.
18. Within each of these themes, the need to work towards a sustainable future, encourage community engagement and value local distinctiveness is recognised. Also chapters seek to recognise and address special needs of particular groups in society, such as the elderly, young people and those living in rural areas.
19. We will use this document to
· create greater awareness of our shared aims;
· monitor progress made through multi-agency partnerships against medium term improvements; and
· work together to address the four big issues referred to in the introduction.
Housing
Our shared aim
Within our diverse and dynamic community we will achieve a wide range of housing in Winchester District to enable everyone to have a decent home. We will promote neighbourhoods where there is a place for everyone with positive support for a diversity of people and places.
20. If we are to meet our overall vision for everyone to have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life, we must have housing available at prices the young, those on low incomes and those in key employment can afford, both for sale and for rent.
21. Local people have recognised the need for more affordable housing4, so everyone can have access to a comfortable, secure home. The lack of decent housing can affect people's health, education, family stability, ability to work and their views about the community they live in.
22. We need to put our energy into creating places where people want to live by maximising the synergy of our partnership. Partners working together can achieve short-term successes, which will contribute to the overall vision of a diverse and dynamic community.
Present situation
23. Communities in Winchester are generally very settled, 44% of all households having lived at their current home for over 10 years; 89% live in housing adequate for their needs5.
The Housing Stock
24. There are some 43,000 homes in Winchester, of which about 5,000 are rented through the City Council. Locally, the proportion of detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows (72.8%) is well above the national average of 54.1%. The supply of terraced properties and flats is below the national average. In some areas there is concern that the supply of bungalows is diminishing as they are redeveloped into houses.
25. The vast majority of households have access to all the basic amenities and the perception of most residents is that their homes are well maintained and not in need of improvement. The largest issues for those people with inadequate housing are improvements and needing larger accommodation.
The Housing Market
26. Research carried out in 2002 found that incomes of £23,500 are needed to buy a one-bedroom flat and £35,500 for a two-bedroom terraced house in Bishops Waltham, the cheapest location in the District. In all other areas incomes of £33,500 are needed to buy a flat and £43,000 a terraced house. The largest volume of sales in the District was for detached houses (35.7%) selling at an average price of £370,555. The property prices in Winchester are, in the main, higher than the Hampshire average and higher than the average for the South East region.
Household Income and Housing Costs
27. 36% of households who are renting pay less than £60 per week and 57% less than £70. Of owner-occupiers, 51% are outright owners with a further 13% paying less than £350 per month, however 14% pay in excess of £750 per month.
28. 14% of households have incomes below £10,000 which is well below that of the UK as a whole (28%). 51% of households have incomes above £30,000.
Supported Housing
29. Fourteen percent of households contain someone with a disability, the largest group within this number are those people with mobility problems. Under 9% of these households contain a wheelchair user, however 89% of wheelchair users live in a property without a suitable adaptation. Forty four percent of these households need care and support with 26% having outstanding support needs.
30. There are other groups who also need supported housing, including vulnerable young people, those with learning disabilities or mental health problems and people who have been used to an institutionalised life style.
Concealed Households
31. These are people who are living within another household, most of whom are the adult "children" of existing Winchester residents. Around 86% of these people have income levels below the level necessary to be able to access the local market.
Commuting
32. Many who work in Winchester cannot afford to live there, leading to high levels of commuting from cheaper housing areas in the south of the District. This leads to a range of transport issues in rural areas and reduces the environmental quality of the area
Future trends and pressures
33. We are likely to see national trends replicated in Winchester:
· Population growth
· Growth in smaller households and an increase in the proportion of single person households
· Increased inward international migration
· An ageing population
· More households headed by lone parents
· More people needing to be housed in the community and provided with care and support
34. The Government has also recognised that `key workers' are finding it increasingly difficult to afford housing in the south east. Increasing investment has been agreed for this group however there is a risk that this will be at the expense of rented affordable housing and there are potential unintentional consequences for the development of mixed, sustainable communities.
Housing Stock/Cost Balance
35. District house prices continue to rise at above average rates. Although a considerable spread of incomes is evident, a number of people live on low incomes. There is a high level of need (779 units per annum) for affordable housing which is about eight times the number of units likely to be delivered. This exceeds the general housing requirement for the area included in existing plans, which requires 4,900 new homes to be built between April 2001 and March 2011. This pressure is likely to increase as national funding is diverted to other areas of the South East as part of the Government's "Sustainable Communities Plan".Should mention be included of current proposals for a sub regional growth centre in South Hampshire?
Medium-term Improvements
36. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision. Action on these will be overseen by a housing partnership, which is currently being established.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
HO1. Review of District Housing Strategy to address all sectors and thereby · reduce homelessness · reduce unfitness in homes · Improve home safety · Improve energy efficiency |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |||||
HO2. Create an action plan to tackle bed-blocking arising from poor/ inadequate housing and support. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
HO3. Assess the housing, care and support needs of older people in detail. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
HO4. Increase the supply of affordable housing to buy and to rent for all age groups and in town and rural areas. Investigate new financial models to achieve this. Maximise land releases which achieve this supply. |
WCC PCs |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |||||
HO5. Work together to provide specialist housing and adequate support to meet the needs of vulnerable people. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||
WCC - Winchester City Council
HCC - Hampshire County Council
PCs - Parish Councils
Key Indicators
· Number of affordable homes required in the District (as measured through regular Housing Needs Surveys)
· Number of homes that do not achieve the Decent Home Standard (as measured through stock condition surveys)
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Winchester District Local Plan
· Housing Strategy 2002 - 2005 http://www.winchester.gov.uk/housing/documents/strategy02.pdf
· Private Sector Housing Strategy (June 2003) http://www.winchester.gov.uk/housing/documents/pshupdated.pdf
· Homelessness Strategy
· Winchester Supporting People Strategy 2004 - 2009 (Consultation Draft)
Lead Partner:
Margaret Newbigin, Chief Executive, Winchester Housing Group
Contact:
Tina Price
Winchester Housing Group
33 Staple Gardens
WINCHESTER
Hampshire
SO23 8SR
Tel: 01962 828804
E-mail: [email protected]
Health and Well-being
Our shared aim
To promote the physical and mental health and well-being of everyone in the district through the creation of a more healthy environment and ensuring that people are able to access health services that provide them with the best possible care
37. Through this shared aim, we will look to ensure that all sections of our community are able to enjoy the best levels of health and well being that are reasonably possible, as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy rates.
38. To achieve this, we will ensure that
· we give people information and skills to help individuals take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and make informed choices about their lifestyle and their care if they become ill;
· we work to involve and strengthen communities and employers, so that they can promote and support the safety, health and well-being of individuals and staff;
· services that promote and support health and wellbeing are appropriate, accessible and effective, having regard for the circumstances of the people for whom they are provided;
· our policies and practices to promote health and wellbeing are well integrated within the health service itself and across other associated agencies and are effective in both the short and long term.
Present Situation
39. There is a clear link between deprivation and ill health. Factors such as heredity, age, gender, individual lifestyles, access to the support of social and community networks, cultural and environmental conditions, living and working conditions also have an impact upon the health and well being of the people in our communities. Many people in this District have incomes above the national average and better than average health. However, there are still individuals and small areas that experience significant levels of relative deprivation and, as a result, less good health.
40. The Winchester Health Improvement Group, which involves many statutory and voluntary agencies who help promote good health and support those who suffer ill health or disability, has drawn up a Local Health Improvement Plan, based on information about the health of local communities. This Plan identifies the local health improvement needs and priorities. It also focuses upon the need to address national and local targets for:
· the prevention and reduction of
- avoidable injury in the home and in the workplace
- cancer, coronary heart disease and diabetes
- mental ill-health and suicide
- substance misuse
- HIV & teenage pregnancy
· promoting safe sexual health practices; and
· providing appropriate support and care for those with learning and physical disability.
41. The Plan also sets out recommendations for local action, including the provision of advice, information and outreach services. These recommendations target vulnerable groups within the community, in particular those at risk of suffering from poorer health, including the young and elderly, those in prison and those requiring support after leaving an institutionalised environment.
Future Trends and Pressures
Children (aged 0-11)
42. We need to focus upon protecting children from harm and neglect, maximising their potential and promoting their physical and mental well-being. We have increasing concerns for children, particularly those placed in care, whose life chances are unequal, who are vulnerable to changing family and environmental circumstances which impact upon their ability to lead fulfilling and healthy lifestyles. Difficulties in accessing appropriate activities which encourage healthier choices relating to diet, physical activity and safety can also be compounded by chronic illness, disability, and poor family circumstances. We need to be able to encourage partnership across a range of services to provide adequate and appropriate support for these vulnerable groups of children and their families.
Young people (aged 12-25)
43. Our population of young people is increasing through the expansion of local schools and colleges. There are also increasing numbers of vulnerable young people who are unable to regularly attend their school/college due to their personal illness/depression, anti-social behaviour, permanent exclusion or the need to care for family members. We need to focus on developing co-ordinated services to fulfil the needs of such young people to reduce educational failure, disaffection with schooling, anti-social behaviour, ill-health, substance misuse, alcohol consumption and teenage pregnancy. This may be achieved through the promotion of safer, credible alternatives which provide appropriate information and services which can address their educational and leisure requirements, and in the longer term create appropriate parenting skills.
Adults
44. The range of adults using our local services and requiring support is higher than the resident population due to large numbers of local employees (60%) who do not live in the District. Increasingly those experiencing dramatic lifestyle changes through divorce, bereavement or chronic illness and stress require a variety of support and advice services to be made available. In addition, vulnerable individuals leading more unstable lifestyles through unemployment, chronic disease, mental health problems, substance misuse, social isolation or imprisonment also experience frustration and low self-esteem and require access to and more consistent and co-ordinated care across a variety of services. Access to decent housing and early recognition, diagnosis and signposting to support as well as providing effective interventions through education, health, legal advice and skills development may encourage stability, improvement in health and personal fulfilment.
Older People (age 65+)
45. Winchester has the highest population of older residents across North and Mid Hampshire (2001 census: 18,402), with an estimated rise of 9.8% forecast between 2006 and 2011. Demand for sheltered housing appears to be falling with people preferring to stay in their own homes for as long as possible resulting in a high demand on home and intermediate care services and an impact on transport services especially in more isolated rural areas. Proactive programmes offering advice and support on affordable warmth and immunisation to combat winter pressures affecting homes and physical well-being are essential. The promotion of adequate and appropriate physical activity, which also has a beneficial effect upon mental well-being as well as the avoidance of accidental injury is a major concern for this vulnerable group. Key areas for support developed for those suffering from poor mental health including depression, confusion and dementia also needs to be provided for carers.
Medium Term Improvements
46. We will take the following steps to help us realise our vision effectively over the longer term. Action on these will be overseen by the Winchester Health Improvement Group and Health for All Partnership. Identification and support for local groups and communities will be, in some cases, piloted with local stakeholders in order to assess changes over time. Possible measures will consider the impact of interventions on people, the community, local services and local policies. This reflection on progress will support the development of the most effective practices to be sustained throughout the district. Information concerning access to local health and dental services will be considered as will the integration of local projects into mainstream services and policies.
Key Indicators
· Infant mortality
· Life expectancy rate
· Dental Health: DMF Score
· Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2004
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Winchester District Health Improvement Plan
Lead Partner:
Bridget Phelps, Chair, Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust
Contact:
Sally Markwell
Winchester City Council
Colebrook Street
WINCHESTER SO23 9LJ
Tel: 01962 848165
Email: [email protected]
Freedom from Fear
Our shared aim
To help people feel safe in their communities because there is very little anti-social behaviour, levels of crime are low and roads are safe for all to use.
47. To achieve this aim, we need to ensure that local people feel part of a strong and stable community where individuals have respect for one another and the place they live in, work in, or visit. Stability, and so the communities themselves, are undermined if people live in fear - be that fear of criminal activity, hate crimes or straightforward anti-social behaviour. If our aspirations for a strong economy, a high quality natural and built environment and strong local communities are to be met, then we must minimise, or even remove, such fear.
Present Situation
48. We know that Winchester is a relatively safe place to live and work, with low levels of crime and disorder. Crime figures for Hampshire as a whole are below the national average, and the District is below the average for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We do, however, know that some drug and hate crimes, such as domestic violence, are hidden and infrequently reported.
49. Other anti-social activity is less easy to quantify; whether it be the levels of drug abuse or anti-social behaviour such as vandalism, graffiti or the simple (perhaps unwarranted) fear of groups of young people.
50. Despite this, people across all communities express a fear of being the victim of crime or an unease about anti-social behaviour - low level violence, drug and alcohol abuse, noise pollution, graffiti and vandalism. The last of these is at best unpleasant and can feel very threatening to some members of our community. Those in built up areas tend to be most concerned about violent crime, while those in rural areas are more worried by the thought of domestic burglary6.
51. Use of illegal drugs and alcohol abuse are of concern to the community. The Police take robust action for such offences, with persistent offenders and hot spot areas being targeted. A proposal has been submitted for a drinking exclusion zone to be created in central Winchester, with the Police co-ordinating a multi agency approach to tackle alcohol related night time disorder in this area.
52. Road safety is a continued concern, particularly the inappropriate speed of traffic on rural roads and through small towns and villages. This fear is sufficient to stop many people riding bikes or horses on rural roads, or walking along roads where there is no pavement. This undoubtedly increases use of private cars for short journeys in rural areas and means that many children do not get into the habit of walking or cycling.
Future Trends and Pressures
53. Nationally crime trends are stable or reducing, save with low level violent crime, where there has been an increase in part because of a recent change in the way these are recorded. Figures for our District generally reflect these national trends. There is no doubt that tackling crime will remain a key policy for Central Government, so we can reasonably expect these broad trends to continue.
54. Anti-social behaviour is increasingly seen as a major issue, and dealing with actual or perceived behaviour of this nature is likely to grow in importance within the District, drawing on recent legislative changes that have simplified procedures for using Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.
55. Changes in licensing laws also give an opportunity for us to work more closely together to integrate licensing policy with a wider approach to management of the leisure economy.
56. Technological advances are constantly introducing new ways in which criminals can operate. Cloning of credit cards, the threat of identity theft and misuse of cameras in mobile phones are all recent dangers that we need to find new ways of addressing. Computer viruses present a very real threat to both individuals and businesses throughout the District. These, and the threat from hackers, can create real barriers to strengthening IT links between partners and to improving electronic access to our services.
57. We are working, with the wider Community Safety Partnership, to address concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour and, as initiatives, new programmes and funding streams proliferate, it will be vital that we co-ordinate all these strands of activity.
Medium Term Improvements
58. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision, working through the Community Safety Partnership.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
FF1. Review Community Safety Strategy |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
FF2. Make people better informed about local levels of crime and disorder |
HC |
_ |
||||||||
FF3. Help communities feel more in control of their local environment by |
||||||||||
· designing out crime as part of environmental improvement or new development |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
· helping communities manage anti-social behaviour, supported by Neighbourhood Wardens |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
· encouraging development of more Neighbourhood Watch in Winchester |
HC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
FF4. Address road safety and traffic speeds to reduce the number and severity of accidents. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
FF5. Raise awareness and encourage reporting of domestic abuse, with good co-ordination of services that provide support and work to prevent such abuse. |
WAC |
|||||||||
FF6. Ensure agencies co-ordinate their response to crime and anti-social behaviour |
WCC |
_ |
||||||||
FF7. Ensure programmes designed to improve the District's leisure offer, provide more affordable housing, improve education, training and skills or improve transport and access also realise opportunities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour |
All for own areas |
_ |
||||||||
FF8. Work together to introduce a 30mph speed limit in villages, where appropriate and in line with the wishes of the local community. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
WCC - Winchester City Council
HC - Hampshire Constabulary, Central Division
WAC - Winchester Area Community Action
Key Indicators
· Feelings of safety in local area in daytime and at night (as measured through residents' surveys)
· Levels of violent crime
· Levels of domestic burglary
· Number of reported domestic abuse cases
· Number of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes operating in the District.
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Community Safety Strategy 2002 - 2005
Lead Partner: Superintendent Bob Rose, Hampshire Constabulary Central Division
Contacts: |
Insp. Steve Mote or Sgt. Kate Fryatt Twyford Police Station Hampshire Constabulary Annexe Dolphin Hill Twyford WINCHESTER SO21 1PU Tel: 0845 0454545 E-mail: [email protected] |
Mick Wallace, Community Safety Officer Winchester City Council Colebrook Street WINCHESTER SO23 9LJ Tel: 01962 848132 E-mail: [email protected] |
Transport and Access
Our shared aim
To improve accessibility so that everyone can enjoy a good range of shops, employment and leisure opportunities as well as having easy access to basic services such as health and education, while minimising the adverse environmental impacts of travel.
59. Accessibility is an important issue for everyone in the community as it involves the ability of any individual to participate in a particular activity, including employment, shopping, leisure, education and health. However accessibility issues are different across the District. In the urban area of Winchester town centre, there are environmental problems caused by traffic congestion, air quality, noise and vibration, while in the rural areas, the car has become essential in order to achieve access to basic services. New technology offers alternative forms of access to some services but not all people are able to benefit from this, because of technical or financial constraints or because they lack the desire, skills, equipment, knowledge or confidence to use it.
60. Our aim is to balance the conflicting requirements of improving accessibility for all sections of the community while minimising the adverse impacts that such improvements may have on the quality of life in this District. Any proposed improvements also have to be achievable in terms of cost and be acceptable to the community. They must also take account of the varied needs of individuals, particularly those who have a disability, those who are not fluent in English and those who have difficulty with the written word.
61. Transport and access policies must complement other strategic issues. These include health with the benefits of walking and cycling, education with the transport problems to and from schools, safety with the need to reduce the number of road traffic accidents, and economic prosperity where many large and small businesses are dependant on good transport links.
62. We need to find ways of improving accessibility for all sections of the community, and at the same time ensuring that Winchester is a pleasant and safe place to live, to work and to visit. Providing more road capacity to carry more cars is not an environmentally sustainable solution, although the car will remain the primary form of transport for many, particularly in rural areas. Alternatives to the car will be encouraged for trips to work and school, and for trips within the built up areas of the district. There is also a need to reduce social exclusion by improving both public and community transport.
Present Situation
63. The current transport and access policies for this District are set out in two of the Area Transport Strategies within the Hampshire Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 which is produced by Hampshire County Council in consultation with District Councils.
64. The Winchester Movement and Access Plan (WMAP) covers Winchester town centre and the surrounding built up area. The Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS) covers the remainder of the District together with other areas in adjoining Hampshire Districts.
65. Preparation work has now started on the Hampshire Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 and the number of Area Transport Strategies is being reduced from 10 to 4. This District will still be covered by two areas, the Central Hampshire area covering most of the District, and the Solent area covering the most southern part of the District including the communities of Denmead and Whiteley.
66. WMAP has been in place since 1991 and several projects have achieved significant improvements in Winchester town centre:
· The introduction and subsequent expansion of Park and Ride at Bar End has removed traffic and reduced congestion in the town centre.
· Major enhancements to High Street and Jewry Street have reduced traffic speeds and created a better environment for pedestrians.
· A major scheme outside Winchester Station has greatly improved bus/rail interchange and provided better access for buses, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists.
· A Quality Bus Partnership has enhanced bus services on routes 1 and 5 through Winchester with new buses, improved frequencies and upgraded stopping places.
· A Controlled Parking Zone has been introduced to discourage commuter parking in residential areas and the City Council has taken over on street parking enforcement.
67. Within the rural part of Winchester District covered by CHARTS since 2001, we have concentrated on soft measures to improve accessibility:
· Greater integration of public transport.
· Individual plans for main settlements and their hinterlands, including Denmead, Bishops Waltham, Wickham and Alresford.
· New rural and community transport initiatives to promote sustainable travel and social inclusion.
· Development of suitable traffic management techniques to control traffic and promote road safety.
68. Work to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act has already led to some improvement to ensure that more people can gain access to public places and more work is due to take place.
69. There is wide acceptance of the use of the telephone to access services, with mobile phones increasing levels of accessibility as they can often be used whenever and wherever a need arises. Greater use of the Internet already means that some people shop, bank and learn `on line' and public authorities are continuing to make more services available electronically in response to the Government target for all services to be accessible through this route by the end of 2005.
Future Trends and Pressures
70. Despite the encouragement of more sustainable approaches to transport in recent years, both the level of car ownership and the level of car usage have continued to increase. There have also been increases in the number of rail passenger journeys per year and the level of walking, but the number of bus passenger journeys and the level of cycling have reduced. There have been significant reductions in the number of people killed and injured in road traffic accidents. There has also been some success in encouraging the development of workplace and school travel plans. The transfer of journeys to work and school on to public transport are most important in reducing traffic congestion and achieving environmental benefits.
71. In general while the community often accepts the principles of sustainable transport, individuals find it difficult to change their travel habits and are reluctant to give up the flexibility, convenience and comfort of their cars. We recognise that there is scope for improving both bus and community transport services but will need to find ways that this can be done at a cost acceptable to the community. We also acknowledge that there is often local pressure to provide more bus and rail services in the evenings and on Sundays in order to improve accessibility to leisure activities.
72. The growth in electronic communications is likely to continue as the distinction between phones, computers and televisions becomes increasingly blurred, people become more comfortable with the technology and more used to being able to access many services at whatever time is convenient to them. This will have an impact on traditional working practices and may see a move away from the need for a `shop front' in some sectors of the economy. Use of electronic systems within organisations can allow a stronger focus on specialist customer centres, with the potential for more joined up working between different public organisations.
Medium Term Improvements
73. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision. Action on these will be the overseen by a transportation consortium formed from representatives of various transportation liaison groups that currently operate within the District.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
TA1. Establish Park and Ride on all principal routes into Winchester. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
TA2. Consider potential for increased parking at Winchester Railway Station. |
||||||||||
TA3. Extend Park & Ride buses to the Hospital. |
WCC |
|||||||||
TA4. Improve air quality in Winchester town centre by reducing levels of congestion. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
TA5. New high quality bus station as part of the Friarsgate redevelopment. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
TA6. Provide safer and more convenient walking and cycling routes. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
TA7. Reduce social exclusion by improving public and community transport, including addressing rural issues. |
HCC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
TA8. Reduce vehicle emissions particularly from buses and advocate alternative fuel systems. |
Bus |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
TA9. Support the production of workplace and school travel plans. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |||||
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
TA10. Enhance rural life through sustainable access initiatives. |
HCC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
TA11. Encourage the provision of rural demand responsive bus services. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |
TA12. Ensure new developments encourage use of sustainable transport options. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
TA13. Encourage greater public participation in the transport debate. |
WCC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
TA14. Develop local access points throughout the District. |
WCC & PCs |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
TA15. Ensure that people with disabilities are able to access services. |
WAC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
HCC - Hampshire County Council
WCC - Winchester City Council
HC - Hampshire Constabulary
WAC - Winchester Area Community Action
Bus - Bus Companies
PCs - Parish Councils
Key Indicators
· Measures of air quality in Winchester Town Centre (from road side monitoring equipment)
· Annual average traffic flow per 1,000 km of principal roads (from measurements made by Hampshire County Council and ONS)
· Percentage of residents using different types of transport (from residents' survey)
· Percentage of children travelling to school by different types of transport (from residents' survey or survey of schools)
· Number of community transport/dial a ride
· Use of rural transport services and number of bus and train passengers on Winchester services
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Hampshire Local Transport Plan 2006-2011
· Winchester District Local Plan
Lead Partner: Vacant
Contact: Alan Jowsey,
Winchester City Council
Avalon House
Chesil Street
WINCHESTER SO23 0HU
Tel: 01962 848583
E-mail: [email protected]
Economic Prosperity
Our shared aim
To create and sustain a thriving, broad-based local economy that integrates business, education and industry to provide prosperity, employment and occupation within the District, for the benefit of all.
74. To achieve this, we will need to provide the key elements identified by all businesses:
· Good communications, locally, nationally and internationally
· An available labour force with the right skills
· A pleasant environment where business leaders, their staff and families can enjoy a good quality of life with access to shops, leisure and other facilities
· A helpful and pro-active local authority
· A clear vision of the future.
75. We will also need to work together to:
· Create a `climate' that enables enterprise and private sector interest and investment to be harnessed with appropriate public sector involvement
· Develop a thriving knowledge-based enterprise economy well placed to adapt to the changing global market place, and meet the challenges of economic activity moving to less expensive locations in the world.
· Establish and build upon the strengths of Sparsholt College, the University College Winchester, the University of Southampton, Peter Symonds College, and the modern business park at Whiteley to promote the District as being a `centre of excellence' in education and modern business
· Secure the provision of high quality leisure and cultural facilities accessible to all our communities
· Get more residents and businesses signed up for Broadband.
Present Situation
76. Business within the District is currently dominated by the service sector and especially public services. Skills and labour availability shortages exist in some service employment sectors. According to the 2001 census, just under 30% of the population of the District is `economically inactive', slightly higher than the norm for Hampshire but below the national average. This includes the student population (5.2%) as well as those who are retired, homemakers and those with disabilities. With its small manufacturing base the District is vulnerable to even a small decline in the manufacturing sector7. The effect of encouraging the 50+ age group to continue to work needs to be assessed.
77. The District benefits from excellent rail links to Heathrow and Southampton airports., However connections by bus to local rail stations from much of the district are poor or non-existent. Peak hour road congestion is also a major constriction in accessing the stations by road. There is a perception that congestion is now adversely affecting 83% of businesses in Hampshire8,9.
78. Interestingly, the District has the highest percentage of people working from home in Hampshire -12% - the average being 9.1%8. We should look to build on this, given increased broadband availability and steps towards sustaining local shops and centres in rural communities
79. The Telecoms, ICT and Creative sectors in Hampshire have grown by almost 9,000 jobs in the past five years with Winchester showing one of the largest gains. The Creative Industries currently provide some 2,500 jobs in the District (one of the most substantial clusters in the sub-region8).
80. Whilst the sub-region of Hampshire is ranked only 7th out of 11 in the regional knowledge economy index, this District showed a major gain of some 1400 jobs in this sector in 2003. Clearly there is potential to develop this sector in the District8.
81. The rate of new business formation in Winchester has been above the regional average during the last two years, and registrations have outnumbered de-registration every year8. However there is a perceived shortage of premises for, and encouragement of, second-stage enterprises.
82. Interestingly, in Hampshire the mainstay of the rural economy is the commercial service sector which accounts for 54% of firms, with agriculture only accounting for some 16% of businesses8. Rural communities are significantly more isolated from a range of services than their urban cousins, with dwindling numbers of village shops and post offices a cause for concern.
83. The quality of the natural environment is an important asset, helping to support inward investment and Tourism, which is an important sector within the District's economy. Winchester is a key cultural and heritage attraction, with Winchester Cathedral being one of the most visited sites in the region. The restaurant, bar and hotel sector is identified as a `cluster' in Winchester8. However, many visitors make only short visits and visitors disembarking from ferries at Southampton and Portsmouth see the District in terms of a stop-over before heading elsewhere. Conference Winchester has been launched to maximise the number of conferences held throughout the area.
84. Shopping in the District is considered good and convenient in the smaller towns, such as Alresford and Bishops Waltham. Winchester itself is perceived to lack the convenience and range of major shopping centres, though it does offer good specialist retailers, who are valued by local residents. It faces particularly tough competition from new developments such as West Quay in Southampton and Festival Place in Basingstoke. Whiteley offers an excellent out-of-town retail park, but again faces strong competition from Gun Wharf Quay in Portsmouth.
Future trends and pressures
85. Recent Defence Reviews have cast doubt over the future of a number of MoD sites in the District, including Worthy Down and the Sir John Moore Barracks near Winchester and HMS Dryad in Southwick. The present MoD use of these sites is an important element in the local economy. If these sites are released, we would wish to see them being reused for sustainable economic development as well as providing potential for local housing.
86. Continuing transportation bottlenecks remain a concern for local businesses. We recognise that, for business to continue flourish, there needs to be
· Road improvement schemes with the M27 and the M3/A34 being seen as top priority9
· Increased rail capacity to London with increased capacity for parking at railway stations9 where appropriate
· More confidence about access into Winchester, addressing concerns at the cost and availability of parking through a parking review.
87. Rural communities are undergoing significant changes as economic change becomes more rapid and external competition becomes more intense8. It is likely that the agricultural sector will shrink and other sectors will be faced with a continuing need to diversify8.
88. We also need to build on existing strengths in workforce development throughout the District.
Medium Term Improvements
89. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision. Action on these will be the overseen by Business4Winchester, a new partnership being formed to influence the future local economy.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
EP1. Work to achieve improvements to M3/A34 junction and to the M27 corridor |
HA |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
EP2. Develop a long term strategy to include improvement of existing local railway stations at Shawford and Micheldever to make use of these attractive alternative means of access for work, leisure and school |
SWT |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
EP3. Work to provide easy in easy out business centres linked to centres of innovation and research and development |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
EP4. Review opportunities for new businesses to continue to develop within the District |
CoC |
_ |
||||||||
EP5. Ensure that development control policies recognise the realities of business needs in a changing market place |
WCC |
_ |
||||||||
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
EP6. Support sustainable diversification which meets the overall objectives of the Strategy, encouragement of enterprise and the development of niche sectors, shops and products in rural areas and support the rural economy. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
EP7. Work to `connect' all rural areas to broadband, essential to the formation of enterprises in rural areas |
HBF |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
EP8. Work to provide good transport links from rural communities to town centres, employment, health, leisure and cultural facilities. |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
EP9. Provide a range of recreational facilities especially for the young, and student population, which are accessible to urban and rural communities. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
EP10. Develop cultural or heritage based projects which extend the `stay' of visitors, be they local or international |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
EP11. Promote investment in Town Centres, which provide a `shop-front' for the District and its community and ensure excellent retail provision suited to the needs of residents, visitors and the workforce of the District. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
EP12. Encourage workplace health strategies to deal with workplace health, mental health and accessibility issues. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
EP13. Investigate the potential for business parks or business areas in the District. |
_ |
|||||||||
HCC - Hampshire County Council
SWT - South West Trains
WCC - Winchester City Council
CoC - Chamber of Commerce
HBF - Hampshire Broadband Forum
HA - Highways Agency
Key Indicators
· Rate of new business formation (DTI figures)
· Number of visitors to Winchester Cathedral (From monitoring by Winchester Cathedral)
· Estimated visitor spend in the District (from Visitor Surveys)
· Number of shop vacancies
· Wage rates
· Unemployment rate
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Winchester District Local Plan
Lead Partner:?North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Joanna Cassey
North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Abbey Mill
Colebrook Street
WINCHESTER SO23 9LH
Tel: 01962 841000
E-mail: [email protected]
A High Quality Environment
Our shared aim
To protect our environment and use natural resources carefully so that we, and the generations to come, will continue to enjoy the natural and built environment within this District.
90. The quality of the environment in which we live is important to us. We want to live in an area that has clean air and water, attractive towns and villages and easy access to beautiful countryside. We understand that our actions have consequences for the environment in the future, both locally and globally. Over the next 10 to 15 years we will work to maintain and improve the quality of the local environment and public satisfaction with it. In particular, we will seek to:
· work with residents and developers to develop, maintain and enhance the different characteristics of communities in the District;
· ensure all new development is attractive, appropriate to the town or village and provides a good quality of life for its residents and businesses without damaging the quality of life for the rest of the community;
· keep the environment tidy and free of litter;
· reduce the amount of waste generated;
· increase the proportion of waste re-used and recycled;
· reduce the amount of energy used locally that comes from non-renewable sources and encourage energy efficiency in new development;
· balance long term demands for water with available supplies;
· encourage greater biodiversity throughout the District.
Present Situation
91. The natural environment of the Winchester district is rated as good or excellent by about three-quarters of local people, with just over half giving the built environment a similar rating. However, 25% considered that the quality of the natural environment had deteriorated and 19% that the quality of the built environment had got worse in the time they had lived in their present home. Key concerns with the natural environment were more litter and mess, more noise, loss of land to development and fewer birds and wildlife10.
92. Many features of the District are valued and protected by national and local designations, with about half the District falling within the proposed National Park or the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Landscape characteristics have been designated across the District. The District contains around 3,000 listed buildings and 37 designated Conservation Areas. It covers nine Historic Parks and Gardens listed on English Heritage's National Register and a further 113 that have been designated locally. About 1,500 trees are covered by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), with about 50 new TPOs being created each year.
93. The District includes two National Nature Reserves (NNRs), 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and over 500 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). The Itchen Valley is being considered for European Designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Just over half the area covered by SSSIs within this District is considered to be in a favourable condition, with a further 20% recovering.
94. Central Winchester is designated as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) because traffic congestion and proximity of homes to busy roads allows pollutants from traffic fumes to build up. Elsewhere, air quality is generally good. As a rural area, there are many sources of pollen that can present a problem for those with allergies.
95. Rivers and canals flowing through the district are generally rated as `good' or `very good' in terms of their chemical and biological quality. Chalk underlies much of the district, providing a natural reservoir for water. Currently, demand for water is lower than the available supplies. In addition to mains water, there are some 140 private water supplies serving small numbers of homes in the district. Drinking water supplied by the two water companies in the area is deemed to be of high quality by the regulator.
96. Although there is some risk of flooding along rivers running through the district, rising ground water levels have been the main source of floods in recent years, with Hambledon at particular risk following heavy rains.
97. Most properties in larger communities are connected to mains drainage, while many rural areas rely on private drainage, primarily through cess pits and septic tanks.
98. Land use is primarily agricultural. The City Council is currently surveying the district to identify areas of contaminated land, but from work undertaken to date, it is apparent that only small parts of the district are liable to have some form of contamination. In 2002/03, 77% of new development was on previously used land, although this figure will fall when work starts on the new major development planned west of Waterlooville.
99. The District generates high levels of domestic rubbish with just over 400kgs of waste per person collected on average in 2002/03. There is good access to recycling, with all households having the option of a kerbside collection for paper, cans and plastic bottles and 60 `bring sites' for recycling of glass. Larger `bring sites' and civic amenity sites cater for wider recycling including used clothes, books, garden waste and other metals. In addition charity shops, car boot sales and jumble sales provide valuable outlets for reuse of materials. At present, the overall recycling rate stands at 27%, which includes an allowance for home composting. Very little information is available on volumes and disposal of business or agricultural waste within the district.
100. Overall the energy efficiency of homes in the district is above the national average, with an average SAP rating of 51.2 for privately owned property and 65 for rented property owned by the City Council. (The SAP rating is a standardised method of measuring the energy efficiency of a building, with the higher the score, the greater the energy efficiency up to a maximum score of 100). Less information is available on energy use by business and for public lighting.
101. Local people see disturbance from noise as an increasing issue. In addition to domestically generated noise, noise from aircraft, traffic and military activities have been identified as particular concerns.
102. Opinions vary as to the optimum level of lighting at night. Winchester and a number of larger towns and villages are lit at night, with many residents welcoming the greater feeling of safety this brings. In contrast many smaller communities and rural areas have no public lighting and value the ability to see the night sky more clearly as a result.
103. Individuals may experience very different environmental conditions in enclosed spaces, such as buildings and cars, or when walking or cycling in heavy traffic. People in cars in traffic queues will be particularly vulnerable to dirty diesel fumes and the quality of air in buildings will depend on factors such as the type of heating system, cleaning materials used, presence of pets and degree of ventilation.
Future trends and pressures
104. Predicted changes to the climate form the greatest challenge to the District in the medium to longer term, with dryer hotter summers and wetter winters predicted, together with a greater frequency of extreme weather. This will require both adaptations to deal with the consequences of changes that are already happening, and different life styles if further adverse change is to be minimised. National legislation and regulations are increasingly reflecting the drive to reduce CO2 emissions and avoid new development in areas at risk of flooding. Further such requirements can be anticipated. More dramatic predictions of significant cooling through the loss of the North Atlantic gulf stream have still to be validated but will need to be monitored.
105. Two consequences of these changes that have already been experienced are increased risk of flooding in various parts of the district and an increase in the number of pests, such as rats, which are able to breed all year round in the milder winters. Dryer summers will put increased pressure on the need to conserve water and make best use of existing supplies. They could also increase risk of major fires.
106. With the need to reduce emissions of CO2 and diminishing reserves of fossil fuels there will be continued pressure to reduce use of non-renewable sources of energy, both by making best possible use of existing energy supplies and by helping to develop renewable technologies.
107. Lack of suitable landfill sites, public resistance to incineration of waste and a need to conserve raw materials will continue to drive waste minimisation and increased recycling rates. Increasing European legislation on the safe disposal of waste is already having an impact on the way some goods are disposed of, with increasing numbers of abandoned vehicles and fly tipping remaining a persistent problem. As this legislation continues to develop there will be changes in the way some products are disposed of and increasing opportunities for industries involved in deconstruction and reclamation. In 2005, the City Council is due to trial a new system of refuse collection designed to minimise waste and increase the percentage of materials recycled.
108. On a more local level, there needs to be greater public awareness about responsibility for the condition of private sewers connecting individual homes to mains drainage.
109. Pressure for new development in the District is likely to continue over the next 10 to 15 years. Existing plans will require major new development to take place on `greenfield' sites, with the loss of countryside and wildlife in these areas. This will also put pressure on water supplies and roads in the area. It will be important for these new communities to develop their own distinctive identity and character so as to engender a good community spirit and sense of belonging.
110. Plans for a `South Downs' National Park are being developed, which would extend into the eastern part of the District. A public inquiry into this proposal started in 2004..
Medium Term Improvements
111. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision. Action on these will be the overseen by Winchester and District Working Together... pending further consideration of the best form of partnership working in this topic area.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
QE1. Action to improve air quality in Winchester Town Centre |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
QE2. Ensure that new development, particularly in major new development areas takes into account sustainability and responds to the challenges of climate change and potential flooding risks |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
QE3. New development should be of a high quality design and should reflect local distinctiveness. Parish Plans, neighbourhood and village design statements shall be produced with the local community. |
WCC PCs |
_ |
_ | |||||||
QE4. Ensure at least 60% of new development is on brownfield sites. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
QE5. Reduce volumes of waste generated and increase recycling in support of the Hampshire Material Resources Strategy and work of Project Integra, with better integration of domestic and business initiatives |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
QE6. To promote the efficient use of energy and encourage the use of renewable energy. |
All |
_ |
||||||||
QE7. Review current levels of biodiversity within the district, with targets set for improvement |
HWT |
_ |
||||||||
QE8 Reduce water usage and make better use of waste water throughout the district |
EA |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
QE9. Where possible, seek to reduce the level of unwanted noise. |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
QE10. Encourage community based environmental improvement projects. |
WCC PCs |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
QE11. Protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty and amenity of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty including its physical, ecological and cultural landscape. |
EH AONB Joint Advisory C'ttee |
_ |
_ |
_ |
||||||
WCC - Winchester City Council
EA - Environment Agency
HWT - Hampshire Wildlife Trust
PCs - Parish Councils
Key Indicators
· Average kilograms of domestic waste collected per head of population (Local Authority figures)
· Percentage of domestic waste that is recycled or composted (Local Authority figures)
· Percentage of land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is in a favourable or unfavourable recovering condition (Survey information from English Nature)
· Number of listed buildings on the `at risk' register (National figures)
· Percentage of people disturbed by noise (Local Authority survey)
· Local residents' perceptions of the quality of the natural and built environment within the District (Local Authority survey)
· Local residents' perception of whether the quality of the natural and built environment is improving or deteriorating (Local Authority survey)
· Percentage of new development on brownfield sites (Local Authority figures)
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Winchester District Local Plan
· Hampshire Material Resources Strategy
· South Downs Interim Management Plan
· South Hampshire Sub-Regional Study
· Itchen Valley Management Strategy
· Hampshire Biodiversity Plan
Lead Partner: Vacant
Contact: Jacky Adams
Winchester City Council
Colebrook Street
WINCHESTER SO23 9LJ
Tel: 01962 848356
E-mail: [email protected]
Lifelong Learning
Can there be some reference to the role that libraries and museums play in lifelong learning?
Our shared aim
To give everyone access to learning and the opportunity to continue to develop their potential throughout their life for the benefit of themselves, their family, their work and their community.
Present Situation
112. This District has many strengths in terms of learning and education. In particular
· over 30% of the population is qualified to degree level or above, against a national norm of some 19%11
· it has a higher percentage of the total population in full-time secondary, further and higher education than the national average;
· there are only 78 young people registered as not being in employment, education or training.
113. Yet we recognise that there are also concerns. It is estimated that between 15-20% of the local population requires some support in basic literacy and numeracy skills12, with some areas in Winchester being above the national average in terms of low and very low literacy rates.
114. Research by the Community Learning Forum13 for the District also found that, although courses are generally available to help people improve skills or acquire new skills, there were a number of barriers to people undertaking learning once they have left school. Key amongst these are:
· Cost: Although some courses are free to those who are unemployed, those on low income face charges that, while moderate, can still prove a barrier;
· Childcare: A lack of free childcare was often cited as a barrier. Even where education providers had funding to provide free childcare, difficulties were encountered in finding suitable staff and facilities with the result that funding by itself was not necessarily a guarantee that childcare could be provided.
· Location: Access to a centre providing learning has been identified as a barrier by those without easy access to a private car. This is true both of those living in rural areas and of those living on estates outside the centre of Winchester where venues, other than on their estate or in the town centre, can be difficult to reach. It is particularly true for those with learning disabilities.
· Time: People who are in work, who run families, or both, can find it very difficult to find the time to undertake further learning.
· Psychological: The prospect of re-entering a formal learning atmosphere can be daunting, particularly to those who have not enjoyed school or succeeded in a formal learning setting in the past. People lacking basic skills can feel ashamed of this and may not wish to admit to it by being seen to attend classes.
115. There are a number of institutions within the District that provide education beyond secondary school. These include
· Peter Symonds College in Winchester, that has some 8000 students and is a major provider of education and training to teenagers and adults,
· Sparsholt College that prides itself as the country's leading college for land based industries,
· the School of Art that is now part of Southampton University and
· University College, Winchester which has recently been granted the right to confer degrees and has some 5000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
116. This local provision is only part of a wide network of 22 Further and Higher Educational Institutions in Hampshire, with many living in the District having access to other colleges elsewhere in the County, particularly for their vocational and technical training.
117. There is also a wide range of adult and community learning organisations filling gaps in this more statutory provision. These organisations can face a number of challenges over funding, with some being unaware of possible sources of funding support, while others rely on short term funding that can make long term planning very difficult.
118. Work through the Community Learning Forum has identified other problems for those seeking to provide learning, in particular
· Lack of communication between providers, such that different providers are not aware of which courses each other are offering, with the potential for overlaps and gaps.
· Gaps in knowledge about potential venues for courses, with venue owners also being unaware of who may wish to use their facilities.
· Undue reliance on word of mouth for information about courses, with the potential that those without strong links into the community may be unaware of courses on offer.
· Need for more co-operation between course organisers to avoid unhealthy competition arising.
· Lack of support and advice to those wishing to organise learning opportunities, on issues such as target audiences.
Future trends and pressures
119. There is a significant gap in provision for skills/craft-based learning in Winchester for those wishing to become, amongst other things, mechanics, plumbers or automobile engineers. This stems in part from the lack of craft-based businesses, but is exacerbated by the reluctance of the small number of craft-based businesses that operate in the area to get involved in providing training provision and modern apprenticeships. A number of potential reasons for this lack of interest have been cited:
· an inflexibility on behalf of the employers to accept young people without five GCSE A-C grades;
· anxiety regarding the health and safety issues involved or
· simply the lack of incentives for the company to make it worth their while participating.
120. This is a crucial issue to address with local businesses since currently individuals would have to travel to Basingstoke or Eastleigh to attend courses and training in construction, engineering or mechanics. This may deter many potential learners.
121. There is also currently strong demand for more courses in IT and also classes dealing with fitness and health issues which are easily accessible and not costly.
Medium Term Improvements
122. We will take the following steps to help us realise our long term vision. Action on these will be the overseen by the Winchester Community Learning Partnership.
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
LL1. Develop closer working relationships amongst learning providers to help identify and address overlaps and gaps |
UCW |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
LL2. Develop technical and vocational learning that is easily accessible to those living in the District. |
UCW |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
LL3. Promote accessible learning in local settings for all sections of the community, in particular in basic literacy and numeracy and in IT skills |
WAC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
UCW - University College Winchester
WAC - Winchester Area Community Action
Key Indicators
To be added
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
·Hampshire County Council Adult Learning Plan
Lead Partner: Professor Chris Turner, University College Winchester
Contact: Ros Gunn
Winchester Community Learning Forum
University College Winchester
Sparkford Road
WINCHESTER SO22 4NR
Tel: 01962 827169
E-mail: [email protected]
Leisure and Recreation
Our shared aim
To value and support a full range of leisure and recreational activities so that all people can enjoy their free time.
123. Being able to enjoy leisure and recreational activities with friends, family or as an individual is one of the things which makes life worth living.
124. If we are truly to call the District `successful' then it must provide its residents with a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy leisure time activities as well as meeting more basic needs for housing, employment and transport.
125. But the importance of leisure and recreation goes well beyond simply enjoyment. Leisure and social activities are one of the best ways for communities to get together and to form a sense of identity. The local sports team, youth club or amateur dramatic society can play a key role in defining a community and building cohesion. The networks of people that are built in this way frequently tackle other issues which are raised in their community.
126. Leisure and recreation is also a significant element in a successful economy. For example over 60 people are employed full and part time at River Park Leisure Centre, and the total number of jobs supported by tourism related business including pubs, clubs and restaurants is estimated at nearly 4,000.
127. Leisure and recreation also contributes to health - both physical and mental. With less than half of us doing enough exercise to keep us healthy there is plenty of scope for improvement.
128. Our vision is of a District which values and supports the availability of a full range of leisure and recreational activities, not as an afterthought but because we recognise that it is important to making life worth living.
129. Our emphasis will be on provision close to where people live and making best use of the facilities and infra-structure which already exist. We should ensure that we look after and make the best use of what we have before providing new facilities - except where these are very clearly justified. We want to support the people who make leisure and recreation possible in the voluntary sector and promote thriving local networks of voluntary activity. We will occasionally support high quality new strategic facilities where there is a specific reason to do so in the interests of the community and will look to undertake these as partnership projects.
130. We see the benefits to the District in terms of health, combating crime and improving community relations, and we value people enjoying themselves.
Present Situation
131. Research carried out as background to this strategy and for the Cultural Strategy found that there was a high level of satisfaction with opportunities available in the area. Winchester itself has almost all of the facilities which could reasonably be expected in a centre of its size (which at under 40,000 population is small in commercial terms). These include the River Park Leisure Centre, the Guildhall, a thriving night-time economy of pubs, clubs and restaurants, good quality public open space in some (but not all) areas and a vast range of clubs, societies and groups.
132. Many smaller communities are able to support a diverse range of activities which suit the needs of their many of residents based around schools, recreation grounds, community centres and village halls.
133. More specialised and commercially oriented leisure and recreational activities are accessible to many residents in larger centres such as Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke. Public transport links to some of these centres from certain rural locations are better than they are to Winchester
134. However, the research revealed a number of areas of concern, some of which mirror issues raised elsewhere in this strategy. These were particularly:
· the cost of maintaining and improving existing facilities and services, particularly those serving small communities;
· the cost of insurance even for small local facilities;
· the difficulty of finding volunteers to support some community based activities;
· the cost of leisure and recreation activities for people living on low incomes;
· the difficulty of getting to and from leisure activities for people in rural areas who have to travel for some activities;
· the shortage of activities for young people (an issue raised as much by older people as the young people themselves).
135. We will do more to improve access to leisure and recreation by concentrating on some of these issues than to constantly pursue new facilities or services.
Future trends and pressures
136. The key pressures that will shape the availability of leisure and recreation opportunities over the next few years are related principally to money and time.
137. Most leisure and recreation activities are dependent upon the availability of some form of facility, be it a sports field, community hall or village pub. Events and activities also need funding. Winchester's communities have been very prudent over the years in renewing and updating these but many still require investment. If facilities are allowed to fall into a poor condition this will deny people the opportunity to participate. However, newer facilities often have higher running costs which can be difficult to afford and may change the economic relationship between users and providers in an undesirable way. Pressure on local authority budgets is also tending to push up the cost of the leisure and recreation they provide, as non-statutory services are expected to recover more of the cost from users. This may affect the essential subsidy which is provided to major facilities and events and without which they cannot survive.
138. For people on low incomes access to leisure and recreation may become more of an issue in the future if the level of public subsidy available is reduced. Better targeting may be the way to address this.
139. The availability of time is also an issue. Many activities which have depended on the willingness of people to commit time to their organisation and management are under pressure. Many people have less `disposable' time after commitments to work and family and are unwilling to make what may feel like an open-ended commitment to be a volunteer even if they would otherwise want to. Without suitable people many local organisations will no longer be able to function and communities will suffer as a result.
140. The need to make provision for young people has been prominent as an issue through the consultation exercise, reflecting similar findings elsewhere in the country. This creates many pressures as the activities which young people wish to pursue can be difficult to provide outside large population centres and are sometimes in conflict with other concerns.
Medium Term Improvements
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
LR1. Establish a Cultural Consortium of key leisure and recreation interests to give a voice to the needs of this area |
WCC |
_ |
||||||||
LR2. To ensure that all the key small -scale local facilities that provide venues for leisure and recreation activities (such as village halls and community centres) are fit for purpose and planning for the future |
PCs |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
LR3. To help recruit, retain and train volunteers and pursue funding for services and projects |
WAC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
LR4. To ensure that all the greatest possible community use is generated from partnership working with education providers in the District at all levels' |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |||||
LR5. To ensure that the future of all major facilities, events and services is reviewed and where necessary secured through appropriate levels of funding being provided |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
LR6. To improve the public transport links between important leisure locations so that they are more accessible without car use |
HCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
LR7. To work together to provide improved cultural facilities in Winchester and ensure that good provision is made in new Major Development Areas |
WCC |
_ |
||||||||
LR8. To increase the percentage of people taking part in sport and active recreation both for enjoyment and to improve their individual health |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
LR9. To target available resources more effectively in ways which will serve people living on low incomes |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
LR10. To make partnership working the preferred approach to new leisure and recreational projects |
WCC |
_ |
_ |
|||||||
WCC - Winchester City Council
PCs - Parish and Town Councils
WAC - Winchester Area Community Action
HCC - Hampshire County Council
Key Indicators
· Percentage of people undertaking recommended amount of physical exercise each week (residents' survey)
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Cultural Strategy
· Winchester District Local Plan
Lead Partner: Vacant
Contact: Steve Tilbury,
Director of Community Services
Winchester City Council
Colebrook Street
WINCHESTER
SO23 9LJ
Tel: 01962 840222
Email: [email protected]
Inclusive Society
Our shared aim
To ensure that communities in this District are inclusive, so that every resident has a sense of belonging and is supported, as and when their circumstances require this.
141. Our aim is to improve the quality of life of every resident of the Winchester district by encouraging an inclusive society in which every resident, especially the young and the elderly, the vulnerable and the marginalized, has a sense of belonging. We seek to ensure that all residents in the Winchester district have access to a full range of services, giving them the opportunity to fulfil their personal potential and thereby make an active contribution in creating a more inclusive society for all.
142. Everyone in the district should be able to have access to the basic necessities of life. We want to make sure that basics such as decent housing appropriate to their needs and with adequate heating, good quality food and clean water and transport are available and affordable across the district. This is essential to improve the health and well-being of the whole community, and ensure that health inequalities do not further the cycle of deprivation. We also want everyone to be able to access essential services, leisure and other facilities, learning, training advice and legal support and volunteering and employment opportunities in their local communities. We want to encourage the provision of affordable childcare so that people can access employment and training and contribute to the local economy of the community.
143. Opportunities to meet people at the local shop, school gate or leisure amenity are important in creating a sense of belonging and preventing isolation. We want to encourage people to feel that they belong in the place where they live and feel positive about it, be it a local town, village or estate and for these communities to be self-sustaining with safe environments. We want individuals and communities to be able to articulate their needs and feel empowered to shape their future in a way that includes all ages and groups. The faith communities (including all churches and other faiths), voluntary organisations and community groups, can play a major role in developing community support and promoting active participation.
144. In order to achieve an inclusive society we will target local multi-agency resources, dismantle barriers to inclusion and support community action to benefit the people of our district.
Present Situation
145. The Winchester District has a generally high level of comparative affluence. However there are certain wards in our district where this masks significant pockets of deprivation. This is accentuated by the higher cost of living in the south east and comparison with the general wealth of the area. There can also be additional costs for transport and basic services such as fuel for those in more isolated rural communities. To achieve a more inclusive society we will have to tackle the existing levels of poverty and associated deprivation and social exclusion. The key measure of this is the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 which looks at the following factors :
· Income
· Employment
· Education, skills and training
· Health, deprivation and disability
· Barriers to Housing and Services
· Crime and Disorder
· The Living Environment
146. The Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004 identifies Stanmore, Winnall and the Jewry Street/Hyde area of Winchester as suffering greatest overall deprivation, together with Wickham.
147. Looking more deeply, it is found that the Stanmore area suffers particular deprivation in terms of income and education, whereas the Jewry Street / Hyde area is most deprived in the District in terms of employment and health. Parts of the rural north and east of the District, while not suffering great deprivation overall, are within the worst 10% nationally in terms of the `Barriers to Housing and Services' indicator.
148. While the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation looks at smaller geographic areas than previous indices, these statistics do not provide the whole picture, as it has been identified that there are, in addition, smaller localised pockets of relative deprivation including health inequality in both the rural and urban areas of the district which are `hidden' by the surrounding relative wealth. In addition there are a number of individuals in all parts of the district who are isolated by factors such as disability, mental health problems, caring responsibilities, lack of access to transport, and are likely also to be on lower incomes. We need to address these issues so that we see real improvements to people's lives by means of specific targeted measures.
149. We are already working with communities in Highcliffe, Winnall, Stanmore and Wickham to help them develop stronger support mechanisms. In addition, Government funding to address deprivation and improve quality of life for children is being used to develop local projects in seven areas of the District. Steps are also being taken to set up a Credit Union to provide access to sensibly priced loans for those on lower or less secure incomes.
Future trends and pressures
150. With greater percentages of major new developments being targeted towards `affordable' housing, it will be important to ensure that there is access to support and facilities for those new residents who move in before elements of the social infrastructure are in place. This will be a particular priority for those residents who may not have a car or may be uncertain as to where to go for help.
Medium Term Improvements
Improvement |
Lead Partner |
Contributes to following aims: | ||||||||
Housing |
Health |
Freedom from Fear |
Transport & Access |
Economic Prosperity |
High Quality Environment |
Lifelong Learning |
Leisure & Recreation |
Inclusive Society | ||
IS1. Address barriers to learning, training and employment through the provision of a wide variety of good quality continuing education, accessible training and job opportunities. |
CLF |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
IS2. Take steps to encourage return to the work-force or to community activity by people not in work, including affordable childcare |
CoC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ | |||||
IS3. To provide support to vulnerable groups, in particular those with disabilities, mental health problems and ex-offenders. |
WAC |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
IS4. Provide good quality information about individual rights and services in forms and language that is suited to the target audience and advice and assistance accessible to all. |
WCC WAC |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
_ |
IS5. Promote volunteering and encourage local residents to actively participate in the running of their local communities. |
WAC PCs |
_ |
_ |
_ | ||||||
IS6. Develop measures to the improve quality of life of, and empower those on low incomes, by establishing a Credit Union, developing money advice services and promoting benefit take-up. |
WCC |
_ |
_ | |||||||
IS7. Work to address prejudice and promote inclusive communities that value diversity |
_ | |||||||||
WCLF - Winchester Community Learning Forum
WCC - Winchester City Council
PCs - Parish and Town Councils
WAC - Winchester Area Community Action
CoC - North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Key Indicators
· Local unemployment rates (national statistics)
· Numbers of young people not in education, employment or training
· Numbers of people suffering from mental health problems (health statistics)
· Percentage claiming income related benefits
Links to Existing Strategies
The following strategies set out more detailed actions to address issues raised in this chapter:
· Social Inclusion Strategy
· Community Legal Services Strategy
· Health Improvement programme
Lead Partner: Diana Wooldridge, Chief Executive, Winchester Area Community Action
Contact: Elizabeth McKerracher
Winchester Area Community Action
Winchester Centre
68 St George's Street
WINCHESTER SO23 8AH
Tel: 01962 842293
E-mail: [email protected]