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Swanage Residents Association

Minutes of the SRA AGM on 7 April 2008

Present: John Leach (Chairman), Rowland Hughes, Steve Borrett, Mike Hadley, Cherry Bartlett

1. Apologies: received from Rachel Kerley, John Wootton, David Gary
2. Planning for the future in Purbeck

Steve Dring, Planning Policy Team Leader at PDC, gave a presentation on the present understanding of needs and proposals for the next 20 years. The proposals are based on input provided by all parish councils, together with targets set by government.

Steve explained how the government sets its ambitions in the form of the “Regional Spatial Strategy”. The views of the community are collated through the various Community Plans. Purbeck District Council uses information from these sources to develop the PDC Core Strategy. This was the plan that he explained at this meeting.

Without attempting to repeat the presentation here, the issues revolve around around the need for housing, transport and infrastructure to meet the demands of a population that is predicted to grow significantly over the next 20 years.

Topics he covered included: Housing, Employment, Shopping, Tourism, Transport, Design (Conservation/Townscape) and Community engagement.

On this last point, Steve explained that the Purbeck Community Plan is separate from the various parish Community Plans. It combines information from those, but is a ‘live’ group, to which contribution is invited. If anyone wishes to know more, or get involved, contact Sue Bellamy on 557303or suebellamy@purbeck-dc.gov.uk

More information is available from Purbeck District Council on 556561, or Steve Dring may be contacted at stevedring@purbeck-dc.gov.uk

Questions asked included: it is not possible in these minutes to do more than reflect a flavour of the meeting. The notes here summarise key points.

Q1 How can PDC help provide housing for young people?
A1 A: SD noted “if we just build more houses, more people will come, until Purbeck is no longer attractive” PDC aim is to reduce threshold of ‘affordable homes’ from 25-30% (ie per 15 homes) to around 40%; noted need to consider shops, schools etc also

Q2 Q2What about levy on development? Seems unfair to charge for loft extension, eg.
A2 A: Need to raise funds to contribute to infrastructure for any development that might in the future be used to house extra people.

Q3 Q3What about new Prospect Farm industrial estate and Victoria Road bridge/bottleneck potential problem?
A2 A: Studies must have been done to assess this.

Q4 Q4What about review of one-way system?
A4 A: Councillor Mike Hadley was able to say that this is under review, with consultation taking place with DCC.

Q5 Q5(Andy Kirkwood) Problem is obvious: second homes. PDC must take a stand and say NO.
A5 A: Discussion about the Taylor Review, to address this issue.PDC keen to investigate possibilities.

Q6 Q6(Beth Paxton-Brunning) Re Seacourt: Why can developers get away with doing things that were not agreed at Planning?What’s the point of getting involved/making views know, if it makes absolutely no difference? (Mike Stollery) Now a similar issue arising at Drummond Road. (Collette Drayson) And the same thing happened at the Craft Barn in Worth: “We gave our comments. Made no difference.”
A6 A: SD can’t address specific planning details, as he is in strategy department, although aware of these issues. But he knows that PDC is listening, seeing if policy laws can be changed (eg re Craft Barn, bring in restriction to make it less easy to change use)
Q7
Q7(Peter Clarke)Will affordable housing be controlled in perpetuity?
A7 A: Yes

Q8 Q8(Peter Clarke) Is Purbeck Community Plan separate from MCTI Plan, and Swanage Community Plan?
Q8 A: Yes

Q9 Q9 What about daft plan to close recycling centre in Swanage? Is it true that Swanage Town Council want Panorama Rd site as a car park for a project to do with restoring a quarry?
A9 A: SD:Seems crazy, when we’re trying to reduce travel, encourage joined-up thinking. Councillor Mike Hadley said that at a recent council meeting there was unanimous objection to the plans, which was to be communicated to Dorset County Council.

Q10 (Mike Stollery) Re Planning: Purbeck arts Society getting very involved with such issues.Mark Strugess coming to a meeting on2 May; all have to fight government together; perhaps join forces – SRA, PDc, CC to put pressure on govt…independent kingdom of Purbeck?

Q11 (Mike Stollery) Re Railway: Norden park and ride saves 20,000 trips…people won’t want to change trains at Wareham. Existing platform could be used for single journey to/from Swanage/Poole/Bournemouth

Q12 (Mike Stollery) What about Holton Heath park and ride, so people coming from north and east can avoid Sandford/Wareham?

SD: people beginning to realize that PDC officers and public on the same side.
SD: long-term single connection./no change IS the aim. Signalling is sorted, but needs train of certain standard. MS: new train could be leased.

Q13 (Mike Hadley) Prospect Park: some concern that units are for certain use only? SD: all light industrial; designed to be flexible to cater for different needs.

Q14 Shore Road: what’s happening? Mike Hadley said he had contacted DCC’s road works hotline (Clarence 01202 232323), had no answer yet. Subsequently, it appears this is being actively pursued with the aim to get the work done and argue about ownership etc later.

Q15 Pier Head: what’s happening? A: waiting for next planning application.

Q16 (Colette Drayson) Schools: why is DCC proposing to cut schools because of ‘declining rolls’ yet wants to build extra housing. Contradiction? A: SD: exactly. SD meeting someone next March re schools’ review.

This part of the meeting was concluded with thanks to Steve Dring for attending and for answering so many questions.

Annual General Meeting

1 Activities of Swanage Residents’ Association

John Leach briefly reviewed activities over the past year, including presentations on the Pier Head; from Dick Clapp on policing; on Durlston Country Park’s plans; and now Steve Dring on Purbeck Plans. Other activities included involvement to help save the MIU and then the Day Centre, as well as producing regular newsletters on various topics.

2 Treasurer’s report: £170 spend over year; net balance £1400’ income- subscriptions; expenditure- newsletter/admin

3 Membership (Stewart Borrett): declining membership currently 338 members (subs paid: 276). Mike Stollery noted Purbeck Arts Society has 330 members.

Some comments: Pat Bizley—should make clear what SRA does, to encourage members; Colette Drayson: what is its purpose? Mike Hadley: to provide a non-political forum for exchange of information and a network of contacts. CD: should it be wider than Swanage?

4 Officers: existing committee offered to stand again, and was re-elected, with exception of Treasurer Rachel Kerley who wished finally (finally)to resign after 19 years. Thanks were given for her hard work .

5. AGM 2007 (29 May) Minutes

Draft minutes had previously been published. Corrections/comments arising included:

Item 9: any progress on discussions with Purbeck Housing Action Group? John Leach had contacted Nico a couple of times, mentioned that some members of SRA were concerned at some of the actions associated with PHAG (eg graffiti): no developments.

Item 19: Waverley. Someone reported that the insurance was insufficient to meet the cost of repair, so deadlock

ITEM 18:Grammar School: site recently sold by Welfare Dwellings Trust. Building sold; directors apparently retain the land.

6. MIU status: meeting deferred to May 24th.

7. Ferry off: Mike Hadley reported that he will be contacting DCC to try to ensure that no road works are planned for the two months that the ferry is out of service next September/October.

8 Power kiting: question raised about the SRA view on power kiting on Swanage beach: good exercise, involving for young people, could be done only in Easterlies, with proper training and supervision. Some uncertainty whether this related to flying kites or using kite-powered buggies. Someone who had done both said this might be fine on wide beaches elsewhere, but Swanage far too small.
Cherry Bartlett suggested could be looked at by Youth Centre management committee.

9. Recycling Centre: some said Victoria Avenue site would be better than Panorama Road. SRA supports keeping a site 100%.

10. Trees: It was noted that Andy Kirkwood had wished to address the meeting about tree management in swanage, but that had not been enough time. Perhaps another occasion.

11. Swanage Future: Mike Hadley mentioned that there was a meeting to discuss the future economy of Swanage in general and the 2012 Olympic opportunities in particular, on 15th May at the Bayview Caravan Park.

Meeting closed with thanks to all for attending.