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Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan 2005

PRODUCED BY THE COMMUNITY OF ORFORD AND GEDGRAVE

with help from

and

Please develop carefully

“We are very fortunate in our environment

and in the range of facilities Orford has

(shops, garage, pubs etc.).

We must ensure we keep these.

The village should be allowed

slowly and organically to grow

in order to remain

a working community”

Orford and Gedgrave

The early history

The early history of the formation of Orford Ness, and the construction of the river walls, both very

significant in the development of any sort of a settlement at Orford, is unknown. Two documents predating

the construction of the castle refer to a market and a causeway, so it seems that there was certainly a

village of sorts in the early 12th century.

The Castle and the development of the town of Orford

Orford’s fortunes changed dramatically when King

Henry II chose Orford as the site on which to build

a new castle. Development of the town followed

the castle. Trade increased and merchant guilds

were formed during the Middle Ages. Orford’s

market was held on Mondays with an annual fair

on August 24th, St Bartholomew’s day. On July

7th 1579, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the

burgesses of Orford acquired a charter which

incorporated the town as a free borough with a

common seal and with power to hold property and

to hold a court.

The corporation was to consist of a mayor, eight

portmen (in most boroughs called aldermen), and twelve capital burgesses. Orford began sending two

representatives to Parliament and the town continued to send two MPs to Westminster until 1832. Orford

castle was the property of the Kings of England for just over 150 years until 1336 when King Edward III

sold it to Robert of Ufford, Earl of Suffolk and it remained in private hands until Sir Arthur Churchman

bought it in 1928 and presented it to the nation. The first mayor of Orford was James Coe who acquired

property in Orford, including the lease on Chantry and Raydon Marshes. When he died in 1591 he left the

leases, money and land in Castle Hill to the corporation to be used for charitable purposes. He also gave a

silver gilt mace still owned by the Orford Town Trust. The Orford Town Trust became the custodian

trustees of the castle and it was opened to the public in 1930. In 1962 the castle and the responsibility for

its upkeep were transferred to the Ministry of Works, later the Department of the Environment and then

English Heritage.

Signs of decline

The first office-holders under the 1579 charter were a group of men who had worked hard to raise the

money needed to petition the Queen for the charter. The petition stated that the town was in a state of ruin

and decay as economic conditions had undoubtedly worsened over the previous 50 or so years, due to the

downturn in the fishing industry, continental wars disrupting

trade, and piracy. Access to the river through the shifting shingle

bar at the tip of Orford Ness became more difficult as boats

increased in size. The corporation was responsible for the quay

and for regulating the fisheries and oyster beds in the river and

they took pains to keep outsiders away. Many boats were

engaged in the coastal trade exporting wool and dairy produce

and importing coal. Keeping the quay in repair was a constant

preoccupation and great expense to the inhabitants until it was

let on a repairing lease in 1743 and sold in 1813 to the Marquis

of Hertford. It is now back in the ownership of the New Orford

Town Trust. The quay along with the river and the river bed,

which, unusually for a tidal river, are also owned by the Town

Trust, are a source of revenue from mooring, fishing and landing

charges to this day.

Hard times

The difficult trading conditions hinted at when Orford acquired its charter became a reality within 100

years. In 1673 Orford was described as “in former times a Town of good account for fishing, but that trade

being lost, the Town cannot find itself”. The hearth tax returns of the following year record 5 empty

properties, 20 households too poor to pay the tax and only 37 households able to pay. Daniel Defoe

described Orford in 1722 as “once a good Town, but now decayed”.

Later history

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Orford, having lost the outstanding economic prosperity it had

enjoyed in the later Middle Ages, became more and more dependent on the owners of the Sudbourne

Estate, the principal landowners and employers in the district. The town assumed much of the character of

an estate village, but the population climbed steeply to over 1200, almost twice that of today. The Orford

Town Trust was constituted in 1889 to hold and administer the property of the old corporation and in 1996

the New Orford Town Trust was formed from the former Orford Town Trust and three other Orford

charities.

The Town Lands and relief of the poor

The rent income from houses and land belonging to the corporation was applied to poor relief thus

reducing the amount of rates paid by the householders. Some of the Town Lands were sold to private

individuals, but much has been used for the provision of housing including Bakers Lane and the Town

Farm Estate. The Town Marsh, now the Quay Street car park, continues to be a useful source of revenue

to this day. In 1902, after the old corporation had been dissolved and the Orford Town Trust set up in its

place, the present Town Hall was built on the Market Square. Additional rooms were added in 2001 along

with extensive refurbishment to allow the building to continue to be used for village functions.

The current position

The village is now administered by a combination of elected bodies.

At the highest level we are answerable to Central Government and the laws that they lay down

Suffolk County Council is responsible for the major decisions which affect Orford and the rest of Suffolk

County Councillor: Rosie Clarke

Suffolk Coastal District Council determine policy for local planning and environmental services etc.

District Councillor: Ray Herring

Orford and Gedgrave Parish Council administers local decisions

Chairman of the Parish Council: Sue Johnston

The New Orford Town Trust, which is represented by the parish councillors as trustee, continues to be

responsible for the assets belonging to the village

Chairman of The New Orford Town Trust: Ian Thornton

Town Clerk: Rosie Keeble

Treasurer: Valerie van Leeuwerden

Chairman of Riverside Committee: Tony Logan

Committee Members: Colin Barry; Keble Paterson; Matthew Smy; Roger Hipwell

Chairman of Estates Committee: Ian Thornton

Committee Members: Joy Castle; Derek Forbes; Roger Smith

Chairman of Highways Committee: Ron Mellor

Committee Members: Margaret Green; Margaret Smith; Phillip Tricker

A number of charitable trusts manage various other assets and activities in the village including the Orford

Recreation Ground, Esmond House Day Centre and Chapman House Surgery.

Where responses to the Parish Plan questionnaire suggest actions, the relevant responsible body or

bodies are identified in the observations or comments.

Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan

2005

The Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan has been produced by a

small team of volunteers who believe that the opportunity provided

by central government for funding a community wide poll to gather

the views of everyone in the village who was prepared to respond

is fundamental to developing the village as the majority of residents

would prefer.

The quote on the front of this document is taken directly from one

of the questionnaires and it succinctly summarises the views

expressed by the majority of the respondents.

We trust that decision making bodies will listen and take action in accordance with these views

Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan

The Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan has been produced from the responses to a questionnaire which

was hand delivered to every household and business in the parish. The questionnaire was developed by a

small team of volunteers from a general purpose parish plan software package with the content of the final

document being modified to incorporate many comments and recommendations made by visitors to an

open weekend in Orford Town Hall over the late May Bank Holiday in 2005. The cost of the production of

the plan, including the printing of questionnaires and reports, has been taken by the Parish Council (£250),

New Orford Town Trust (£250) and Rural Action East (£2,500). All the members of the development team

gave their time voluntarily.

When the original decision was made to go ahead with the production of a Parish Plan, there were many

people who questioned the need but the results do appear to provide strong evidence that the village is,

and should continue to be, a vibrant and caring community with good opportunities for encouraging the

younger generation to play a vital role in its development.

The major organisations and businesses with an interest in the future development of the parish were

invited to contribute to the production of the plan and about half of those invited accepted and made some

contribution. Coincidentally the response rate for the questionnaires was also around fifty percent with 221

being returned representing a total of 484 individuals recording their views on the topics covered by the

document. The response rate is disappointing but it is above the national parish plan average of forty

percent returns. Slightly more than eighty percent of the households that responded identified Orford as

being their main residence with slightly less than eighty percent of the individuals living in the parish for

more than 4 nights a week.

The general view of the majority of the respondents is that the village has a lot to offer to residents and

visitors alike and that, with a little effort, a number of the shortcomings can be overcome. The village

school made a significant contribution to the preparation of the questionnaire with a project to promote the

pupil's ideas on how their village should develop. Surprisingly the youngsters want very little to change as

long as additional facilities can be provided in the village to allow them to enjoy it more. The overwhelming

feeling across all age groups is that the village should continue to develop slowly as a working community,

with efforts being made to guard against the effects of the actions taken to protect the economic benefits

brought by the tourist trade spoiling the community spirit that exists in one or more forms for the

permanent residents. Where investment is required there appears to be a preference for this to be

prioritised for residents and not visitors, who are accepted as a necessary imposition on daily life in the

village as they are a major source of income for the Town Trust through car park charges, mooring and

launching fees. The increasing number of visitors also helps to ensure that many local businesses, who

appear to have little direct role in village life, continue to provide services and employment for the village

and the surrounding area.

Although the village does maintain a balance between permanent residents, tourists and weekenders

there is a concern that this balance is at risk with the increasing numbers of properties being sold to non

residents. There is a strong feeling that more should be done to enable younger people to be part of the

working community with suitable housing and employment being available and more amenities provided

within the village. There is strong support for the provision of an upgraded sports facility on the Recreation

Ground providing improved changing rooms for the current sports facilities as well as additional resources

for indoor activities as well as support for an updated facility for the Church Hut. It is important that

initiatives do not develop totally independently, as has happened in the past, and that the proposed village

visitor centre feasibility study which will include the museum, the castle and car parking should take a

village wide view and not be limited to these areas alone.

The New Orford Town Trust has a responsibility to the village to ensure that the village and its assets are

maintained and developed for the benefit of the current and future residents. This may require a

fundamental change to the way the Trust has historically subsidised the precept requested from the

District Council and the financial management of the income and expenses of the Trust.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 to 4 5 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 17 18 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 59 60 to 64 65 to 74 75 to 84 85+

Male 6 10 13 8 14 31 58 29 49 25 5

Female 10 12 9 4 6 36 60 29 38 27 5

Orford and Gedgrave Parish Plan Questionnaire

the results of the survey

Question 1 How many people normally live in your household?

From the total of two hundred and twenty one questionnaires returned, four hundred and eighty four

people were represented in the responses.

Observations/Comments

The number of returned questionnaires represents slightly more than fifty percent of the total households

and businesses in the village. A copy of the questionnaire was hand delivered to every property and

attempts were made to hand collect. Where collection was not possible, notes were left for completed

forms to be delivered to Orford Town Hall. Residents were also reminded with notices in the Village Voice.

It has to be assumed that the responses are representative of the views of those people who take an

interest in the future development of the village.

Question 2 Please show the ages of the people in your household?

Of the four hundred and eighty one people who gave their age, seventy two were under eighteen, two

hundred and five were between eighteen and sixty, one hundred and forty five were between sixty and

seventy five and sixty two over seventy five, ten of these over eighty five. The male/female balance was

almost equal.


The breakdown of ages and the balance of the sexes again suggests that there is a fair cross section of

views from the village.

Question 3 Is this dwelling your main residence?

Eighty three percent identified Orford as their main residence.


The balance between full time residents and second home owners in the village is unknown so the

predominance of residents in this poll may or may not be representative. However it does suggest that the

views do strongly represent the full time residents of the village.

Question 4 What type of dwelling?

Approximately one third live in

detached houses, another third in

semi-detached, twenty percent in

terraced houses and slightly over ten

percent in bungalows. One flat, one

specially adapted house and one

other also responded.


This is probably also representative

of the general mix of property in the

village.

Question 5 How many people attend education in your household?

Five children attend Tadpoles, three attend Shrimps, twenty

two are at Orford Primary School, sixteen attend secondary

school outside the village, one attends a special needs

school and eight are in higher education.


Orford has a significant number of young people whose

hopes and aspirations should be considered in any plans for

the future development of the village.

Question 6 Are any children unable to take part in after

school activities?

Two children miss out because there is a lack of transport

home and two because of the distance between school and home.


It may be that these are the same two children in each category but it is important that none of the local

residents of whatever age are excluded from activities enjoyed by their friends.

Question 7 Please state gender

Fifty two percent of the respondents are male with forty eight percent female.


This reinforces the fact that this appears to be a representative poll.

Question 8 What age group do you belong to?

Of the four hundred and eighteen people who answered this question, twenty one were between eleven

and fifteen, ten between sixteen and seventeen, thirteen between eighteen and twenty four, sixty three

between twenty five and forty four, one hundred and twelve between forty five and fifty nine, fifty two

between sixty and sixty four, eighty six between sixty five and seventy four, fifty two between seventy five

and eighty four and nine at eighty five and over.


Further evidence of the validity of the results.

Question 9 Are you permanently resident in Orford?

Eighty percent are permanently resident.


See question 3

Question 10 How long have you lived in Orford?

Fourteen respondents have

lived in the village for less than

one year, eighty six between

one and five years, one

hundred and eleven between

six and fifteen years, seventy

three between sixteen and

twenty five years, fifty three

between twenty six and fifty

years and fifty one for more

than fifty years. Fifty five have

lived in the village for their

whole life.


Although the age of the fifty

five who have lived in the

village for their whole life is unknown, the ratios show a good spread of length of residency.

Question 11 What should be encouraged in and around Orford?

Over fifty percent were not in favour of tourism development or additional attractions, sixteen percent had

no strong opinion and less than a quarter were in favour of encouraging more tourism. Sixty five percent

felt that overnight facilities for camping and caravanning were not to be encouraged with twelve percent in

favour and twelve percent with no strong opinion. Bed and breakfast was viewed favourably by fifty three

percent with slightly more than twelve percent against. Almost sixty percent supported extra river trips and

a ferry to Aldeburgh (Slaughden). Over fifty percent favoured more small business development, around

twenty percent not in favour and fifteen percent had no strong opinion, although forty two percent thought

such development should not be small scale industrial workshops and thirty four percent thought they

should. More than seventy percent believe that more jobs are needed with slightly over ten percent

against.


This shows a strong feeling against encouraging more visitors into a village that already suffers from a

large element of overcrowding which puts a strain on the limited facilities available. Orford’s character is,

to some extent, fashioned by its location at the end of a road and it is this mixed blessing shared with sim-

ilar villages like Walberswick, that causes many of the traffic problems referred to later in this report. Un-

less some solution can be found this could reach the same state as Walberswick where car park full notic-

es are posted at the start of the approach road in Blythburgh at busy times. It also shows that there is

strong feeling that the village should continue to evolve as a working community with local employment

being a priority.

Question 12 Which visitor activities are suited to Orford?

More than three quarters saw Nature Study and Bird Watching, Sightseeing, Painting and Photography,

Fishing, Walking and Sailing and Boating as suitable, with around a half favouring Road Cycling, Farm

Visits or Trails and Horse Riding but less than a third in support of Off Road Cycling, Shooting and Water

Skiing.


This suggests that any facilities for visitors should remain low key as current.

Question 13 How important is Orford School?

Over ninety five percent regard Orford Primary

School, Orford Tadpoles and Orford Shrimps as

important with eighty percent rating them as very

important.


Help should be given from whatever quarters to

ensure the continued functioning of all these

organisations. Where funding is under threat it

would appear that the village would like to see

priority given to the education of the young.

The present situation where the Shrimps is

temporarily closed down, should be rectified

without delay.

Question 14 What do you use your car for?

Around ninety percent use a car for leisure and shopping, around a third for transport to work or business

journeys and roughly ten percent for transporting young people to school or college or voluntary Social

work.


Although the majority of car use is non essential, there is still a significant requirement for ensuring that

residents are able to travel freely.

Question 15 What parking problems do you experience at home?

Less than a third experienced problems with lack

of off road parking, lack of a place to park at

home, nowhere to park, visitors taking private

parking spaces or cars blocking entrances, but

slightly over a third suffered from tourist traffic

blocking the road.


This reinforces the view that day to day facilities

are adequate but that the influx of volumes of

additional traffic does cause problems.

Alternative parking facilities or better parking

control could ease a cause of increasing

frustration in the village.

Question 16 How often do you use public transport services?

Over seventy percent never used the bus, coach, community bus or taxis with only a third using the train

once a month.


This response may be misleading as it fails to answer the question why the services are not used. Better

scheduling, routing or advertising of buses and a locally based taxi service may increase the use of these

services.

Question 17 What is your major means of transport?

Almost ninety percent use their car with less than five percent walking or using a bike.


See answer to question16

Question 18 What do you use the bus for?

The small percentage who use the bus regularly use it for

work or shopping while the occasional users use it for

shopping, social or leisure or to catch a train or coach.


It would appear that, although the bus is not heavily used,

it is an important means of transport for the few who use it

for work or for shopping outside the village. It would prob-

ably benefit from better publicity such as additional and up

to date timetables on display and maybe in the LINK and

Village Voice. Again revised scheduling or routing

may increase use.

Question 19 How could the bus and taxi services be improved?

Almost three quarters thought that an Orford based taxi service should be encouraged, and over a third

would like the parish to hold regular discussions with the bus company to amend timetables, integrate bus-

es with train times, increase frequency and alter routes. Less than ten percent would alter the seating ca-

pacity but over fifty percent would encourage a car sharing scheme.


There appears to be an opportunity for a locally based taxi service. The bus is operated under the Rural

Bus Grant Scheme which underwrites the high cost through Suffolk County Council. It would seem

reasonable for the Parish Council to communicate any suggested variations from the village through

Suffolk County Council to the bus company.

Question 20 Do you have difficulty getting to health services?

The majority do not have problems or didn’t answer this question. Of those who did answer there were a

number who would like to see the bus routed via Ipswich Hospital as well as better bus services to Leiston

for the optician and Saxmundham for the dentist. There was also some criticism of the hours of availability

for the Chapman House Surgery with its lack of weekend opening and an appointment system to allow

people to schedule visits around work.


Although the majority are able to reach the services there appears to be a case for discussing bus routing

with the County Council and availability with the surgery.

Question 21 What do you think about the number of new houses built in Orford over the last ten

years?

Almost forty percent thought that the number

of new houses is about right, a quarter

thought there were too many and they were

too big and twelve and a half percent thought

there were too few. Well over half considered

new housing to be too expensive. Less than

ten percent had no opinion!


These views should be borne in mind when

the Parish and District Councils determine

any Village Plan or individual planning

applications.

Question 22 What kind of accommodation do you think Orford needs?

Seventeen percent considered that no further homes

are needed. Two thirds thought that there should be

more accommodation for young people and small

families. Between a quarter and a third thought there

should be more housing for single people or elderly

people while only ten percent considered large family

homes necessary and less than two percent want

executive homes.


These views should be borne in mind when the Parish

and District Councils determine any Village Plan or

individual planning applications.

Question 23 Is there a need for more accommodation in Orford?

Two thirds would like a scheme for the sale of new homes to local people and half would like local

authority or housing association properties. One third thought low cost housing is needed with one quarter

favouring shared ownership. Twenty percent preferred owner occupied properties and eighteen percent

want more sheltered or adapted housing. Less than one percent felt there is a need for more holiday

homes or houses for holiday lets. Fifteen percent saw no need for any additional houses.


This should be borne in mind when the Parish and District Councils determine any Village Plan or


Question 24 What type of housing development would be acceptable in Orford?

Well over half would prefer to see

redundant buildings being converted

to provide additional accommodation

while just under half favoured single

dwellings in controlled locations. For-

ty percent would accept small groups

of less than ten and a quarter would

be prepared to see expansion on the

edge of the village. Under fourteen

percent favoured infilling of existing

gardens and spaces while under

eight percent would accept carefully

designed larger groups. Sixteen per-

cent considered that no development would be acceptable.


These views should be borne in mind when the Parish and District Councils determine any Village Plan or


Question 25 How do you rate the care services in Orford?

The responses to this question are limited with the majority using the surgery and the district nurse and

over ninety percent rating these reasonable to good. Although the response was low for maternity care a

quarter of those who used the service rated it poor.


The lack of response on the majority of care services suggests that there may be a lack of awareness of

the services available. Possibly a low level marketing campaign to raise awareness through Village Voice,

LINK and public notice boards.

Question 26 What type of anti-social behaviour concerns you?

Two thirds are concerned about traffic speed while

over a half are concerned about dog mess and

dogs not on leads. Around one third felt that litter,

theft and vandalism worried them with twenty

percent concerned about drunkenness and drug

taking. Twelve percent weren’t concerned.


The new forty mile an hour signs may improve the

speeding situation but there still appears to be

action needed in the village. There are a number of

dog mess bins around the village but this seems to

be an education problem with the owners who

could be tactfully made aware of their responsibilities whenever there is a problem.

Question 27 What measures do you think are needed?

Almost three quarters believe there should be more activities for young people while more than half see a

need for a greater police presence. Around a third felt that there should be better consultation between the

police and local people, more drug or drink education or prevention and improved street lighting. One

hundred and eleven people would like to extend and support the neighbourhood watch scheme.


The Parish Council has been attempting to resurrect the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme with little

success. Maybe the one hundred and eleven people could contact Councillor Roger Smith who would be

delighted to hear from them. The Community Policeman is invited to attend the Parish Council meetings

where the public are free to attend and discuss issues with him.

Question 28 How do you rate the environmental services in Orford?

Over two thirds rated the majority of services reasonable to good. The exceptions were street lighting

which twenty one percent rated as poor and car parking with a poor rating of thirty two percent.


The whole issue of traffic in general and car parking in particular is a recurring theme throughout this

project. The public car parks may be of sufficient capacity to accommodate all the cars that need to be

parked but again there appears to be an education problem with ensuring that people utilise them and not

restrict the highways.

Question 29 Would or do you use local recycling services?

Local interest in recycling is high with over ninety percent using the bottle bank, over seventy percent the

newspaper bank and more than fifty percent the can bank. Fifty six percent would use a public bulk

rubbish tip, fifty three percent a garden waste skip and over forty percent a plastic and a cardboard bank.

Thirty five percent would use a clothing bank.


Parish Council and New Orford Town Trust to consider expanding the range of recycling options available

in the village.

Question 30 How often do you use the local shops and services?

Eighty percent use local food shops and fifty percent the Post Office on a

daily or weekly basis, over fifty percent use the garage on a daily or

weekly basis and forty percent have papers delivered daily or weekly.

Few people use the local gift shops and very few visit the Castle, the

Ness or use the mobile library


It is important to continue to use the local shops to ensure that they

continue to operate in the village against the stiff opposition from large

out of town stores.

Question 31 Why do you shop in Orford?

Eighty one percent like to support local shops, seventy five

percent need “last minute” items, sixty three percent save

time and fifty six percent save on transport costs. A third

enjoy the social contact, twenty percent believe they give

good value and ten percent don’t have transport to go

elsewhere.


See answer to question 30

Question 32 Why do you shop outside Orford?

Eighty six percent shop out of Orford for more choice, sixty

seven because goods are cheaper and thirteen percent

because it is convenient to their place of work or parking is

easier.



Question 33 What do you use the local Post Office for?

Ninety six percent use the postal services, forty one percent to obtain cash or foreign currency and thirty

four percent for TV licence or paying bills. Less than twenty percent use Girobank or savings certificates,

cash pensions or allowances or take information leaflets.



Question 34 Should Orford have an additional children’s playground?

The majority would prefer to see the existing

playground improved and upgraded with additional

and better equipment and safer access for children

from other parts of the village. Other locations were

suggested; Quay Meadow to integrate with the

conservation area and north east of the village in

the Potkins Lane area to remove the need for

children to cross Ipswich Road..


Initiate a review of the existing equipment and

recommend suitable improvements and seek

funding. Possibly jointly with Parish and District

Councils, New Orford Town Trust and the Recreation Ground Trust.

Question 35 What should be done with the Recreation Ground Hut?

Ninety percent want something positive to be

done with almost fifty percent favouring rebuild

and over forty percent preferring renovation. Six

percent thought it should be left as it is and three

percent favoured demolishing and not replacing.


Initiate a review of the options and seek funding,

possibly jointly with the playground with Parish

and District and County Councils, New Orford

Town Trust and the Orford Recreation Ground

Trust. The importance of sport in the run up to the

2012 Olympics could help fundraising for sports

based projects like this.

Question 36 What facilities would you like to see in the Recreation Ground Hut and the

surrounding area?

A large percentage would like to see the Hut replaced with a small multipurpose sports centre providing

indoor sports facilities and gym, showers, toilets and changing rooms for outdoor sports, plus the facility to

host social events indoors. Combined with this an open space with a kitchen area to provide tea and

coffee and a bar area to be separated from the main facilities. This to be incorporated with an improved

playground and additional parking.



Question 37 What should be done with the Church Hut?

Sixty four percent were in favour of something

positive being done to improve the building

with fifty two percent suggesting rebuilding and

twelve percent renovation. Five percent wanted

it to stay as it is and thirty percent suggested it

should be demolished and not replaced.


The building belongs to St. Bartholomew’s

Church who have obtained planning permission

to rebuild and they are currently attempting to

raise funds for this and for fitting out the new

building

.

Question 38 What should the Church Hut be used for?

Although the hut belongs to St. Bartholomew’s Church who determine its use, there were suggestions that

it could be made available for any small groups who need a venue and possibly an occasional tea shop.


St. Bartholomew’s Parochial Church Council to determine use once remedial work is completed.

Question 39 What sports activities do you go out of Orford for?

Almost seventy percent travel for swimming with twenty percent for golf and keep fit and YOGA. Seven

percent leave for football and four to six percent travel for bowls, snooker, pool or squash.


There would appear to be a strong case for a local swimming pool but this is unlikely to be financially

viable although the rest of interests could be satisfied with more facilities in the village.

Question 40 What facilities should be provided in Orford for young people?

More than one hundred people would like to see some form of skate board ramp or a BMX track and a

teenage shelter. Around 150 would like to see music and dance lessons and a drama club, while over two

hundred favour football, youth sailing, youth clubs, scouts, guides and cubs.


There would appear to be strong support for activities which could be hosted in a refurbished Church Hut

and the Recreation Ground Hut. Commitment from these interested parties could help to justify

investment.

Question 41 What entertainment activities do you go out of Orford for?

Well over two hundred travel for the cinema, theatre, music and exhibitions while around twenty percent

travel for dancing.


There may be opportunities here for local entrepreneurs to consider promoting entertainment in the village.

The Town Hall has hosted film shows in the past with the newspaper kiosk acting as the projection room

but modern technology could offer a more convenient solution.

Question 42 How regularly do you use Orford’s amenities?

The Quay is the most used amenity with the river for boating

and fishing then the Recreation Ground and the Hut then the

Town Hall and finally Esmond House and the Church Hut.


There are many potentially high cost projects being considered

for short term funding but the figures suggest that there should

be popular support to help raise funds. The Quay requires

major refurbishment if it is to remain usable, both the Church

Hut and the Recreation Ground Hut need significant invest-

ment and Esmond House is looking for funding for day to day

operations.

Question 43 Where do you get information about events taking place in Orford?

Nearly three hundred people rely on Notice Boards, the Link and Village Voice for information with less

than twenty percent relying on local papers, the Post Office or local radio.


The village notice boards and local newsletters do offer good marketing opportunities for local events and

should be encouraged with regular contributions for print.

Question 44 Are there sufficient telephone boxes in Orford

Two thirds considered the number to be satisfactory or adequate with ten percent feeling that there should

be more. A quarter had no opinion.


Although the response is positive, the existing facilities are important and should be maintained and

protected.

Question 45 Do you have difficulty with reception in Orford?

Mobile telephone reception is poor for over eighty percent of respondents, radio and television reception

is difficult for almost 150 people with digital TV and radio also scoring low with a quarter of respondents

reporting poor reception.


The proposal to site mobile telephone masts in the village was rejected but it may be worth the parish

council reconsidering this if the problem needs addressing. Television and radio reception are affected

because of legislation which prohibits the use of more powerful transmitters close to the coast and the aer-

ial based FREEVIEW service is not available for this area. However the equivalent service FREESAT

from Sky does offers high quality radio and television reception via a minidish for a single fee and no

subscription charge.

Question 46 Have you attended a meeting of Orford Parish Council?

Two hundred and forty people have

never attended a Parish Council

meeting.


The Parish Council meets once a

month and these meetings are

immediately followed by a New

Orford Town Trust meeting, they are

both open to the public. The first part

of the meeting provides an

opportunity for questions to be raised

by the public.

Question 47 How well does the local council publicise its decisions and activities?

Over fifty percent considered that decisions and activities were reasonably well or very well publicised,

thirty percent thought they were badly publicised and the remainder had no opinion.


See observations for question 46. There may also be a case for more detail of council meetings to be

reported in Village Voice or some other form of report such as a parish website.

Question 48 How do you feel about the local council’s council tax spending?

Almost forty percent have no idea

how the money is spent, thirty

percent were quite or very satisfied,

twenty percent were quite or very

dissatisfied and the remainder had no

opinion.


See observations for question 46.

The Parish Council and the Town

Trust publish their accounts annually

and these are available at the annual

meeting of the council where they

can be questioned and discussed.

Question 49 Would you be

prepared to pay a slightly higher

council tax for local needs?

Forty five percent would be prepared, forty percent would not and the rest had no opinion.


The funding for local needs has to be raised if we are to continue to enjoy the benefits of the area in which

we live. It appears that whatever method of fundraising is applied a large number of people will be

disappointed.

Question 50 Do you think your local government representatives are sufficiently aware of local

concerns?

Almost sixty percent feel that the Parish Council is

quite or fully aware with eighteen percent feeling

they are not aware. This changes to thirty percent

each way for the District Council and reverses to

twenty percent and forty percent for the County

Council.


The District and County councillors are invited to

all Parish Council meetings but their attendance is

irregular although they do receive copies of the

minutes. Copies of the Parish Plan will be sent to

the councils,

Question 51 What is your opinion of the way the planning system is implemented by the Parish and

District Council?

Thirty percent have no opinion, almost fifty percent are quite or very dissatisfied with twenty percent quite

satisfied and less than two percent totally satisfied.


All planning applications are published before decisions are made. They are displayed before Parish

Council meetings and the planning system invites comment from interested parties. Objections are

considered as part of the planning process.

Question 52 How important is the quality of the countryside around and within Orford?

Eighty eight percent consider it very important, ten percent important with no one considering it not very

important. Less than two percent have no opinion.


It is obviously something that affects everyone in the community.

Question 53 How important are the features of the countryside?

Over eighty percent rated small woods, forests, hedges, ditches, meadows and fields, traditional farm

buildings, farm woods, marsh land, ponds and The Ness as important or very important with eighty five

percent rating the River Ore as very important. Modern farm buildings were not rated highly.


This appears to reinforce the view throughout the project that the natural landscape of the area is very

important and should be protected by the authorities responsible for its maintenance.

Question 54 How should we protect and enhance the local environment of Orford?

The highest response at between fifty and seventy five percent thought that this could be helped by

controlling all building development, controlling car parking, providing more local employment and

extending the recycling schemes. Between forty and fifty percent considered that generally controlling

traffic, promoting energy saving, improving public transport and encouraging renewable energy schemes

would also help. Just over thirty percent felt that community composting and improving rights of way would

help.


Another confirmation that protection of the traditional look and feel of the Orford environment should be

paramount when planning any changes which may affect it.

Question 55 What could be done to improve the environment of Orford?

Almost ninety percent thought that keeping the village clean and tidy and

stopping unused houses falling into disrepair should be the top priority

for improving the look of the village while between seventy and eighty

percent felt that looking after woodlands and preserving single trees was

important and sixty to seventy percent wanted more effort in cleaning up

the foreshore and a campaign to reduce litter. Fifty to fifty five percent

want more trees and hedges planted while the “fors” and “againsts”

keeping hedges short and tidy were equally split at around forty five

percent each. Few people wanted roadside verges to be allowed to grow

or for any trees to be cut down


This again confirms that the majority would support action for compelling

house owners to take responsibility for the look of their properties and

residents helping to ensure that litter is cleared regularly.

Question 56 What do you think could be done to protect wildlife in Orford?

Between eighty and ninety percent favoured managing the river and its surroundings and maintaining

ponds, scrub and trees. Seventy five percent want a campaign against litter and rubbish and to reduce

pollution in the countryside. Eighty six people would like to see the creation of more local nature reserves.


The clearing of rubbish and pollution is not only seen as an exercise to improve the look of the

environment but also as something to improve the chances of survival for wildlife. Maybe the neglected

pond behind the village sign, near the school, could be made into a nature reserve.

Question 57 What difficulties do you experience using local footpaths and bridleways?

One hundred and twenty six people have experienced no difficulties while the same number have

experienced difficulties with nettles or bushes and one hundred and fifteen suffered from water or mud on

paths. One hundred and one people struggled through crops on paths while seventy two were impeded by

missing footpaths or paths not joining. Between twenty six and sixty six people experienced difficulties with

no signposts, farm animals, barbed wire, high stiles and locked gates, while ten experienced difficulties

with other footpath users.


All incidents of footpath problems should be reported, in detail, to Suffolk County Council Highways

Department who have responsibility for ensuring the freedom of use for all public footpaths in the county.

Question 58 What do you think could be done with roads, lanes and paths to make the local

countryside more attractive?

In order of importance the following were listed: Repair stiles and bridges, signpost paths and bridleways,

stop vehicle damage to road verges, extend access along river walls, remove unnecessary sign posts,

make paths accessible to those with disabilities, reduce traffic, keep roadside verges mown and tidy and

let roadsides grow for wildlife.


There would appear to be a case for lobbying the County Council to review all roads, lanes and paths to

address the comments listed.

Question 59 How do you rate the appearance of Orford?

The general feeling is that the appearance of Orford is reasonable to good although twenty five percent

think the Market Square is poor.


This doesn't fit with the general view that a village anti litter campaign is necessary but it may be

another confirmation that people wish very little to change.

Question 60 Would you be prepared to help with the maintenance of the village?

One hundred and sixteen people are prepared to help with cleaning the foreshore while forty four would be

prepared to help with mowing the churchyard. Forty would survey trees and hedge and thirty eight are

prepared to maintain footpaths, Thirty three offered to maintain Quay Meadow and thirty two would be

prepared to clean the village ponds.


As the Parish Plan questionnaire was anonymous the individuals who are prepared to help should make

themselves known to the responsible bodies who would appreciate the volunteers. Possibly a note to the

Town Clerk would enable the information to be passed on.

Question 61 What should be done with Orford Quay?

Sixty two percent would like to see the Quay repaired to

maintain the current facilities while twenty seven percent

would like additional facilities to be developed. Twenty

percent would like a new landing stage created and sixteen

percent would like to encourage commercial development of

the Quay and the foreshore. Twenty percent thought it should

be left as it is.


To leave the Quay as it is, is not possible as the structure

continues to deteriorate and may be unusable in a relatively

short period of time without action being taken. The Quay

provides essential services to river users and is a magnet for visitors to the village. Plans are currently

underway with New Orford Town Trust to determine the best value option for providing and funding the

required refurbishment and any new facilities.

Question 62 How do you think Orford should be kept clean and tidy?

Fifty five percent would like extra dog litter bins to be provided while thirty seven percent thought that

paying for a litter warden and having a spring clean day annually would help. Twenty six percent favoured

entering a best kept village competition with twenty three percent favouring paying for extra road

sweeping. Twenty two percent would like a traffic warden and thirteen percent want notices put up.


There appears to be a combination of volunteer effort and paid wardens preferred for ensuring that the

village can be kept clean and tidy.

Question 63 How do you think the centre of Orford could be improved?

Thirty seven percent don't see any need for improvement while

thirty percent would like a park and walk scheme to relieve the

traffic congestion. Twenty three percent would like to see

pedestrian only areas, traffic calming measures and a traffic

warden while only fifteen percent favour a one way system.


Another vote for a careful approach to any changes to the village.

Question 64 Would you like to see some form of parking

control in Orford?

Fifty five percent would like to see some form of control while a

third would not. Eleven percent have no opinion.


Traffic and parking continues to be a major concern for the majority of residents.

Question 65 Where do you think there are major danger spots on Orford’s roads?

The major danger spots were identified as follows: QUAY STREET

CASTLE HILL

HIGHSTREET/DOCTORS LANE /BRUNDISH LANE

RIGHT TURN FROM FRONT STREET INTO SQUARE

MUNDAY'S LANE EXITS FROM RECREATION GROUND

DAPHNE ROAD/BROAD STREET CROSSROADS

ORFORD SCHOOL ENTRANCE

FRONT STREET

PARKING/MANOUEVRING IN SQUARE

PARKING ON MOST CENTRAL ROADS AT WEEKENDS

AND HOLIDAY SEASON

LACK OF FOOTPATHS - ALL LICENSED PREMISES EXIT

DIRECTLY ONTO HIGHWAY


The main danger spots appear to be caused by a general increase in the volume of traffic funnelling into a

network of unsuitable village streets via equally unsuitable access roads. The main car park is

unfortunately located at the least accessible point in the village requiring traffic to drive through the village

to reach the public parking area. There is probably justification for a detailed review to look at all aspects

of traffic flow into and through the village before the situation becomes totally unmanageable. This should

probably consider radical schemes including one way systems, no right turn into Market Hill, relocation or

replacement of car parking and pedestrian only or time controlled traffic areas.

Question 66 Would you support speed control measures in Orford?

Forty eight percent would like

to see a reduction in the

speed limit, thirty three

percent traffic calming and

twenty eight percent children

at play signs. Twenty four

percent see no need for

control measures and fifteen

percent would like more road

warning signs.


There looks to be support for

protecting the more

vulnerable members of our

community with controls for the safety of young children in the village.

Question 67 Would you like to see any additional road safety facilities?

Fifty eight percent would like more environmentally sensitive street lights while thirty eight percent would

just like more street lights. Twenty nine percent want more pavements, twenty seven percent more

footpaths and eighteen percent more cycle paths. Fifteen percent want dropped kerbs, fourteen percent a

one way system and twelve percent would like pelican crossings. Only four percent want traffic islands.


Over ninety percent would like to see improved lighting of some form or other while less than a third want

any other major changes.

Question 68 What do you think contributes to traffic problems in the village?

Fifty percent see a lack of residents only parking as the single biggest factor in traffic problems in the

village followed by forty six percent general congestion and forty percent traffic speed. Thirty percent are

concerned about lorry and tractor traffic and lack of parking in general with twenty three percent citing a

lack of traffic regulation or the lack of a park and walk scheme. Between fifteen and twenty percent blame

a lack of wider footpaths, a need for pedestrian only areas and pedestrian/traffic conflict.


The results are relatively obvious with the increasing volume of large commercial and farm vehicles and

visitor traffic manoeuvring around village roads that were designed for fewer and smaller vehicles.

Question 69 How do you think Orford could be improved?

Almost three quarters

would like to see empty

and derelict buildings

repaired, sixty three

percent would like a

tearoom or bar for a

village focus while fifty

seven percent would

favour free access to

the museum for all res-

idents and a regular

weekend ferry between

Orford and Aldeburgh

(Slaughden). Thirty

seven percent would

like more community

events like the village

feast and thirty percent would like a sports and leisure centre. Twenty eight percent would like more

flowers and shrubs and an annual music and arts festival, twenty six percent would like to make part of the

Town Square a pedestrian area and twenty five percent would like a regular pre-school play group. Less

than ten percent want a children's playground near the village centre.


The wish list is relatively conservative and many of the things could be achieved with little investment but

an enthusiasm to organise events. The ones that require investment are not unachievable with a common

desire to work together to improve the village for the whole community. A few may need legal action which

could take a little more effort.

Question 70 How should any improvements be funded?

Almost seventy percent believe

fundraising to be the preferred

funding method with sponsorship

and moderate council tax rises

appealing to fifty percent. Forty two

percent favour private contributions

and thirty percent franchising.


The record of fundraising in the

village is good. Recent projects

have included the Chapman House Surgery, over £300,000 for upgrading the Town Hall and £200,000 for

St. Bartholomew's Church.

Question 71 How would you like Orford to develop?

Sixty five percent want development to be slow and natural while forty six percent favour a working

community and thirty percent want it to stay as it is. Only ten percent want Orford to be a tourist centre,

less than five percent a retirement community and less than two percent a commuter community.


The general feeling that comes through the questionnaire is that the village should continue to develop

slowly with emphasis being placed on facilities for the residents and not visitors. The village community is

considered to be important and investment should provide facilities to encourage the younger generation

to feel part of the community and to get greater enjoyment and satisfaction from being part of a vibrant

working caring community.

Question 72 What is most important to you about living in Orford?

The responses to this question include:

"Peace and quiet and natural environment"

"It is wonderfully quiet and unspoilt"

"Delightful environment both urban and rural peace and quiet"

"Having local amenities, not having to shop outside the village"

"A lovely and unique place that needs little fixing"

"Sense of living in a community"

"Unspoilt unique village leave well alone"

"Born here, all roots here, nice people; many friends"

"Undeveloped and unspoilt, quiet, friendly, good community spirit”

"Tranquillity, community spirit, good walks, good shop and post office"

"Unspoilt by large developments"

"To keep the correct balance of young and elderly, so real village life does not diminish entirely"

"Safe place to raise children, recreation hut for social events"

"Working together as a community"

"The community is so vibrant and Orford is seen as a beautiful place to live"

"The local community needs to be maintained"

"To live in natural surroundings"

"Keeping it as a village and to keep some of our local children here

with reasonably priced homes"

"To maintain the tranquil rural life and spirit for now and future generations"

"I live in Orford because I like the way it is"

"I just like living in Orford. I have been a country person all my life and I love the river"

"I feel I belong here"

"I pray it doesn't turn into a ghost town, full of second home owners who come here and push

the locals out"

"Sense of community which is fast disappearing,

too many original locals feel their views are worthless."

"The community spirit is very important"

"Safe, peaceful environment, warm friendly atmosphere"

"At the moment it is a good place to bring up children"

“A small community with good facilities and a mixed population in age"

"It's home and it's simply lovely"

"A living, thriving community of residents daily responsible for making Orford

a pleasant dynamic place to live and work"

"Fun Day was a victim of its success, make sure Village Feast doesn't lose its identity

and go the same way"

"There is a communal feeling to preserve and protect, living in a beautiful place

with a high degree of taking each other as we find us and old fashioned respect and trust"

"It should be kept as a small rural village and support the children

that are born here with education and housing"

"The community spirit of the village, that it remains unspoilt

but "real" not simply a tourist destination"

"Build more affordable homes and stop building houses which ruin the community"

"It is terrific to be here, friendly, social, diverse people. A lovely village"

IN CONCLUSION

So where do we go from here?

The Parish Plan questionnaire was hand delivered to every household and business in

Orford and Gedgrave to provide everyone with an opportunity to voice their opinions on

the parish as it is and how it should develop in the future. With over fifty percent of

households responding in considerable detail to the questionnaire, this Parish

Plan provides a strong, clear set of views both as to how the community itself sees

Orford & Gedgrave now and how the community wants to see future local development.

This Plan is, therefore, the best possible evidence and guideline for those who may be

making decisions about the future of both individual and community integrated initiatives

in the future. These will include decisions at Parish, District, County and National lev-

el. The Plan should also be used as empirical evidence when any agency, private, statu-

tory or Governmental, is considering matters which affect Community development in Or-

ford & Gedgrave and the surrounding areas.

Orford and Gedgrave experiences few of the problems that modern society appears to

accept in other areas but it is important that the parish continues to offer

sufficient activities for all age groups, above all the young, if this is to continue. The Plan

shows particularly strong concern for careful improvement, in no particular order of

preference, in the following areas, some of which would require varying degrees of

external funding.

More jobs

More affordable housing

Encouragement of small business

Additional Bed & Breakfast facilities

Controlled expansion of dwellings

Conversion of redundant premises

Improved children's playspace

Better sport and leisure facilities - particularly youth club, youth sailing and football

Renovation or rebuild of Recreation Ground Hut

Renovation or rebuild of Church Hut

Sensible traffic management and enhanced or additional parking facilities

Tea room

Ferry to Aldeburgh

Free museum entry for residents

In each case the Plan can be presented as evidence of the particular need.

The volunteers who contributed to the production of this plan include

DAVID ANDREN : JOY CASTLE : IAN CASTLE

ADAM CHAMBERS : LIZ CODDINGTON

NIKKI EHLERT : JUDITH GOLDER

TIM HANNON : ROGER HIPWELL

WILL HARVEY : NEIL JACOBS

SUE JOHNSTON : SOPHIE MARSHALL

ALEX MARSHALL : ROSEMARY UNWIN

plus

484 individuals who cared enough

to complete and return

their plan questionnaires

Orford and Gedgrave Parish Planorford.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Orford-and-Gedgrave-Parish-Plan1.… · Trade increased and merchant guilds were formed during the Middle Ages. Orford’s

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