local plan protects radford from further development...
TRANSCRIPT
Best One Village Shop29 Lewis Rd, Radford Semele,
CV31 1UQ 01926 426972
Opening HoursMon-Sat 7.30am-9.00pm
Sun 9am-9pm
LocaL PLan Protects radford from further deveLoPmentFollowing an exhaustive enquiry, Warwick
District's Local Plan has been approved by the government’s Inspector. While the local press
and much local public opinion has taken this to be a 'green light' for development, in the view of FoRGE, this will actually afford the village some much needed protection against future development. It was recognised by the inspector that Radford has had is fair share of development and will not be required to contribute further towards the 13,000 new homes to be built in the district between 2017 and 2029. A growth village envelope (see map on left) has been defined outside which development will not be permitted.
This won't protect us from plans already approved which include 65 houses at the end of Spring Lane (A C Lloyd) and 150 in the phase 2 Bovis site to the south of Offchurch Lane. But it has already blocked an application for 115 to the south of the Southam Road (Taylor Wimpey) and several applications to develop land at the Valley. It will also protect the village from a recent plan by Coventry Diocese to develop land behind the school.
In the view of a senior planning officer, any land outside the Growth Village envelope is protected against development for the duration of the local plan which is expected to be adopted later this summer and will be effective until 2029.
This doesn't stop speculative developers buying land outside the envelope or even putting in planning applications for it but it is very likely that any such applications would be refused and also be upheld if it went to appeal. Of course the danger is what happens after 2029 which is why getting a robust Neighbourhood Plan in place is so important as it can help to influence the next local plan in 10 years time. It is expected that the plan will be adopted by the council at a meeting on 20th September. See: goo.gl/mQJtfb
Land outside the growth village envelope (thick green line) is effectively protected from development for the next 12 years.
Radford Semele HoneyMade by Honey bees living on an Organic Farm
at my small apiary at Radford Semele.
Designed by Freepik
Prize winningClear and Soft Set Honey
also
Pure Beeswax and Candles
Direct from the BeekeeperRay Summers
07538 [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/summershoney
2 Radford FoRGE News – August 2017
FoRGE EcoloGy GRoupMapping softwareThe Ecology group has been investigating software options to create map based information systems, known as
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS allows us to design, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present spatial or geographic data in a map form. Having looked what was available we have decided to use QGIS software.
This is free software which can be downloaded from the internet. This will enable us to log the location of wildlife around the village. We were introduced to this software by Chris Talbot from the Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape department of Warwickshire County Council. Chris uses this software and has provided us with a hedgerow survey and parish boundary layer which we have incorporated into map examples (left). The Ordnance Survey base maps can be downloaded free of charge from the Ordnance Survey Open Data site: goo.gl/xq25op
Additional information can be added to these maps such as photographs and documents with GIS point references. Additional layers can be created in many different ways – such as footpaths, permissive rights of way. A handheld Garmin GIS with camera can map and photograph additional features that can be imported onto the map. It is hoped that a number of people within FoRGE can become proficient in using QGIS.
Richard Iredale and Barbara Wyatt
A small group of us have been meeting monthly and we now have funding, support from the parish council, and a
consultant helping us through this complex but worthwhile work.FoRGE has been asked to be involved in environmental
and landscape aspects, but the Neighbourhood Plan Group can’t produce an acceptable plan unless we involve the whole community.
We’ll be holding an open meeting soon, and will be consulting village groups – look out for notices and posts on the village Facebook pages.
We also need more people to help on the steering group, so please get in touch if you think you can help, either by email [email protected] or by using the FoRGE or Radford Semele Community Facebook pages as an initial contact. We will soon have our own website and a dedicated phone.
Thank you to everyone who responded to the housing survey. More than 30 per cent of the surveys were returned. That may not sound much, but it’s a good response! The results have been analysed.
All the anonymous individual comments have been logged so that we can take account of your views – and they’re very interesting. We’ll be making them publicly available as soon as we can.
Neighbourhood Plan!We need your help
Source: QGIS
This issue of FoRGE nEws is brought to you by the Newsletter Committee: Julia, Jon, Nick and Dave.
HedgeroW SurveyOur meeting on 1st July was led by Chris Talbot who is the
Biodiversity Manager of the HBA (Habitat Biodiversity Audit) Partnership involved with the Ecology, Historic Environment & Landscape of Warwickshire. We surveyed the hedges along the track from the Isle of Wight Barn up to the top of the hill where the track leads to Hill Top farm. Everyone felt they had learned a lot and enjoyed the morning.
Chris explained how to use the HBA Phase 1 Hedgerow survey sheets. This way, our records can be usefully aligned with the teams he sends out and amalgamated with those from the Phase 1 habitat survey. This was carried out county wide before 2010 and now is being reviewed. He has offered an opportunity to one of our younger members to gain work experience in carrying out further surveys. She has just finished her degree and this work will compliment her studies and add to our parish surveys.
He also gave advice on other issues which would help maintain and potentially influence management for the benefit of wildlife.
There are several Local Wildlife Sites which have already been established along the River Leam, Radbrook and at the end of The Valley. There are also other potential sites and it would be great if these could be enhanced, but, of course, this depends heavily on the willingness of the landowners concerned. It would be especially helpful if the existing ponds were all maintained and some of the old ones reinstated.
So far, so good. We hope to continue and perhaps branch out into pond surveys. Anyone wishing to be involved please contact FoRGE.
Barbara Wyatt
Radford FoRGE News – August 2017 3
Bumblebee TalkIn April, FoRGE hosted a talk given by the Bumblebee
Conservation Trust (BBCT).BBCT Volunteer Denny Bradbury spoke of the
fluctuating plight of the bumblebee in Britain – 2 species became extinct in the last century, leaving us 24 species (in a range of colours! See http://www.stevenfalk.co.uk/files/21577/warwickshiresbumblebees.pdf for our local species).
Due to the mysterious arrival of a French bumble (the Tree Bumblebee, bombus hypnorum) at the turn of the millennium, and the work of BBCT in re-introducing to Britain a ‘lost’ species of bumblebee, the Short-haired bumblebee (bombus subterraneus), the species count looks better, but Denny spoke of how fragile are the numbers of certain UK bumblebees. Hearteningly, we have quite a bit of power to help these pollinators, as our parks and gardens have become the major habitats of many bumblebee species. BBCT have lots of resources and garden advice at https://bumblebeeconservation.org.
At time of press, while most bumblebees are coming to the end of their annual lifecycle, and new Queens are already in hibernation until next February, keep your eyes peeled as we enter Autumn for the new phenomenon of overwintering bumblebees. Last year’s mild winter meant that bumblebees were buzzing in our gardens at Christmastime! (see Emma Nelson's Observer article: bit.ly/2vHBf0W).
HedgehogsOne evening in early August, I received a phone call
from a neighbour worried about two hedgehogs in his garden. One hog appeared rather poorly, hiccupping occasionally whilst the other appeared to be keeping protectively close. Whilst this behaviour was a mystery to me, too, I had had an encounter with a baby hedgehog last Summer that meant I needed to contact Warwickshire Hedgehog Rescue (http://warwickshirehedgehogrescue.org/). This is a fantastic, local and volunteer-run group, their team of ‘rescuers’ typically convert a shed or garage into a medical HQ, kitted out with little incubators lined with electric blankets, an array of medicines, food and a clipboard with a list of names ready for the next patient!
My neighbour duly rang the service, and informed me next morning that the hedgehogs were far from being poorly – they were in fact a mating pair, and the hiccups were all part of the courting process!
If you have worries over hedgehogs in your garden, do contact Warwickshire Hedgehog Rescue, on 01926 493026
Emma Nelson
donations gratefully received
Thank you to the two anonymous donors who have kick-started FoRGE coffers with their generous donations of
£50 and £20. This is much appreciated and, together with the £50 raised by the Brass Band at Christmas and the £130 from the plant sale (see top right), we are happy to say that FoRGE's finances are in good shape.
Plant Sale
A very soggy May 20th saw our first plant sale which was held at the Baptist Church in Lewis Road. The
rain was great for the plants that arrived in great varieties and numbers, though sadly there were not many ‘veggies’. Better luck with the early spring weather next year, we hope! The sale also featured cakes both to eat in and take away and our local bee-keeper Ray Summers was on hand to advise on bee-friendly plants as well as to offer many bee-related products for sale. A very enterprising group of young FoRGE members were also selling lovely home-made cards which they had designed themselves. The sale raised £130 for FoRGE funds, which will help to keep these newsletters rolling out.
Many thanks to those who donated plants and cakes and who volunteered on the day. And a big thank you to those who turned out in the rain to support FoRGE. Well done!
Julia Cooley
forGe meetingsforGe harvest Partysat 23 sept from 6.30pm
village hall, Lewis rd £6/£3* inc Geocaching from 3pm
(treasure hunt with smartphones)
General/supporters meeting thu 12 oct 7.30 - 9.30pm FREE!
st nicholas Parish church *tickets for all events from Best-one shop in Lewis rd
or email: e: [email protected]
new members Welcome
Braving the rain at the FoRGE Plant Sale in May
Cake was almost as popular as plants
Friends of Radford’s Green Environment is a residents’ community group which has a voice as well as active intentions to green up our space. We act for the benefit of the community and local wildlife. Membership is open to anyone who lives in and around Radford Semele.
www.radfordforge.co.uke: [email protected]: 07985 647507
: https://goo.gl/TPdNbA friendsofradfordsgreenenvironment
RadfoRd Semele SpoRtS and Social club
Opening Hours
Mon - Thurs 5–11pmFriday 2–11pmSaturday 12–11pmSunday 12–11pm
Lewis Rd, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa CV31 1UQ01926 330314
www.radfordsemele.org
*JUST REFURBISHED
*NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
What is community supported
agriculture? CSA is a positive alternative to conventional agriculture, building links between farmers and consumers . Farmers receive 100% of the food costs and consumers are involved in the process of producing their food. Members support the farm by paying a share of costs in return for a regular share of the harvest. Members can also help with farm work and have a role in decision making.
Canalside Community Food
Be part of your local farm
See your food growing
Enjoy your share of the harvest
A community supported agriculture scheme
Canalside Community Food Leasowe Farm, Southam Road, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa CV31 1TY Tel: 01926 423 939
Email: [email protected] Web: www.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk
Contact us to find out more!
Why opt for local,
organic food? Better for the environment
Reduced environmental damage from pesticide and fertiliser
Improved biodiversity through wildlife friendly farming practices
Reduced food miles
Better for people Local employment
Closer relationship between consumer and grower
Fresher, healthier, tastier food with no harmful residues
CONTACT:
Leaflet design & illustration: Verity Thompson
SOIL ASSOCIATION
ORGA NIC STA N DARD
k
Like fresh air?Love fresh food?
new members Welcome
Thank you to Nicola Lomas and Richard Iredale who both spotted that the photos in our February 2017 edition were taken looking east along Offchurch Lane 55 years apart.Now can you identify this new village location?
Answers: [email protected].
Please send in your own photos for next time.
Then and now… but where?
1962 2017
White lion RadfoRd Semele
Mon - Sat Midday–11.00pmSunday Midday–10.30pm
60 Southam Road
01926 425770
Cherry tree doing well in the play park The planters!
√PLanted!Thanks to Naomi and other volunteers from FoRGE a community
tree pack of more than 100 trees from the Woodland Trust are now growing in Radford.
FoRGE supporters have dotted hawthorns, hazels, rowans and wild cherry saplings around the village, including in the triangle between the Valley and Valley Road.
In the playing field two sessions saw hawthorns planted to restore a native hedgerow, and clumps of cherries and hazels placed to complement the trees and shrubs that are already in the field. So far, with a bit of extra watering, they seem to be doing fine. Judy Steele
Photo: Nick Rabson
Photo: Nick Rabson
DEFIBRILLATOR On wALL FACInG CAR PARK