Kingsley Parish Plan

7/28/2019 Kingsley Parish Plan

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Kingsley Parish Plan

- by the Community for the Community-

Published April 2012


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Foreword............................................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................2

AboutKingsley....................................................................................................................................................................3

Location..........................................................................................................................................................................3

History............................................................................................................................................................................3

Demographics................................................................................................................................................................4

RecentDevelopments....................................................................................................................................................4

ExtractfromKingsleysWikipediaEntry.........................................................................................................................5

FarminginKingsley........................................................................................................................................................6

Orchards.........................................................................................................................................................................7

NationalChildrenshome.......................................... ............................................. ............................................ ............8

TheKingsleyTransitionInitiative...................................................................................................................................8

TheProcess...................................... ............................................. ............................................. .........................................9

TheSurveyOverviewofFindings....................................... ............................................. ............................................ ...10

TheSurvey-DetailedFindings.........................................................................................................................................12

GeneralComments......................................................................................................................................................12

TheVillageEnvironment..............................................................................................................................................13

Planning&Housing......................................................................................................................................................14

CommunityFacilities....................................................................................................................................................15

Footpaths&Pavements...............................................................................................................................................16

Traffic&Transport.......................................................................................................................................................17

ActionPlans......................................................................................................................................................................19

VillageEnvironment.....................................................................................................................................................19

Planning&Housing......................................................................................................................................................19

CommunityFacilities....................................................................................................................................................20

FootpathsandPavements......................................... ............................................. ............................................ ..........21

TrafficandTransport.......................................... ............................................ ............................................. .................22

Summary...........................................................................................................................................................................23

Bibliography......................................................................................................................................................................24

Annex1KingsleysProtectedAssets.............................................................................................................................25


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Kingsley Parish Plan April 2012

1

FOREWORD

WhenItookoverasChairmanofKingsleyParishCouncil,theParishPlanprojectwasalreadyunderway,

withworkcontinuingthroughouttheyear.NoonereadingthisParishPlancanfailtoappreciatethetime

andeffortthatwentintoformulatingandpublishingthisdocument.Onbehalfofallmycolleaguesonthe

ParishCouncilmayIthankallthoseinvolvedfortheircontributiontoplanningKingsleysfuture.

Duringthesummerof2011,everyhousehold,inKingsley

receivedaverycomprehensivesurvey.Morethan300surveys

werereturnedandthedatawasinputtoadatabaseresultinginahugeamountofdata.Theresultswerepresentedin

graphicalformtoseriesofOpenMeetingswheretheresults

wereconsideredandplansweremadeaboutwhattodonext.

Thisdocumentsummarisestheresponsesandtheproposed

actions.

TheParishCouncilendorsestheParishPlanasanexpressionoftheCommunitysaspirationsand

acknowledgesit,astheframeworkforfutureworkwithintheParish.

ItishearteningtoseethatKingsleyshappinessscoreshowsthatmorethan90%ofresponsesrated

LivinginKingsleyasbeing8(outof10)orabove.Thesurveyalsoshowedgreatappreciationforthe

environmentthatwelivein,withcleanlinessandthefootpathnetworkscoringhighly.Themainchallenges

facingthevillageareconcernedwithtrafficthespeedandsizeofvehiclesandtheongoingproblemswith

parkingaroundthevillage.

TheParishCouncilwillsupporttheVillageOrganisationsalongwithothervolunteersfromtheParish,to

establishworkinggroupstoimplementtherecommendedactionsinordertoaddresstheissues.

Bestregards

CouncillorRayWilson

Chairman,KingsleyParishCouncil


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INTRODUCTION

KingsleydevelopedthisParishPlanfollowingaprocessinitiatedandstimulatedbyKingsleyParishCouncil.They

recognisedthatanyfuturedevelopmentwouldbeinformedandguidedbyacomprehensiveplandevelopedinaccordancewithrecommendationsofbestpracticefromCheshireCommunityAction.

Planningisanintegralpartofthedevelopmentprocessforanycommunity.AParishPlaninformedbythatcommunity

anddevelopedinasystematicwaythrougharecognisedprocessandmethodologybecomesanauthoritativeviewon

whatthecommunityitselffeelsareitspriorityneeds.

ThecommunitysviewshavebeentranslatedintoanActionPlanwhichhasnotonlyabroadbasisofsupportbutis

alsoderivedfromadetailedanalysisofasrepresentativeasectionofthecommunityaspossible.Theprocesswasled

byaGroupof20VolunteerswhoconstitutedtheKingsleyParishPlanGroup(KPPG).Thegroupwasconvened

followingthefirstpublicmeetinginOctober2010.TheKPPGmetonadozenoccasions,withthefinalmeetingoftheKPPGtakingplaceinMarch2012.

SubgroupsoftheKPPGwereformedasrequiredtodefinetheprocess,applyforsupportfromtheLocalAuthority,

design,distributeandcollectquestionnaires,createadatabasetostorethesurveydata,undertaketheanalysis

throughstructuredinterrogationofthedata,reviewqualitativecommentsonthequestionnaires,designaframework

fortheReportandundertakethewritingofthereport.VariousindividualsoftheKPPGundertookdifferenttasks

duringtheprocessandphasesofthedevelopmentofthePlan.ThenamesofthemembersoftheKPPGarelisted

below:

ClaireJones(ChairuntilMay2011);MalcolmBarker(Chair)

VonyGwillim(Secretary)JulieClark(Treasurer)

DavidMolyneux(ReportAuthor)

JacqCliff(Databasedesignandbuild)

AllanArthur

ElizabethBatey

BerraBrooker

BertBrooker

FionaCrane

GriffGriffiths

AudreyGriffiths

CarolynneMaddock

RuthMiller

AnitaMolyneux

ChrisPownall

DarylRiley

SimonSherlock

PeterStorey

JohnWoulds

TheKPPGalsogratefullyacknowledgesthecontributioningrantsfromtheKingsleyParishCouncilandtheCheshire

CommunityActionforprovidinggrantsfortheParishPlantobedevelopedandpublished.


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ABOUTKINGSLEY

LOCATION

KingsleyiswellconnectedtoChester,LiverpoolandManchesterwithgoodroadandraillinkstoeach.Whilethevillagehasnorailwaystation,ActonBridge,withlinkstoLiverpoolandCreweisjust4milesdowntheroadandFrodshamwith

linkstoChesterandManchesterisalso4milesaway.AccesstotheWestCoastlinetoLondonandScotlandisat

Runcorn,just9milesaway.

ThevillageisintheCheshireGreenBeltandisborderedbytheRiverWeavertothenorthandDelamereForesttothe

south.ThemainroadsrunningthroughthevillagearetheB5152fromFrodshamtoNorleyandtheB5153fromHollow

LanetoNorthwich.Withinthevillagethepredominantbusinessisfarming.

HISTORY

TheruralvillageofKingsleyislocatedinmid-CheshireandispartoftheCheshireWestandChesterAuthoritythatwasestablishedin2009(previouslyValeRoyalBorough).KingsleyisinWeaverWardrepresentedbyoneCouncillorelected

every4years.KingsleysCouncillorisRalphOultram.TheParishCouncilofKingsleyhas13membersalsoelectedevery4

years.TheparishlieswithintheParliamentaryConstituencyofWeaverVale;thecurrentMemberofParliamentisMr

GrahamEvans.

AhistoryofthevillageofKingsleywaspublishedin1975bytworesidentsW.GibsonandSirAlanWaterworth,aformer

LordLieutenantofMerseysideandHighSheriffofMerseyside.Thisbookprovidesanindepthhistoryoftheoriginsof

Kingsleyandsocialhistoryofadevelopingcommunity.However,sincethepublicationofthisbooktherehavebeen

significantchangesinthevillagewiththedevelopmentofthreeestatesandsignificantinfill.ThisisreflectedintheincreaseinthepopulationoftheCensusfiguresbetween1951and2001ofnearly25%.Otherusefulandinsightful

commentariesonthesocialhistoryofKingsleyduringtheearlypartofthelastCenturyarebyLauraAnneEaton(1995)

AviewofCountryLivingandMyraKillip(2003)TellingTalesofVillageFolkwhilstahistoryofSt.JohnsPrimarySchool

TheChronicleofKingsleySt.JohnsChurchSchool(1846-1996)bytheRevW.MorrisDavieswaspublishedin1997.

Thechangesbetweenthe1950sandthepresentdayinthepopulationstructureintermsofoccupationand

employment,socialmobility,transportnetworksandhousingaremirroredbymanycommunitiesnotonlyintheregion

butthroughoutthecountryasfewerpeopleareemployedlocallyandmosthaveaccesstomajorcentresofemployment

-Manchester,Liverpool,theWirral,Warrington,NorthwichandChester-allaccessiblewithinanhourfromKingsleyvia

anintensiveMotorwaynetwork.TherearethreesiteswhichareconsideredancientmonumentsCastleCobMotte,Peel

HallmoatedsiteandBradleypromontoryfortaboveBeechbrook50msouthofBeechmillHouse.ThereareseveralGrade

IIlistedbuildingsintheVillageandthesearelistedintheAnnexetothePlan.TherearetwositesofSpecialScientific

Interest(SSIs),adjacenttotheriverWeaver(WarburtonsWoodandHuntersWood)(seedetailsofthesesitesandmaps

inAnnex1).


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DEMOGRAPHICS

ScrutinyoftheParishProfile,derivedfromthe2001

Census,enablesacomparisonofKingsleywithother

ParishesinCheshireandtheNorthWest.Whilstthe

resultsintheParishProfilearenotunexpectedtheyare

unlikelytohavechangedsignificantlysincethelast

Census.Thefollowingchartshowstheagesofthepeople

coveredbythosethatrespondedtothesurvey.

Theykeydatashows:

ThepopulationofKingsleyhaslowlevelsofunemployment(worklessness),ahighproportionofthoseinworkareinmanagerialorprofessionaloccupations,skilllevelsofthepopulationarehigh(proportionofdegreelevel

qualifications;lowerproportionwithnoqualifications);

Thenumbersofpeoplewithoutacar/vanislow(7.2%) Housingfiguresshow89%ofhousesareowneroccupiedwithonly2%consideredasovercrowded.Themajority

ofthehousesaredetached(64.6%)almosttwiceasmanyinCheshireoverallandthreetimesthatofthewhole

NorthWest.

Asexpectedthesefiguresalsoplayaroleasdeterminantsofhealth,asameasureofqualityoflifeforresidents,asthe

figuresforLimitingLongTermIllness,thosereceivingAttendanceAllowanceandDisabilityLivingAllowanceinKingsley

arelowerthantherestofCheshireandtheNorthWest.

RECENTDEVELOPMENTS

InFebruary2012KingsleysAffordableHousingprojectwascompletedand13familiesmovedintothePikeLaneSite.

ThedevelopmentissecuredforpeoplewithaStrongKingsleyConnectionandthehouseswerebuilttohighlevelsof

sustainability.Theprojecttookalongtimetocometofruitionandthedevelopmentwasluckytosecurefundingduring

thespendingcutsof2010.

0

50

100

150

200250

300

0-5 6-10 11-1819-25 26-4545-64 65-84 85+


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EXTRACTFROMKINGSLEYSWIKIPEDIAENTRY

Kingsley is first listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Chingeslie in the Roelau Hundred. The village

is listed as having been held from Earl Hugh dAvranches by a Saxon named Dunning. It has land for two

ploughs, and home for five serfs, one villein, and three bordars. It also mentioned one and a half fisheries,four hays for roe deer, and a hawks eyrie. The earl brought the woodland of one league long and one

league wide into his forest. The forest mentioned was the ancient forest of Mara and Mondrem which was

greatly reduced in size subsequently and is now known as Delamere forest.

In 1260 the village was listed as Kingisleg. The name of the village ultimately derives from kings lea

the meadow of the king. The village was for a long time known for its independence, as shown in its early

Quaker meeting house, as well as siding with the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.

Map of civil parish of Kingsley within the former borough of Vale Royal

Kingsley was a township in Frodsham ancient parish. It was made a separate civil parish in 1866, having

been made a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1853. It was originally in Eddisbury Hundred and after

reforms of the nineteenth century, became part of Runcorn Rural District. It was also in Runcorn Poor Law

Union and Runcorn Sanitary District until 1974, and in the borough of Vale Royal from 1974 to 2009. It is

now in Cheshire West and Chester, a unitary authority area with borough status.

Until the nineteenth century, the local parish church was that of St Lawrence, at Overton in nearly

Frodsham. In 1851 the red sandstone Anglican church of St John the Evangelist was consecrated, having

been built to a design by Giles Gilbert Scott and in 1853 it became the villages parish church. The current

Methodist chapel, Hurst Methodist Chapel was built in 1871. In addition, between 1864 and 1967 the

village was also home to Brookside Methodist Chapel.


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FARMINGINKINGSLEY

Kingsley,likeallvillagesintheareawasveryisolatedintheearly19thCentury.Theonlywaytogetanywherewasto

walkortorideoververyroughroads.Everyonehadasmallholdingandkeptafewanimals.Theygrewalltheyneeded

tofeedthemselves,andperhapssellalittletoneighbours.Allthischangedwiththearrivaloftherailwaysinthe1840s.

Kingsleyfarmerscouldthengettheirproduceinto

thegrowingcitiesofManchesterandLiverpool

overnight.Freshmilk,butter,potatoes,fruitand

vegetables,chickensandpigswouldallbeloaded

ontotrainsatFrodsham,ActonBridgeand

DelamereStations.Asfarmsbecamemore

profitabletheyexpandedandthefavourable

climateandgoodsoilsinKingsleyproduced

bumperyields.

DuringWorldWarII,foodwasdesperatelyneeded,andfarmersplayedanimportantpartinthecommunity.Asalotof

Kingsleysfarmworkmenwentofftofight,landgirlswereacommonsiteonfarms

inKingsley.Afterthewar,asfarmersretired,farmsgotlarger.

Mechanisationandmoderntechnologytookallthehardlabouroutoffarming,

andimprovementsinplanthusbandry,agronomy,animalbreedinganddisease

preventionenabledfoodproductiontosoar.

Todaysfarmershaveanadditionalrole,whichistolookaftertheenvironment.ThisisespeciallyrelevanttoKingsley,as

itsitsbetweentheRiverWeaverConservationAreaandDelamereForrest.MuchofKingsleysextensivefootpathsystem

crossesfarmland.

Atpresent,Kingsleyhas10workingfarmswhicharerunasfamilyfarms,mainlymixedfarms,growingcropsandkeeping

dairycows,beefcattleandsheep.Withthemodernroadnetwork,KingsleyfarmproducenowgoesallovertheNorth

WestofEnglandandbeyond,tobeprocessedintoyogurt,cheese,crisps,frozenchipsetc.tofeedtheurbanpopulations

ofthelargecities.


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ORCHARDS

Kingsleyhasalsoanumberoforchardswhichwereacharacteristicofthevillage.Althoughtheircurrentstatusisunclear,

ValeRoyalpublishedthefollowingstatementintheirLocalPlanpublishedinJune2006.Thenumberandvarietyof

orchardswithintheParishesofActonBridgeandKingsleymakeasignificantcontributiontothecharacterofthe

settlement.Theorchardsrangeinsizefromalargenumberoftreesinrowstosmallgroups,oftentheremainsoflarger

orchards.RecentlythenumberandvarietyoforchardsinCheshirehavedeclinedandthetraditionalcrafts,wildlife

havensandattractivelandscapeshavebeenlost.Theseorchardsshouldthereforebeaffordedtheprotectionofan

ASLEVdesignationtoensuretheircontinuedcontributiontothecharacterofthesettlements.

Theorchardsitesinthevillagearestillprotected,althoughanumberareovergrownandunkempt.Theresultsofthe

surveyshowedthatfewpeopleareawareoftheexistenceandstatusofthisland.

4/8/12 ws_ch7_05.jpg (650778)

_ _ _


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NATIONALCHILDRENSHOME

Until1985,therewasaNationalChildren'sHomeandOrphanageinKingsley.ItwasfoundedbyDr.Stephensonandwas

onthesiteofwhatisnowNewtonHallResidentialHomeandKingsleyGreeninKingsleyRoad.Atotalof4113children

werecaredforattheChildrensHomebetween1903and1985.

TheKingsleyGreensiteismadeupof12houses,eachofwhichhoused25children.NewtonHallwasusedasahospital.

Therewasalaundry,joineryandbootrepairshops,togetherwithextensivegardensandfarmland.Atitspeak350

childrenlivedatthechildrenshome.Thegirlswerepreparedfornursinganddomesticservice,laundryworketcandthe

boysweretaughtfarming,gardening,bootmakingetc.

ThehousesinKingsleyGreenaresetroundacircle.MostwerenamedafterNCHbenefactors.Eachhouseblockhadfour

self-containedunitseachwitheighttotenchildrencaredforbyasister.

In2007aplaquewasunveiledontheCircleatKingsleyGreentocommemorateNewtonHall.Thewordingontheplaquereads

ThiswastheFrodshambranchoftheNationalChildren'sHomeandOrphanagewhosemottowas

"NeednotCreed."

THEKINGSLEYTRANSITIONINITIATIVE

TheKingsleyTransitionInitiative(KTI)isaboutbuildinggreaterresilienceinourcommunity.Startedin2009andlinkedto

theinternationalTransitionMovement,KTIhasmadegreatprogressand

becomeanenduringpartofcommunitylife.

ThenatureoftheTransitionMovementisthatitlinkstogetherideasand

initiativesthatgrowcommunitiesandsignificantlyreducestheimpactof

somepressingglobalchallengessuchas"peakoil"and"climatechange".

InKingsleythishasledtoanumberofpopularinitiativesincluding:

TheLocalProduceMarket,toutingthebestKingsleyandthe

surroundingareahastooffer.Marketsareheldatleastoncea

quarter.

AnEnergysteeringgroupaddressinghomeinsulation.The

grouphasprovidedextensiveinformationaboutavarietyofenergysavingschemeswhichhavebeentakenupthroughout

thevillage.

TheKingsleyTradersencouragelocalbusinessviathevillage

websiteandKingsleynews,withtheprimarypurposebeingto

showcaselocaltalentasapreferablealternativetoanonymous

corporations.

TheKingsleyAllotmentSociety,whichhasestablishedanewallotmentsiteinthevillage.


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THEPROCESS

KingsleysParishPlanprojectwaslaunchedinOctober2010.Todate,therehavebeen12meetingsofthesteeringgroup

andnumerousworkinggroupmeetings.

Amajorinitialtaskwastoconstructaquestionnairetodistributetothewholecommunity.Thisworkwasstartedbya

seriesofbrainstormingeventsheldattheCommunityCentreandwithgroupsatbothStJohnsChurchandtheHurst

Chapel.Theideabehindthebrainstormingwastocomeupwithanextensivelistoftopicswhichpotentiallyhavean

effectonthewholecommunity.Thelistofnearly200topicswaspassedtotheworkinggrouptaskedwithdesigningand

developingasurvey.Theoutcomewasa12page,65questiondocumentwhichwasfinallydistributedtoevery

householdinthevillage.TheSurveywasdeliveredwiththeApril2011KingsleyNews,alongestablished,reliable

distributionnetwork.

Thepublicityinformingthepopulationofthevillageaboutthequestionnairewasextensive.Thisinvolvedtheuseofthe

NoticeBoardsintheVillage,thewidelydistributedKingsleyNews,thevillagewebsiteandFacebook.Dropoffpoints

forcompletedsurveyswerelocatedaroundthevillageorpeoplecouldcallandhavethemcollected.Aninnovative

approachwasthevolunteerismofthemilkmanandKingsleysScoutsforcollectingcompletedsurveys.Thequestionnaire

wasalsoavailableforcompletionon-lineontheKingsleyVillagewebsite.ByJune2011atotalof650questionnaireswas

deliveredand300werereturned.Anattempttoelicitasmuchresponseaspossiblefromyouthgroups,including

scouts/schoolsetcwasmadebutwithlimitedsuccess.

Oncethecompletedformswereback,workstartedoncreatingadatabaseandtheninputtingtheresults.Thedatabase

includestheresultsofthemultiplechoicequestionsandallthefreetext.Thenextstagewastopresenttheresultsina

waythatwasmeaningful.ApublicmeetingwasheldinNovembertopresenttheresultsandtoseeksupportforthenext

stageinthework.

ByJanuary2012anumberofareasforfurtheractionshadbeenidentifiedandagreedandworkbegantohandoverthe

projectfromdatagatheringtoimplementation.TheActionPlanisbasedontheresultsofthesurveyandaddressesthe

followingareas:

VillageEnvironment Planning&Housing CommunityFacilities Footpaths&Pavements Traffic&Transport

ItisplannedthattheKPPGwillhandoverresponsibilitytoanewKingsleyParishPlanImplementationGroupin2012,

withanumberofworkinggroupsbeingestablishedtoprogresstheActionPlan.


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THESURVEYOVERVIEWOFFINDINGS

ThereisgeneralacceptancefromaqualitativeanalysisofthequestionnairesthatKingsleyprovidesanexcellent

environmentinwhichtolive.ThecommunityfeelsreasonablywellinformedparticularlyviatheKingsleyNewsandalsothroughthewebsitewhichiswellusedandbeenavailablefor5yearsregisteringahighlevelofuse.Thehardcopy

KingsleyNewsprovidesamoreaccessibledocumentforthosewhowishtobrowsethecurrentactivitiesbutalso

providesanadvertisingmediumforlocaltrades-people.

Thelevelsofexpressedhappinessasreportedbyrespondents(households)tothequestionnairewasalmostinvariably

highwitharound50%attributingamaximumscoreof10(forperfecthappiness!)onarangeof1-10.Thereasonsforthis

highlevelofsatisfactioncanbederivedfromtheanswerstothequestionnaire(seeQ8)withparticularimportance

beingattachedtoKingsleylocationinaruralsetting(accesstofootpaths,farmland,proximitytoDelamereForest),a

widerangeoffacilitiesandservices.

TheshopandPostOffice(withthefreecashmachineamajorassetaswellasextendedopeninghours),doctorssurgery,

pharmacy,localtradespeople,newplaygroundfacility,therelativelylowlevelsofcrime,goodlocalschoolsparticularly

twogoodPrimaryschools,goodaccesstotransportnetworks,threegaragesandtwopubsavailableandtheproximityto

achoiceoflargeconurbations(andtransportlinksviaairportsandmainlineWestCoastservice),togetherwithastrong

spiritofCommunityprovidedthroughthelargenumbersofgroupsinthevillagewhichprovidearangeofopportunities

acrossthecommunity.

TheKingsleyCarnival,whichtakesplaceeverytwoyears,theKingsleyGardentrailandtheactiveDramaGrouparealso

keyassetsdependentonacoreofactiveparticipantscommittedtothevillagecommunityethos.

Thepositiveaspects,frequentlymentionedare

summarisedas:

Strongfaithcommunitywiththreeplacesofworship

BeautyofpartsofthevillagetheBrook Goodfootpathnetwork


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TheHotTopicsaresummarisedbelow:

Thespeedandfrequencyoftraffic,especiallyHGVsmovingthroughthevillage

Parking,especiallyaroundtheshops Missingandunsafepavementsforpedestriansoutsidethechurch,inMillLaneandonTheSlack

Thelackofpublictransportaffectsteenagersandolderpeople.Bothgroupsidentifiedaneedforbetterclubsand

facilitieswithinthevillage,perhapsbecausetheyfinditdifficulttoleave.

Morethanonerespondentsaidthatwhatisrequiredissteady,considered,

plannedproactiveimprovementandenhancementforcurrentandfuture

residentswithoutembracingchangeforchangessakebuttodowhatisrightfor

thecommunitybutnotcompeteornecessarilymatchothers.

However,therewasaviewthatwemustensurethatthosefacilities,especiallythecommercialonesaresupportedso

theyarenotlostduringthecurrentchallengingeconomictimes.Lossofanyofthesefacilitieswouldhaveamajorimpact

onthequalityoflifeofthecommunity

Thespeedoftrafficthrough

thevillagecanbe

frightening

Welikethingsthewaythey

are.Dontchangethingsforthesakeofchange


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THESURVEY-DETAILEDFINDINGS

Kingsleyshappinessindexshowsthat95%ofrespondentsratedLivinginKingsleyas

8orabove.

GENERALCOMMENTS

Inadditiontothemultiplechoicequestions,wegaverespondentstheopportunitytoaddcommentsforsomeofthe

questions.Themainfindingsaresummarisedbelow:

WhatdoyoulikeaboutlivinginKingsley?

Friendly,caringneighbourhood LivinginthegreenbeltbutaccesstotherestoftheNorthWestiseasy

Inwhatwaycouldcommunicationsabouteventsandactivitiesinthevillagebeimproved?

Morenoticeboardsaroundthevillage.Improvetheoneswehave UseFacebookandemailtocommunicate

GeneralAppearanceofVillage

Playingfieldgrasscuttingshouldbemorefrequent ImprovetheareasaroundtheBrookandtheNab Improveappearanceofgrassverges

Thesewerethetop5eventsthatpeopleenjoy

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Improvethe

NoticeBoards

Friendly,caringneighbours


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THEVILLAGEENVIRONMENT

Therewasaseriesofquestionsaboutfeelingsafe.Themainfindingswere:

Inthe64to85agerange46%ofrespondentsfeelsafeintheirhomeand33%feelsafeoutsideinthevillageatnight

Overall92%ofrespondentsfeelsafeintheirhomeand74%feelsafeoutsideinthevillageatnightWeaskedpeoplewhattheylikedaboutlivinginKingsley.Therewerethreeclearfavouritesasfollows:

Havingarangeoflocalfacilities(shopPOetc) Lowlevelsofcrime Surroundingcountryside,riverandwildlife

Weaskedrespondentstoratetheimportanceofvariousinitiativestoprotecttheenvironment.Theresultsshowed:

Thefactorsratedasmostimportantwereenergysavingathome,improvedpublictransportandenhancingrecycling

Thefactorsratedasbeingleastimportantwerecarsharing,communitycompostingandtheprovisionofadviceonahealthylifestyle

Weaskedabouthelpingtoimprovetheenvironmentandaskedpeopletorankanumberoffactorsaffectingthelocal

environment.Theresponsesshowed:

Themostimportantfactorswerelitterremovalandmaintainingthegrassverges

Providingdogfoulingbinswasthethirdmostpopular

Thesurveyaskedaboutenergyuse.Thekeyfindingswereasfollows:

Nearly92%ofhomesareheatedwithgas Thekeyenergysavingfeaturesinusewerelowenergylightbulbs,loftinsulationanddoubleglazing

Whenaskedaboutsatisfactioninmaintainingthevillageinfrastructureandfound:

66%ofrespondentsweresatisfiedorverysatisfiedaboutthemaintenanceofthepavements 60%ofrespondentsweresatisfiedorverysatisfiedaboutthemaintenanceofhedgesandverges 40%ofrespondentsweresatisfiedorverysatisfiedaboutthemaintenanceoftheroads

Lookingatservices,therewasagoodlevelofsatisfactionoverallwith:

Mainswaterandmainsgasscoringthehighestwithatotalof97%scoringthemasgoodorreasonable Mainselectricityandrefusecollectionwithatotalof84%scoringthemasgoodorreasonable Streetcleaningwithatotalof75%scoringitasgoodorreasonable Snowclearinghadthelowestsatisfactionlevelwithatotalof65%scoringitasgoodorreasonable.

Theshopsarevery

importanttous

Thanksforthegreat

workthatthelitter

pickersdo


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PLANNING&HOUSING

Therewereanumberofquestionsaboutplanningandhousing.Thefollowingfindingswerekey:

MostpeoplewereunawarethatKingsleyisinaconservationarea Morethan90%ofrespondentsthinkthatKingsleyshouldhaveapolicytohelpguidestyle,designanddensityof

buildingsinthevillage

Almosthalfoftherespondentsdonotenvisagemovingtoasmallerpropertyinthenext10years 97%ofrespondentsowntheirhome.

Whenaskedaboutfuturedevelopmentofhousing,thefollowingfindingsweresignificant:

55%favouredtheconversionofexistingbuildings 45%favouredbuildingonbrownfieldsites 30%favouredsmallinfilldevelopments 46%thoughtthatdevelopmentsshouldbeaffordableandforlocalpeople 13%wereagainstanydevelopment

Whenaskedaboutwindturbineswefound:

65%ofrespondentswereeitheragainstcommercialturbinesorhadreservations 60%ofrespondentswereeitheragainstdomesticturbinesorhadreservations

Whattypesofhousingdevelopmentwouldyoufavour?

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140


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COMMUNITYFACILITIES

Ofthefacilitiesinthevillage,wefoundthemostwellusedwere:

CoopandPostOfficeusedbymorethan80%ofrespondentsonaweeklybasis DoctorsSurgeryandPharmacyusedby30%ofrespondentsonaweeklybasis

Whatactivitiesorserviceswouldyousupport?

Eveningexercise/yoga/danceclasses Tennis

Inwhatwayscouldourexistingfacilitiesbeimproved?

CommunityCentre VillageInstitute

Parking

Clubs(e.g.dancing,filmclub)

Facilities(e.g.tennis)

Publicityaboutwhatsavailable WeaskedanumberofquestionsaboutwhatfacilitiesandamenitiespeoplewouldliketoseeinKingsley.Fromthe

choicesgiven,thetop6amenitieswere:

NeighbourhoodWatchScheme Swimmingpool FilmClub KeepFitclasses VoluntaryTransportScheme Dropincoffeemornings

Weaskedaboutagerelatedfacilitiesandfoundthattheneedsofteenagersandolderpeoplehadremarkablesimilarities

asisillustratedbelow.

Teenagers OlderPeople

Dedicatedspace

TransporttoFrodsham&beyond

CoffeeShoporsimilarmeetingplace

Club (KU17exists) Housing


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Weaskedaboutactivitiesaimedatyoungpeople.Ourfindingsshowthatpeoplewouldlike:

Aswimmingpool JuniorRugby Organisedactivitiesduringschoolholidays

Wefoundthefollowingwerepopular

Scoutinggroups Whizzies Localnurseriesandcrches

Suggestionsfororganisedactivitiesforyoungpeopleduringschoolholidays?

Sports(football,rugby,cricket) Outdooractivitiesusetheplayingfield

FOOTPATHS&PAVEMENTS

Weaskedaboutfootpathsandfoundthatalargemajorityconsiderthatthefootpathsarewellmaintainedandthat

nearlyathirdofrespondentsusedthefootpathsonaweeklybasis.Weaskedwhatwouldencouragepeopletousethe

footpathsmoreandfoundthat:

65%ofrespondentswantedimprovedsignageand/orinformationaboutthefootpaths 50%ofrespondentswantedimprovedsurfacesandfewerstilestomakethenetworkmoreaccessible.

Whatusetoyoumakeofthevillagefootpathnetwork?

Whatwayscouldourfootpathnetworkbeimproved?

AddnewfootpathstocreateaKingsleyRingWheredoyouthinkthemajordangerspotsareforpedestrians?

MillLane&TheSlacknopedestrianpavement

0

50

100

150

200

250

Walking Dog

walking

Cycling Running Horse

riding

Other


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17

TRAFFIC&TRANSPORT

TrafficandParkingwereseenaskeyissues.Thefollowingfindingswerekey:

74%ofrespondentsratedspeedingasamatterofconcern 59%ofrespondentsmentionedparkingproblemsaroundthevillage.

Thesurveyaskedpeopletoconsidersolutionstospeedandparkingproblems.Theresultsshowedthefollowing:

Publictransportwasaddressedbythesurveyandtheresultsshowed:

Respondentstoldusthat6%usedthebusand21%usingrailtraveleitherdailyorweekly 62%ofrespondentscitedreliabilityandfrequencyasreasonsfornotusingbusservices Themainbarriertousingrailserviceswasthelackofpublictransporttoreachastation

AtypicalsceneoutsidetheDoctorsSurgery

Withregardstospeeding:

Speedlimits,improvedvisibilityatjunctionsandsignagewerethepreferredsolutions Speedcameras,roadnarrowingandspeedhumpsweretheleastpopularsolutions

GraphshowingSupportforVariousTrafficCalmingMeasures(multiplevotesallowed)

020406080

100120

140160


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18

Withregardstoparking:

Providingnewparkingareasandenforcingparkingrestrictionswerepreferredsolutions Introducingnewparkingrestrictions,includingrestrictingthetimeallowedweretheleastpopularsolutions

GraphshowingSupportforVariousParkingSolutions(multiplevotesallowed)

Arethereanyissues/problemsyoudliketoraise?(notlistedontheform)?

Trafficspeed Congestionaroundtheshop Parking

OutsidetheCoop

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

NewParking

Areas

Enforceparking

rules

Newparking

restricons

Restrictme Other


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19

ACTIONPLANS

TheParishSurveywasthefirststepinhelpingtoidentifyprioritiesforfutureaction.Thenextstepistousethefindings

toinformimplementationwork.Thiswillbeplannedbypeoplewithaninterestintheactionandwillhavethesupportof

theParishCouncilandCheshireWestandCheshireCouncilasappropriate.

Thisplanmakeshighlevelproposalsandsuggestionsforimplementation.TheImplementationGroupswilltakethese

highlevelplansastheirstartpointanddevelopdetailed,costed,timedplansreflectingtheavailabilityofresourcesand

thelevelofinterestofvolunteerstotakeonthework.

TheseactionplanshavebeenprioritisedasShort,MediumandLongTerm.

VILLAGEENVIRONMENT

Action Howwilltheactionbetaken

forward?

Whomightbe

involved?

Timescale

Improvetheappearanceof

verges

Planting

Maintenance

GardeningClub

Residents

Volunteers

Medium

Cleartheareaaroundthe

NabandtheBrookbetween

ChapelLaneandWellLane

DealwithfloodedareaonNab

Seekfundingforheavywork

Volunteers

CW&C

Medium

Maintaintheareaaround

theCross

Arrangeforplanterstobe

maintained

Seekfundingforplants

Volunteers

KPC

Medium

MaintaintheLitterPick Continuetopublicisethework

Provideequipment

KPC

CW&C

Ongoing

PLANNING&HOUSING


forward?

Whomightbe

involved?

Timescale

Monitorchanging

environmentintheareasof

VillageDesignStatements/

NeighbourhoodPlanning

etc.

Establishaworkinggroupof

interestedandqualifiedresidents.

MaintaincontactwithCWAC.

Volunteerswithan

interestinplanning

andspatial

development.

Ongoing

Createavillagedesign

statement

WorkwithCW&Ctounderstand

requirements

EstablishGroup

Consultandpublish

Volunteers

KPC

CW&C

Longterm


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20

COMMUNITYFACILITIES


forward?

Whomightbe

involved?

Timescale

IntroduceaNeighbourhood

WatchScheme

Therewasaneighbourhoodwatch

schemeinthepast,thiscouldbere-

introduced.

Residents

LocalPolice

Short

StartaFilmClub Establishacommitteetoprogress

this.

Findavenue.

KCA

KingsleyPlayers(for

seating)

Short

SetupaSwimmingClub Establishaswimmingclubtohirea

regularvenue.

Volunteer Medium

Considerfeasibilityof

establishingaSwimming

PoolforKingsley

Thisisalongtermprojecttofinda

site,identifyfundingoptionsand

considerthemanagement

implications.Thefirststagewouldbe

afeasibilitystudy.

WorkingGroup

CW&C

Long

Establishnewevening

classese.g.KeepFit,

Dancing,BookClub

Identifypeopleinterestedinstarting

groups.

Findavenue.

KCA

VillageInstitute

Medium

Establishacoffeeshop

forvariousgroupsinthe

community


groups.

Findavenue.

KCA?

VillageInstitute?Pubs?

Medium

PromoteVoluntary

Transportscheme

TheKnollhaveaserviceforpeople

attendinghospitalensurethatthe

communityisawareofthisfacility.

Localresidents

Youthgroups

Churches

Medium

Establishsportsclubsfor

youngpeople(e.g.rugby)


groups.

FindavenuepossiblyMiddleLane

field

LocalResidents

Schools

YouthGroups

Medium

ProvideTennisfacility Identifyavenue.

WorkwithVillageInstitutetofind

funds?

VIcommittee Medium

HolidayActivitiesforyoung

people

Findaprovider Localschools

YouthGroups

Churches

Medium

ImproveNoticeBoardsand

otherCommunication

methods

Improveappearanceandmaintain

uptodateinformation

KPC

Villagegroups

Immediate


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21

FOOTPATHSANDPAVEMENTS


forward?

Whomightbe

involved?

Timescale

Developafootpathtoavoid

usingHollowLanealongside

theChurch

Workwithlandownerstoget

permissionforapermissivefootpath

Volunteers

KPC

Medium

Addresstheproblemof

missingpavementsinMill

LaneandTheSlack

WorkwithCheshireWest&Chester

foradvice

Consideralternativeoptionse.g.

footpathrunningalongsidetheroad

KPC

CW&C

Landowners

Volunteers

Medium

Addsomefootpathsto

createtheKingsleyCircle

Designaroute

Workwithlandownerstogain

permission

Volunteers

Landowners

KPC

Medium

Provideinformationabout

existingnetwork

Publicisetheexistenceofexisting

brochure

Widelydistributethebrochure

KPC Immediate


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22

TRAFFICANDTRANSPORT


forward?

Whomightbe

involved?

Timescale

Addressparkingissues

aroundtheCross

Findlandtouseforparking

Accessfundingforlandpurchase

Negotiatewithlandowners

Volunteers

CW&C

Lotteryfunding?

Medium/long

Reducenumberofcars

parkinginHollowLaneall

day

Negotiatewithownersofalternative

carparkfordaytimeaccess

Liaisewithpeopleemployedinthe

areaandaskthemtoparkelsewhere

Volunteers

School

Businesses

Medium

Addressinconsiderate

parking

Communicationcampaign Volunteers

TheCommunity

Businesses/venue

operatorsinparking

hotspots

Medium

PromotetheRuralBus

Services

Communicationcampaign NoticeBoards

KingsleyNews

Medium

SetupaschemeonaDial

aRidebasis

WorkwithCW&Ctofindouthow

othersdoit

Setupagroup/committee

Seekfunding

Volunteers Medium

Establishanantispeed

campaign

WorkwithCW&CandCheshire

Police

Promotion

Volunteers Short

Improvejunctionswith

restrictedvisibility

WorkwithCW&CandCheshire

Police

Promotion

Volunteers

KPC

Long


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23

SUMMARY

TheKingsleyParishPlanprojecthasinvolvedmanypeopleinthecommunityeitherasrespondentstothesurvey,oras

participantsinthework.AdirectresultoftheprojectisthatanumberofpeoplestoodfortheParishCouncilelectionsin

May2011leadingtotheelectionofaParishCouncilmadeupofmanynewfaces.

Theprojectconfirmedsomethingsthatareknowntoeveryonewholivesinthevillageandcomeasnosurprise.They

are:

Problemsarisingfromtrafficmovingtoofastthroughthevillage Issueswithparking

Whilstneitherofthesearenew,peoplehavecomeforwardtoworkonnewinitiativestoaddresstheseproblems.With

newenthusiasm,itispossibletomakeadifference.

Kingsleyisavillagethathaschangedovertheyears.Thebiggestchangestohousingcamewiththeextensivenew

estatesinHighbank,BeachviewandWestbrook.Inlate2010anewaffordablehousingdevelopmentwasapprovedfollowingconsultationwithresidents.

Surroundingvillagesfacechallengestothewaythattheirvillagesaredeveloping.TheParishPlanprojectwasoriginally

launchedasaplannedpre-cursortoaVillageDesignStatement(VDS)whichwouldhavehelpedtosetoutavisionfor

futuredevelopments.AlthoughthefutureoftheVDSisunclear,NeighbourhoodPlanningisseenasthewayforward.

TheresultsoftheKingsleysurveyandtheinterestshownbyKingsleyresidentswithabackgroundinplanning

professionalsshouldensurethatKingsleyisinagoodpositiontodocumenttheviewsoftheresidents.


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24

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GibsonEandWaterworthAW(1975)Kingsley:TheStoryofanEnglishVillage.KCABooks,HaleBank,NorleyRoad,

Kingsley,Cheshire

ParishProfileforKingsleyFinalReportv1.1March2011CheshireCommunityAction.

LauraAnneEaton(1995)AviewofCountryLiving

MyraKillip(2003)TellingTalesofVillageFolk

RevW.MorrisDavies(1997)TheChronicleofKingsleySt.JohnsChurchSchool(1846-1996)

www.wikipedia.orgSearchforKingsleyaccessed1August2011

http://www.kingsleyvillage.co.uk

CheshireWildlifeTrustwebsite(http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/res_warburtons.htm)

ListedBuildingstakenfromhttp://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/protection/process/national-heritage-list-

for-england/


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25

ANNEX1KINGSLEYSPROTECTEDASSETS

ConservationareasinValeRoyalBorough-Kingsley

Designated18/11/76,12.23Hectares

ListedBuildings(takenfromTheNationalHeritageListforEngland,EnglishHeritage)

CASTLEHILLFARMHOUSE CastleHillCREWOODHALL CrewoodHallLaneSTABLES10METRESNORTHWESTOFCREWOODHALL CrewoodHallLane

THECROFT DarkLaneCASTLEHILLHOUSE CastleHillCHURCHOFSTJOHN HollowLaneWALLSAND2BRIDGESTOMOATATPEELHALL KingsleyRoadQUAKERBURIALGROUNDWALL

NOWGARDENWALLATMEETINGHOUSECOTTAGE MeetingHouseLaneKINGSLEYHALL HollowLaneLOWERHOUSEFARMHOUSE KingsleyRoadMANORHOUSEFARMHOUSE NewtonCATTENHALLFARMHOUSEANDATTACHEDSHIPPON CattenHallLYCHGATETOSTJOHNSCHURCHYARD HollowLane


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26

BuildingsincludedintheValeRoyalBoroughCouncilHistoricBuildingsSurvey1977

TheFirs,NewtonHollow

BankHouse,Newton

Waterloo

CastleHillFarmBarn,CastleHill

Vicarage,StJohn'sChurch,HollowLane

BrooksideCottages,BrookSide

HurstFarmhouse

HawthornCottage,DarkLane

DepmoreFarm,DepmoreLane

CastleHillCottage,NorleyRoad

RoseCottage,NorleyRoad

Scotland'sLaneCottages,MillLane

BrookHouse,MillLane

TawHouse,BallLane

HalloftheHay,offMillLane

MillLaneFarmhouse,MillLane

MillHouse&WaterMill

SpringfieldHouse,MillLane

GreenBankCroft,MillLane

StJohn'sSchool,MillLane

PikeNookCottage,PikeLane

PeelHall,offKingsleyRoad

BradleyCottage,Bradley

WestbrookFarmhouse,HollowLane

RedBullPublicHouse

ScheduledAncientMonumentsinValeRoyalBorough

FromValeRoyalBoroughCouncilAdoptedLocalPlanFirstReviewAlterationJune2006

Number MonumentName GridRef.

13461 PeelHallmoatedsite,Kingsley SJ54047553

22595 CastleCobmotte SJ53387341

25693 BradleypromontoryfortaboveBeechbrook50msouthofBeechmillHouse SJ53947679


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KingsleysWoodlandsandSSSI

SSSIWarburton'sWood

Anancientsemi-naturalcloughwoodlandSSSI,throughwhichflowsasmalltributaryoftheRiverWeaver.Keyfeatures

ofthissitearethewildservicetrees,small-leavedlime,adiversegroundfloraandthreesmallareasofherb-richunimprovedgrassland.WarburtonsWoodliesonthesouthbankoftheLowerWeaverValley,1.5kmfromKingsley,the

woodlandliesastrideasmalltributarystream(O.S.GridRef.:SJ555762).

ThereserveisownedfreeholdbyCheshireWildlifeTrust,havingbeenpurchasedthroughanappealin1976.Accessto

thereservehasbeennegotiatedwithoneoftheformerowners,MrJDPHunter,whoownsthefieldsoverwhichthe

accessrouteruns.ThereserveisaSSSIandcoversapproximately7.4acres(3ha).

SSSIHunter'sWood

HuntersWoodisadjacenttoWarburton'sWood,nearKingsley.(O.S.GridRef.:SJ554763).

TwofieldsadjacenttoWarburton'sWoodwerepurchasedtoextendtheexistingwoodusingbothnaturalregeneration

andplanting.Existingmeadowsarealsobeingextendedandridesandgladeswillprovideopenground.CheshireWildlife

TrustacquiredHunter'sWoodinMay1999,asanextensionofWarburton'sWood.Together,theyarepartofalarger

wildlifecorridorextendingalongtheRiverWeaverincludingotherSitesofSpecialScientificInterest(SSSI's)andSitesof

BiologicalImportance(SBI's).

Kingsley Parish Plan

Documents