Wychavon’s share of the Council Tax bill could be frozen for the sixth year running if proposals put forward by councillors are accepted.

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Council Tax freeze proposed again

Wychavon’s share of the Council Tax bill could be frozen for the sixth year running if proposals put forward by councillors are accepted.

If approved the freeze would mean by March next year, £2.7 million will have been kept in the pockets of Wychavon residents.

Keeping Council Tax on hold is one of a number of proposals put forward at a meeting on Wednesday (1 February) by Wychavon’s Executive Board to support residents and improve the district.

Another £1million was announced for community projects through Wychavon’s Community Legacy Grants scheme, which will open to applications in early 2024.

A pledge was made to continue to work with partners to provide practical advice and support to residents with the cost of living crisis, backed by £50,000 of new funding.

Councillors also proposed £75,000 to recruit a financial inclusion officer as part of Wychavon’s Housing Service to offer direct support to people in financial difficulty.

Parish and town councils will also get £30,000 to support street parties and events to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

There were also new environmental commitments made. Wychavon, working with its contractor FCC Environment, will spent £210,000 over the next two years to begin phasing in the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to FCC’s bin collection and street sweeping fleet. HVO can cut carbon emissions by 90% compared to diesel. The move follows a successful trial of the fuel in 2022.

Funding of £70,000 will also be made available to each of Wychavon’s leisure centres to pay for swimming pool covers. Pool covers can cut energy consumption by about 50% helping to cut fuel bills for Wychavon’s leisure centres as well as slash carbon emissions.

All of the proposals will now go to a meeting of Wychavon’s full Council on February 22 for final approval.

Cllr Bradley Thomas, Leader of Wychavon District Council, said: “Wychavon already has the fourth lowest Council Tax charge of any district council in the country. By keeping our part of the bill on hold for a sixth year running we’re keeping money in residents’ pockets so they can spend it on their priorities, like household bills and essentials.

 

“Even though we’re freezing our part of the bill, as our other spending announcements show, we’re still committed to improving Wychavon by investing in our communities, supporting people when they need us most and protecting our environment.”

 

Wychavon residents will need photo ID to vote at elections in May

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Wychavon residents will need photo ID to vote at elections in May

Changes introduced by the Government mean Wychavon residents will for the first time need to show photo ID to vote at this year’s local council elections.

Residents are being urged to check they have an accepted form of photo ID ahead of polling day on Thursday, 4 May 2023 to make sure they can cast their vote.

The requirement to show photo ID at a polling station was introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act, which was passed last year, and comes into effect for the first time this May.

There are many accepted forms of ID including a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport, a UK or EEA drivers’ licence, a blue badge or an older person’s bus pass. The full list of accepted photo ID can be found on the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.

Voters will be able to use out of date ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. These can be applied for by following the links at www.wychavon.gov.uk/elections. The deadline to apply for the Wychavon District Council and town and parish council elections is 5pm on 25 April 2023, but residents are being urged to apply early if they need to.

People will need to be registered to vote first before they apply. This can be done online following the links on Wychavon’s elections page.

Vic Allison, Chief Executive and Returning Officer for Wychavon District Council, said: “Residents will be electing a whole new Council in May as well as representatives on town and parish councils across the district.

“Although it may seem a long way away, I urge people to check now they have the required form of photo ID to make sure they can vote in May. If you haven’t, then please apply for a Voter Authority Certificate early to make sure you don’t miss out on making your voice heard through the ballot box.

“If you need help understanding the new requirement for photo ID or applying for a Voter Authority Certificate then please contact our elections team.”

This year’s Wychavon District Council election will be the first held under new ward boundaries, which means the name of the electoral ward people live in or where they usually go to vote may change.

Poll cards will be issued towards the end of March. Residents are urged to check them for the location of their polling station and more information on the photo ID requirement.

Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/elections for more information or contact the elections team by emailing elections@wychavon.gov.uk or call 01386 565437.

May 2023 Local Elections – Electoral Commission requirements for photo ID

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The time has come for comments/objections to the SWDP plan for a new town at Throckmorton.  All comments need to be in by Tuesday 13 December

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The time has come for comments/objections to the SWDP plan for a new town at Throckmorton.  All comments need to be in by Tuesday 13 December.  The more well reasoned responses we put in, the better chance we’ll have at being heard.  All of the relevant links are at the bottom of this post – read as much or as little of them as you like.

For those of you who want to object/comment, this website will give you information on how to do it:

https://batpc.org.uk/nototnt

Select either online, email or post and you’ll be given the information you need.

I would just add the following to what’s on the website.  As we  know, the consultation response form is not user friendly.

My advice for filling it in is as follows:

Part A is just your details.

Part B Para 3 requires you to identify the bit of the plan you object to.  Whilst you could just say “all of it”, that’s not especially helpful.  The actual part of the Plan relating to Throckmorton is policy number “SWDPR 52”.  Identifying that should be sufficient.

Then at Part B Para 4, you then have to say whether the policy is “legally compliant” and/or “sound”.  If you object to the selection and plans for Throckmorton, I would suggest you ignore the “legally compliant” box and simply say that you consider the policy not to be “sound”.

Then Part B Para 5 is where you set out your objection.  Either use the box, or say “See attached” and attach a word document (or any other documents/evidence) you want to rely on.

The remaining boxes in Part B seem fairly optional.   

Message me if you want any assistance.

Links:

The consultation response form

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.swdevelopmentplan.org%2Fcomponent%2Ffileman%2Ffile%2FDocuments%2FSWDPR%2520Reg%252019%2520Docs%2FSWDPR%2520Reg%252019%2520Response%2520Form%2520FINAL%2520281022.doc%3Frouted%3D1%26container%3Dfileman-files&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK&fbclid=IwAR24YPJHoF9h1s8Q-2I07FoAKPIFfXaHho9Z-Lxft6aSVuohX-hCYSfh_hw

The SWDP document itself (see particularly SWDP 52 at page 211

https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/component/fileman/file/Documents/SWDPR%20Reg%2019%20Docs/Accessible%20SWDP%20Review%20Regulation%2019%20%281%29.pdf?routed=1&container=fileman-files&fbclid=IwAR1sFT_jqzA3W2RNBJzEdlE91M1e-F8owuaPz8fvAEXJJhFAjlBwLJ6jEiY

The SWDP website with further links and evidence

https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/swdp-review/swdpr-regulation-19-publication-consultation?fbclid=IwAR1-_hl3o-AwEKq7Ll8LRjeAf568F3fP7DXUlnEZxLcHeBmR1ddwV79SaFc

The National Planning Framework which defines the test for soundness – see Paragraph 35

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1005759/NPPF_July_2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3zozyp1HtU7ppFzOZMGmznXTRjYH_YN5Y0RUBmXB3Z6eHd7lQiG80cbWg

Join Worcestershire’s biggest Fostering Family – Could you be a Buddy?

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Worcestershire Children First – Could you Foster?

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Proposed Order: to close that part of C2012 Throckmorton Road from its junction with A44 Evesham Road to its junction with C2012 The Lea-Reason: Carriageway patching by WCC

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WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL- PUBLIC NOTICE

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

(C2012 Throckmorton Road, Hill and Moor) (Temporary Closure) Order 2022

Proposed Order: to close that part of C2012 Throckmorton Road from its junction with A44 Evesham Road to its junction with C2012 The Lea

Reason: Carriageway patching by WCC

Exemptions: to permit access to any land or premises fronting the highway affected where there is no other form of access; and to allow the works to be undertaken.

Alternative route: A44 Evesham Road, A44 Wyre Piddle Bypass, A44 Abbey View Road, B4082 Main Street, B4082 Upton Snodsbury Road, C2270 Long Lane and vice versa.

Maximum duration: 18 Months.  Anticipated duration: 12 days Commencing: 12 December 2022

 

Thomas Pollock Head of Commercial Law (Legal & Governance) County Hall Spetchley Road Worcester

17 November 2022

Wychavon District Council urges Residents to put their bin out on time

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wdc logo 1

Residents urged to put their bin out on time

The time waste and recycling bins are collected across Wychavon may change for some residents next week.

Changes are being made to all waste and recycling collection rounds across Wychavon to further improve efficiency and ensure the current high standard of service is maintained.

Only Chawson residents in Droitwich Spa will see a change to their collection day and residents have already been contacted about this.

Across the rest of the district, collection days will remain the same but the time bin crews arrive may change from what people are used to.

To make sure nobody misses their bin collection, residents are being urged from Monday (7 November) to make sure their bin is out by 7am on the day of their scheduled collection. Crews will collect anytime between 7am and 6pm.

 

Cllr Emma Stokes, Executive Board Member for Resident and Customer Services on Wychavon District Council, said: “We know some residents are used to collection crews arriving in their street at a certain time and so will delay putting their bin out until then. Because of the round changes, crews may arrive at a different time from next week.

“Please make sure your bin is out by 7am on your scheduled collection day. If you don’t do this then unfortunately we cannot come back to collect your bin until the next scheduled collection.

“I thank residents for their patience while we make these necessary round changes to further improve the high quality service we already offer.”

 

Anyone who would like to check their collection day and what bin to put out should visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling for more information.

Have your say on sites for Travellers and Travelling Show People in South Worcestershire

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Have your say on sites for Travellers and Travelling Show People in South Worcestershire

The South Worcestershire Councils are inviting comments on the provision of sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils have prepared a Development Plan Document which includes information on the accommodation needs of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across South Worcestershire.

The document includes policies which seek to ensure that future Traveller sites are appropriately located and designed.

The document proposes additional Traveller pitches on two existing Traveller sites at Newlands, Malvern and Charlton, Pershore and two existing sites at Aldington and Evesham are also allocated in case the latest planning permissions lapse.

To help meet the medium to longer term needs of Travellers or Travelling Showpeople, new sites are also proposed on the new and expanded settlements at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton and Rushwick, together with a site on each of the urban extensions at Worcester South and Worcester West.

The six-week public consultation runs from 1 November until Tuesday 13 December 2022 at 11.59pm. The public and other interested parties are being asked to comment on whether they believe the Development Plan Document is sound and legally compliant.

For the Development Plan Document to be considered sound it must show that it will meet the identified need for Traveller sites, is based on robust evidence, is deliverable and is consistent with national planning policies. To be legally compliant, the document must have followed all necessary legal and procedural requirements.

The Development Plan Document has been informed by earlier public consultations held in 2016, 2018 and 2021. This is the last public consultation on the document before it is submitted to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate for independent Examination in 2023.

 

Cllr David Harrison, Chairman of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel, said: “Providing sufficient appropriately located and designed sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople is vitally important, so I would urge people to make their voices heard on this essential issue.”

 

While all comments submitted during the consultation will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration during the next stage of the document, the Government’s Planning Inspector is only likely to consider comments that relate to the soundness and legal compliance of the document.

People can comment by visiting https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/consultations/south-worcestershire-traveller-and-travelling-showpeople-policy from Tuesday 1 November and downloading and filling in the comment form, by email or by post. Paper copies will also be available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.

NOTES

 

The Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Policy and Site Allocations DPD is part of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) process. The SWDPR, jointly prepared by the three South Worcestershire Councils – Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon – covers the period to 2041. The SWDPR addresses overall housing and employment requirements and includes detailed policies to determine planning applications.

The three South Worcestershire Councils have a responsibility to plan for the housing needs of all residents, including the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople community under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

The Government’s national Planning Policy for Traveller Sites requires the South Worcestershire Councils to identify a supply of deliverable Traveller sites to provide 5 years’ worth of sites against locally set targets, and sufficient developable sites for up to 15 years.

The South Worcestershire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA, 2019) identified a need for 104 Traveller pitches in the period to 2041. Between March 2019 and August 2022, 49 Traveller pitches were granted planning permission across South Worcestershire, leaving an outstanding requirement for 55 pitches in the period to 2041. Additionally, the GTAA identified a need for 10 Travelling Showpeople plots in the period to 2041. 2 Showpeople plots have been granted planning consent since March 2019.

The Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Policy and Site Allocations DPD makes provision for up to 56 Traveller pitches (4 at Newlands, 2 at Charlton, 20 at Worcestershire Parkway, 10 at Throckmorton, up to 10 at Worcester South and up to 10 at Worcester West) and 10 Travelling Showpeople plots at Rushwick.

As part of the development of the Development Plan Document, the South Worcestershire Councils undertook three “calls for sites” – in 2015, 2016 and 2020 – to provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations to suggest sites that they considered might be suitable for allocation as a Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site. 46 sites were submitted for consideration, but not all were considered suitable.

In addition to proposing specific site allocations to meet the identified needs of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, the Development Plan Document also includes draft policies to ensure that development proposals for Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites are appropriately located and designed.

After the public consultation all responses will be reviewed and submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. An independent Inspector will then be appointed to carry out the Examination stage of the process. This involves scrutinising the Development Plan Document to make sure that it is sound and legal. A series of public hearings may also be held where people will have the chance to make representations.

After the Examination stage is complete, the Planning Inspector may decide to ask for changes to be made to the Development Plan Document. Once this is completed the Development Plan Document can be formally adopted by each of the South Worcestershire Councils. This is expected to take place in late 2023.

Full details of the Plan are available at https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/consultations/south-worcestershire-traveller-and-travelling-showpeople-policy

Glossary

For the purposes of planning policy ‘Travellers’ means Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excluding members of an organised group of Travelling Showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

For the purposes of planning policy, ‘Travelling Showpeople’ means Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependents’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excludes Travellers as defined above.

For the purposes of planning policy, ‘pitch’ means a pitch on a ‘gypsy and Traveller’ site and ‘plot’ means a pitch on a ‘Travelling Showpeople’ site (often called a ‘yard’). This terminology differentiates between residential pitches for ‘gypsies and travellers’ and mixed-use plots for ‘Travelling Showpeople’, which may need to incorporate space to allow for the storage of equipment.

Consultation starts on SWDP Review

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Consultation starts on SWDP Review
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SWDPR Notification Reg 19 covering letter

A six-week public consultation has started on a key planning document that will shape the future development of South Worcestershire.

The revised South Worcestershire Development plan allocates land for 13,240 additional new homes and 290.7 hectares of employment land to be delivered by 2041. This will help meet the Government requirement to allocate land to build 26,360 new homes and 350.5 hectares of employment land across South Worcestershire from 2021 to 2041. Not all sites in the Plan are new, with some being carried over from the last version of the SWDP and sites that already have planning permission being taken into account.

The majority of the new housing will be met through strategic growth sites at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton, Rushwick and Mitton.

The public are being asked to comment on whether they consider the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan is sound and legally compliant. To be considered sound the Plan must have been positively prepared, based on robust, credible evidence, show a clear deliverable vision and be consistent with national planning policies.

On top of this the three South Worcestershire Councils – Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils – must also show they have complied with planning legislation including the legal duty to help neighbouring councils meet their strategic housing needs.

Comments can be made from Tuesday 1 November until 11.59pm on Tuesday 13 December 2022. Only comments made during the consultation can be considered.

People can comment by filling in the online comment form available on our website at www.swdevelopmentplan.org/review.  Paper copies are also available from Customer Contact Centres, local libraries and some parish and town council offices.

A series of public information events are being held to help describe the proposed growth at each of the strategic sites and give people the chance to ask questions.

These will be held on the following dates:

  • Rushwick expanded settlement – Thursday 3 November 1200-2000 at Rushwick Village Hall, Bransford Road, Rushwick, WR2 5TA
  • Worcestershire Parkway new settlement – Wednesday 9 November 1200-2000 at Norton Parish Hall, Wadborough Road, Littleworth, WR5 2QB
  • Mitton – Friday 11 November 1300-2000 at Bredon Village Hall, Main Road, Bredon, GL20 7QN
  • Throckmorton new settlement – Monday 14 November 1300-2000 at Bishampton Village Hall, Broad Lane, Bishampton, WR10 2LU

After the consultation all comments will be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan will then go for Examination where it will be scrutinised in detail to make sure it is sound and legal. A series of public hearings may also be held where people will have the chance to make representations and ask questions providing that they have responded to this consultation.

It is expected the plan will be formally adopted by the South Worcestershire Councils in late 2023.

 

Cllr David Harrison, Chairman of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Joint Advisory Panel, said: “At this stage we are seeking views on whether people feel the Plan meets the test of soundness and is legally compliant. We cannot make changes to the Plan at this time; however, all comments will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration. There is a lot of information available through the SWDP website and in local libraries to help people understand what is being proposed and how to comment. I urge people to get involved with the consultation and to make their views known.”

NOTES

The current South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) covers the period 2006 to 2030 and is based on extensive evidence and previous consultations. It has been jointly prepared by the three partner councils – Malvern Hills, Worcester City and Wychavon.

The Review will extend the period the plan covers from 2030 up to 2041.

The SWDP Review includes policies for dealing with four broad areas:

  • Creating jobs and economic prosperity
  • Meeting housing needs
  • Transportation
  • The environment.

Most of the new housing will be provided through new settlements, known as strategic sites. These will be located close to existing or new railway links. Clear layout (concept) plans have been prepared for each area. Providing new greenspaces will also be a key part of the Plan. A range of house types will be provided to meet the future requirements of our area’s population. Consideration has been given for people of different age groups and with health needs.

Development will be completed in phases over time and developers will be asked for payments known as “developer contributions” to support, and where necessary, deliver local infrastructure.

The strategic sites are as follows:

 

  • Worcestershire Parkway – Up to 2041, 5,000 new homes will be built at this location with up to 40% affordable housing and 50 hectares of employment land to build a new settlement based on garden community principles. Another 5,000 homes are planned after 2041. The settlement will be carbon neutral with renewable energy providing the development’s energy needs. The focus will be on making sure residents’ needs are met near to where they live including a new town centre, schools, local neighbourhood centres and community facilities. Together with investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, it will promote sustainability and reduce dependency on the car.
  • Throckmorton – A carbon neutral settlement of 2,000 homes with 40% affordable housing and 20 hectares of employment land will be created by 2041. In the second phase after 2041, another 3,000 new homes are planned, as well as 40 hectares of employment land. Again, the focus will be on delivering sustainability with a town centre, schools and community facilities forming part of the proposals. New infrastructure will include direct walking and cycling links to Pershore Railway Station to reduce the need to travel by car.
  • Rushwick – 1,000 new homes are planned as well as 5 hectares of employment land, a new railway station, primary school, retail and other supporting services including a new or improved village hall, community park, allotments and orchards. Up to 40% of the housing will be affordable and no development will be allowed before land necessary to enable the railway station to be built and other critical infrastructure has been secured.
  • Mitton – Land near Mitton close to Bredon and next to Tewkesbury town, has also been identified to provide 1,000 new homes, 500 of which will be to meet neighbouring Tewkesbury Borough Council’s housing need. This agreement is part of the legal Duty to Cooperate which requires councils to support each other’s strategic planning needs. A new primary school, community facilities and walking and cycling links are included in the proposal.

 

Smaller sites have also been identified for new housing in each area during the plan period. In Worcester City 866 new homes are planned, 594 in Malvern, 10 in Tenbury and 376 in rural villages across the Malvern Hills District. In Wychavon 916 new homes have been allocated to Droitwich Spa, 255 in Evesham, 212 in Pershore and 1,069 in rural villages across the district.

As well as housing, the new Plan provides 290.7 hectares of new employment land to support business growth, renewed protections to prevent development on the Green Belt and around 179 hectares of new recreational open green space for people to enjoy.

 

There are also new and enhanced policies supporting each councils’ efforts to protect the environment and tackle climate change. Measures within these policies include:

  • Developments must be designed to minimise car use
  • Developers must provide the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles in each new home
  • Sustainable materials and construction techniques must be used
  • At least 20% of predicted energy use by a development must come from renewable or low carbon energy sources
  • Sites for new solar farms have been identified
  • Sites for Informal Areas of Recreation (AIRs) have been identified
  • Developments must provide measurable net gains in biodiversity
  • Polices to protect valued landscapes and landscape character
  • Policies to manage and mitigate against flood risk
  • Policies to make the most effective use of land

 

Full details of the Plan are available at http://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/review