Our Neighbourhood Plan is nearing completion. It provides a planning framework for the parish for the next 16 years. When finished, it will be used by West Suffolk Council when deciding planning applications in the Parish. But before that, it needs to be the subject of a Parish Referendum.
We hope that the Independent Examiner will soon complete the examination of the Plan and that it can go forward to a Parish Referendum this autumn.
If you would like to find out more about our Neighbourhood Plan, please take a look at the Neighbourhood Plan on our Parish Web Pages.
Our plan starts with a Vision:
And covers seven main topic areas
under which our fifteen objectives are grouped.
Each week, we will be featuring a policy in the plan, explaining how our Community Actions link to the policy, and some of the work which the parish has already done towards supporting each Community Action.
This week, we’ll be looking at Natural Environment.
Objectives
6. The rural character of the Parish will be protected and, where possible, enhanced
7. Natural habitats will be protected and enhanced
The natural environment covers the landscape and natural features of the Parish including habitats. The majority of the Parish is agricultural land. The historic scattered settlement pattern of Wickhambrook is considered to be highly sensitive. The areas of separation that lie between the Greens and hamlets and the main village are just as important to settlement character as the hamlets themselves and offer a visual experience where the countryside is seen prominently in views. The pattern would be very sensitive to infilling which might cause unwanted coalescence and loss of identity to the individual settlements.
There are no nationally recognised wildlife designations in the Parish, but the ancient woodlands at Easter Wood, near Baxter’s Green, Spring Wood at Genesis Green and Garbs Grove, near Giffords Hall, are designated as County Wildlife Sites.
Across the Parish many trees are protected by tree preservation orders, especially in the main village centre. The northern part of the Parish is on the highest ground and affords the opportunity for some important views across the valley from Coltsfoot Green to Wickham Street.
When we first started work on preparing the Neighbourhood Plan, residents were asked about the importance of green spaces and the landscape.
Matters which were of most concern to residents were litter, dog fouling, and air quality.
Three policies have been identified to support the objectives:
and
The plan has also identified a Community Action (No 2) – Wildlife and Conservation
What have we done so far?
As we have been working on preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan, we have also been working to protect and promote our wildlife and conservation. We have:
- Commented on planning applications for work to protected hedges and trees
- Provided bird box kits for Wickhambrook beavers to install in the cemetery
- Reinstated the hedgeline at the cemetery with a wildlife friendly mix of hedging
- Carried out work to trees in the cemetery to increase light, which has resulted in many more wild flowers establishing
- Set up regular parish volunteer days for tidying the cemetery and other green spaces
- Planted Cherry Trees in the Cemetery as part of the Platinum Jubilee Queen’s Green
- Reviewed our Grounds Contract to implement new wildlife areas within each green and open space
- Carried out up to three litter picks each year, and with the help of new councillors, started new litter picks at Bury Road/Clopton Green
- Started a process to identify rare wild flowers (such as orchids) and ensure that they are not cut until their seeds have set
- Arranged for recording of bats and other insect life at the cemetery and other spots across the parish and
- Adopted a new Biodiversity Policy this year
Preparing the Neighourhood Plan has been a huge undertaking and wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Cllr Tracey Turner and the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, made up of parish residents including:
Richard Byers – Secretary, Diana Carroll, Emily Bayman, Jamie Green, Penny Bayman, Sandra Law, Roger Merry, Sue Sternberg and Tara Hayden.
If you would like to get involved in any of our volunteer activities, please contact me.