Arnside Parish Council

 ACTION PLAN

 Planning  [P]

 Aim P1 : To bring into being a Parish Plan Management Group (PPMG) which – entering into Partnerships with other bodies, as appropriate – will ensure that :

(i) the recommendations in the Parish Plan are pursued;

(ii) the Plan is reviewed at appropriate intervals and modified, as necessary, in the light of changing circumstances;

(iii) consideration is given to extending its scope beyond 5 years.

Action P1.1 (by Steering Group): set up a meeting, open to all Parish residents, at which the Parish Plan will be officially ‘launched’ and the Parish Plan Management Group brought into being.

 General  [G]

 Aim G1 : To improve the flow of general information about Arnside within the Parish, and to raise awareness of facts and figures relating to its position/status.

Action G1.1 (by Steering Group): ask the Parish Council to ensure that all information relevant to Arnside and South Lakeland is extracted from the 2001 UK Census, and made available within the Parish in all appropriate ways.

 Aim G2 : To situate Arnside’s Parish Plan in relation to other relevant plans and react accordingly (making common cause; acting jointly - e.g. on some funding applications; resolving conflicts, etc.).

Action G2.1 (by plan management group): scrutinise nearby Parish Plans, new AONB Plan, SLDC Local Plan, Cumbria CC Structure Plan, etc., and cause action to be taken, as appropriate (the Joint Parishes Committee can be used for these purposes, in the case of parishes within the AONB).

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 Housing/Building  [HB]

 Aim HB1 : To conserve the open spaces in the Parish.

Action HB1.1 (by Housing Group): begin devising and formulating a Parish Open Spaces Strategy which will identify the open spaces that should be conserved and describe their value to the community. Notes towards this to be passed on to the Parish Council.

Action HB1.2 (by Housing Group):  monitor the production, implementation and review of  Cumbria County Council’s Structure Plan, South Lakeland District Council’s Local Plans and the AONB’s Management Plan, acting to ensure they take account of the views of the Parish as expressed in the Open Spaces Strategy.

 Aim HB2 :  To ensure that housing development within the Parish over the next five years strongly favours (i) ‘affordable housing’ for young, working, local people; and                 (ii) sheltered accommodation for older people – the higher priority being given to (i).

Action HB2.1 (by Housing Group): gather and make widely available information on ‘affordable housing’ and local housing needs.

Action HB2.2 (by Housing Group): monitor the production, implementation and review of local authority plans and South Lakeland District Council’s Housing Strategy, acting to ensure they take account of the aims of the Parish as expressed in HB2.

 Aim HB3 :  To consider the desirability of having a Design Guide for the Parish, to guide bodies making judgements and decisions on building applications in relation to the appearance of new buildings, materials used etc.

Action HB3.1 (by Housing Group): assess the viability and need for such a Guide and identify the people/bodies who might take on the task of its preparation, and, if appropriate, pass on a recommendation to the Parish Council.

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 Facilities and Spaces   [FS]

 Aim FS1 : To bring the Cemetery Chapel into additional Parish use.

Action FS1.1  (by Steering Group): recommend that the Parish Council establish a Cemetery Chapel Advisory Group (members not confined to Parish Councillors) and put before it the suggestions that emerge concerning its use.

 Aim FS2 : To investigate ways in which certain unused / scarcely-used / dilapidated buildings in the Parish might be brought into general Parish use.

Action FS2.1 (by Steering Group):  recommend that the Parish Council form a small group (members not confined to Parish Councillors) to look into the ownership of such buildings and approach the owners informally.

 Aim FS3 : To support the Arnside Youth Project in its current and projected activities.

Action FS3.1 (by all residents and relevant Parish groups):  keep themselves informed of the activities of the Youth Project, and give support, in terms of finance and manpower, wherever possible.

 Aim FS4 : To support the current initiative to create a skateboard / roller-blading / biking area on the Memorial Playing Field.

Action FS4.1 (by all residents and relevant Parish groups): keep themselves informed (through Parish Council minutes, circulars and other forms of publicity) of the state of play of this initiative, and give support, in terms of finance and manpower, wherever possible.

 Aim FS5 : To investigate possibilities for a Youth Centre in the Parish.

Action FS5.1  (by Steering Group): draw the Parish Council’s particular attention to the established strong support for ‘efforts to find or create premises for a Youth Centre in the Parish’, and  recommend that the Council formally adopt, before the end of 2003, an appropriate means of searching for premises and driving this project forward.

 Aim FS6 : To ensure that Ashmeadow Grounds and Woodlands remain permanently open to all residents of the Parish.

Action FS6.1  (by all residents and relevant parish groups):

keep themselves informed of all developments relating to Ashmeadow, and support in every possible way both the Trustees in their policy to keep the woodlands open to residents, and the ‘Friends of Ashmeadow’ in their determination that the building and grounds should be used to the permanent benefit of the community of Arnside.

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 Business and Tourism   [BT]

 Aim BT1 : To establish a multi-purpose Arnside Information Centre, to serve both the community and visitors and provide a base for organisations offering ‘outreach’ advice to residents.

Action BT1.1  (by Steering Group ): ask the Parish Council, as a top priority, to make contact with potential partners, with a view to establishing the responsibilities, opportunities and resource implications relating to this initiative, which is eminently consistent with the wish to attain ‘Quality Parish’ status.

 Aim BT2 : To investigate the feasibility of providing workspaces / small-scale employment units in the Parish (craft workshops, IT centre, Studio Offices), to create new work-opportunities for residents and space for those seeking to become self-employed.

Action BT2.1  (by Business/Tourism Group ): approach the Parish Council and all potential partners, with a view to establishing the responsibilites, opportunities, and resource implications relating to this initiative.

 Aim BT3 : To establish an Enterprise Advice and Information Service within the Parish, to arrange for information from various agencies to be available, and organise informal Enterprise Evenings.

Action BT3.1 (by Business/tourism Group ): approach the relevant bodies for help, and take the initiative in this.

 Aim BT4 : To obtain and disseminate information about tourism in the Parish and for visitors to the Parish.

Action BT4.1 (by Steering Group ): ask the Parish Council to obtain and disseminate in the Parish the results of the AONB Office’s Visitor Survey as soon as these are available.

Action BT4.2 (by Business/Tourism Group ): improve information available on sustainable transport options (via website, and through tourist literature before visitors arrive).

 Aim BT5 :  To encourage appropriate tourism in the Parish, particularly overnight stays and environmentally-friendly activities.

Action BT5.1 (by Business/Tourism Group):  with the 2004 season in view, research local accommodation provision (bedspaces) and occupancy levels throughout the year, as a first step to finding ways to encourage appropriate tourism.

 Aim BT6 : To investigate the feasibility of a regular ‘indoor market’, to provide some of the commodities highlighted in the survey as being in demand but currently unavailable in the village (e.g. haberdashery, ironmongery, DIY equipment, needlecraft, pet supplies, etc.).

Action BT6.1 (by Business/Tourism Group): approach the two local Women’s Institutes, to ask them to consider taking this on (say, once a month, in the WI Hall) as a joint initiative.

 Aim BT7 : To investigate the feasibility of setting up Veterinary Clinic Sessions on an outreach basis for non-urgent, booked appointments (e.g. booster inoculations, worming, teeth-cleaning, micro-chipping).

Action BT7.1 (by Business/Tourism Group – or a newly-formed group):  ascertain how many clients from Arnside are currently on the books of local vets (Milnthorpe, Carnforth) and to establish which practice(s) might be willing to hold such clinics.

 Aim BT8 : To set up a ‘consumer’ group to act in the interests of the Parish as a whole in connection with shops and services.

Action BT8.1 (by Business/Tourism Group): facilitate the creation of an independent ‘consumer’ group in Arnside, the functions of which would be (in the light of answers to Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q39 of the survey): (i) to monitor the range of shops and services available in the Parish and act quickly when there is risk of a significant loss; (ii) to encourage residents to adopt buying patterns that increase the chances of retaining outlets in Arnside (’Use it or Lose it’); (iii) to look into the possibilities of remedying any deficiencies in the array of trades available; (iv) to work with the Parish Council in attempts to maintain/improve the quality of utilities and environmental services provided in the Parish.

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 Traffic, Parking and Transport   [TPT]

 Aim TPT1 : To ensure that the views of all residents on traffic, transport and parking matters in the Parish are regularly canvassed and presented to Parish Council as well as to other relevant bodies, and to try to ensure that these views are acted upon.

Actions TPT1.1 – TPT1.14 (by traffic/Transport group):

Speeding

TPT1.1: as a top priority, identify speeding ‘black spots’ in the Parish and pass on this information as appropriate.

Pavements

TPT1.2: seek proposals concerning places in the Parish where new footways/pavements are required for road safety purposes and pass on these proposals to the appropriate bodies.

TROs

TPT1.3:  find and use means of increasing awareness of Traffic Regulation Orders in the Parish, and ways of ensuring that they are properly enforced.

Parking

TPT1.4:  find and use all means of encouraging residents always to park off-road at home, wherever this is possible.

TPT1.5: ask Parish Council to write to proprietors of hotels and boarding-houses in the Parish to request that they strongly urge their guests to park, wherever possible, within the limits of the property and use all of the parking spaces therein.

TPT1.6: look into the possibilities and implications of: (a) imposing a limited set-down and pick-up time for coaches on the Promenade (and finding an area for their parking in between); (b) imposing peak-time restrictions on delivery vehicles in the village, and make recommendations to the Parish Council, as appropriate.

TPT1.7: look into the possibilities and implications of ‘Pay and Display’ parking on the West Promenade and make a recommendation to the Parish Council, as appropriate.

TPT1.8: ask Parish Council, as a matter of routine, to seek special arrangements for parking on days when particular congestion is expected (e.g. days of Cross-Bay Walks and Car Boot Sales, certain Bank Holidays, etc.) – these to include requesting the presence of parking wardens on the day and asking the police to place cones on certain stretches of road.

Buses

TPT1.9: conduct/find a way of having conducted a survey of the use of service buses to and from the Parish in relation to routes, links, times, frequencies, and make appropriate recommendations to the relevant bodies (taking account also of answers to Q51 of the survey).

TPT1.10: ensure that recommendations under TPT1.9 take account of, and are consistent with, whatever emerges from the Rural Transport Partnership already being worked on.

Trains

TPT1.11: in the light of answers to Q50 of the survey (44% of all respondents consider themselves dependent upon the railway), act vigorously – through FLAG, by other routes, and by encouraging all residents to be involved – to ensure that it is recognised that the continuing existence of a passenger service on the Furness Line is absolutely vital to Arnside, and that this is precisely in conformity with national policies for rural transport, as well as with the Cumbria County Council Structure Plan.

TPT1.12: in conjunction with FLAG, and taking account of answers to Q52 of the survey, ensure that everything possible is being done: (a) to improve railway information systems, timetables,  and reliability of services; (b) to keep prices down.

Integration/Co-ordination

TPT1.13: support in every way current efforts to co-ordinate and  integrate different transport systems in the area; consider ways in which such co-ordination might be brought about in the Parish itself and make appropriate recommendations.

Travel Vouchers

TPT1.14: make direct representations and vigorously support all efforts being made by individuals and groups to ensure that the SLDC travel-voucher scheme takes a form appropriate to the people of Arnside.

 Aim TPT2 : To have a traffic and parking survey carried out in Arnside.

Action TPT2.1 (by Steering Group):  ask Parish Council, with the weight of opinions expressed in the questionnaire results behind it, to press Cumbria County Council to complete their traffic/parking survey by the promised date (’in 2003′).

Action TPT2.2 (conditional)  (by Steering Group)  ask Parish Council, if the Cumbria County Council survey is not completed by that date, to examine ways of financing an independent ROSPA survey.

Action TPT2.3 (by Steering Group) ask Parish Council to consult the Traffic/Transport Group before implementing the results of any survey.

 Aim TPT3 : Since parking has taken place on a demarcated area of the foreshore next to the viaduct for many years, and since there is no indication that any official body wishes to prevent this, to seek to maximise and optimise the use of this area for parking purposes.

Action TPT3.1 (by Steering Group):  ask the Parish Council to seek ways of sensitively re-opening negotiations with bodies that have resisted changes to this area in the past, with a view to improving its surface and thereby encouraging parking there by some of the vehicles currently parking elsewhere (e.g. Station Road).

 Aim TPT4 : In the light of great – and growing – concern, to ensure that everything possible is done to tackle the problem of parking on Station Road, as the highest of priorities.

Action TPT4.1 (by all residents and relevant Parish Groups): support current efforts being made to alleviate immediately difficulties caused by parking on Station Road.

Action TPT4.2 (by Steering Group): ask Parish Council to press, with the full weight of Parish opinion behind it, for the resolution of the matter of a car park on Station Yard – the matter to be resolved by a specified date.

Action TPT4.3 (conditional) (by Steering Group): ask Parish Council, if and when such a car park is created, to review the prevailing Traffic Regulation Orders relating to parking on Station Road and reconsider their appropriateness..

Action TPT4.4 (conditional)  (by Steering Group): ask Parish Council, if by the specified date it emerges that there is no prospect of a car park on Station Yard, to present residents with a number of other options for dealing with parking for the station, and consult residents on these options.

 Aim TPT5 : In the light of great – and growing – concern, to ensure, as the highest of priorities, that everything possible is done to tackle the problems of parking at all identified parking ‘black spots’, including Silverdale Road.

Action TPT5.1 (by Steering Group):  ask Parish Council, in the light of the results of any survey carried out, to take all possible measures to decrease the dangers created by some of the parking on Silverdale Road – these measures to be carried out by a specified date.

 Aim TPT6  : To seek to improve access to station platforms for the infirm, the disabled, and mothers with pushchairs.

            Action TPT6.1 (by all residents and relevant parish Groups):

as the highest of priorities, agitate vigorously (by attendance at meetings, putting on agendas, writing letters, enlisting the help of public figures) for some action or plan of action on this to be evident before the end of the year.

 Aim TPT7  : To seek to improve facilities at Arnside Station (shelter, toilet, telephone, information).

            Action TPT7.1 (by all residents and relevant parish Groups):

agitate (by attendance at meetings, putting on agendas, writing letters) for some action or plan of action on this in the coming twelve months.

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 Education and Communication   [EC]

 Aim EC1 :  To extend and improve communication in the Parish.

Action EC1.1 (by Education/Communication Group): publicise, in alphabetical order, facilities available in the village (not organisations, but e.g. services like photocopying and their location); do this via website and either on an additional page in the Arnside Directory, if possible, or in a new newsheet-type publication, or both.

Action EC1.2  (by Steering Group): ask Parish Council to consider replacing and extending notice-boards in the village with common design sponsored by local companies or private individuals.

Action EC1.3  (by Steering Group):  ask Parish Council to introduce an Arnside Parish Newsletter to inform about Parish Council and Local Government matters in easy-to-read format with opportunity for feedback (at at least a frequency consistent with an application for ‘Quality Parish’ status).

Action EC1.4 (by all relevant action groups): investigate whether the newsletter envisaged in E1.3 might become a full community newsletter (quarterly?), incorporating the material indicated in E1.1 and E.1.3, contributions from voluntary organisations, letters, etc., etc.

Action EC1.5  (by Education/Communication Group): investigate which village ‘publications’ (including Parish Council Minutes, Broadsheet, Directory, etc.) could and should be made available in the form of an audio tape for those with failing eyesight.

Action EC1.6  (by Education/Communication Group): initiate a village forum to develop closer links between organisations in the village, especially organisations providing space for community activities (with a view to more sharing of facilities) – this forum also to clarify for Arnside residents the status and functions of the Educational Institute, the WI (and Village) Hall, and certain other organisations.

 Aim EC2 : To improve facilities for pre-school and school children in the village.

Action EC2.1 (by Education/Communication Group):  undertake a survey of parents of pre-school children to determine demand for pre-school care and, if necessary, then: liaise with Cumbria CC to have publicity campaign to attract childminders.

Action EC2.2 (by parents and the E.I. Committee) ensure that the ‘Arnies’ after-school club starts in September 2003 and extend its remit to include a holiday play-scheme starting summer 2004.

 Aim EC3 : To improve telecommunications in Arnside.

Action EC3.1  (by Education/Communication Group): organise registrations for Broadband to gain priority for Arnside in roll-out programme.

Action EC3.2  (by Education/Communication Group): organise a lobby to local MP for better TV/mobile reception.

 Aim EC4 :  To extend opportunities for Adult Education, improve Library facilities, and establish an IT Centre. 

Action EC4.1 (by Steering Group): ask Parish Council to investigate potential locations and funding for purpose-built building(s) to accommodate a new Library and an Information and Technology Centre (either or both might be combined with space for certain other community services), and to give full support to local district and county councillors in connection with any appropriate Library re-development plan.

Action EC4.2 (by Education/Communication Group):  set up an ‘Adopt a Computer Novice’ scheme – with computer-literate volunteers offering one-to-one computer and mobile phone/text messaging training. 

Action EC4.3 (by Education and Communication Group):  with particular reference to answers to Q18 and Q45 of the questionnaire, discuss with Dallam and Lancaster University’s Department of Continuing Education, an extended choice of adult education courses in the village (probably to be held in the Educational Institute) and/or assist with transport (e.g. by minibus) to Dallam.

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 Environment, Safety, and Security   [ESS]

 Aim ESS1 :  In the light of replies to Q62 and Q67 of the survey (an overwhelming majority of respondents feel safe and secure in Arnside, but an extremely large majority believe that a greater/more frequent police presence is required), to find ways of addressing residents’ concerns with regard to safety and security. 

Action ESS1.1  (by all residents and relevant parish Groups): monitor closely over a four-year period the Police Authority’s commitment to providing a local policeman for the Ward within four years – remembering that this was the justification for a massive rise in the Police Authority element in the Council Tax in 2003.

Action ESS1.2  (by all residents and relevant parish Groups):

give support in all respects to any initiative by the Police to tackle particular problems – initiatives like the current Community-Oriented Problem Solving (COPS).

Action ESS1.3 (by environment/safety/security Group): gather detailed information on the Community Support Officer scheme in operation elsewhere in the area and, if appropriate, recommend that the Parish Council, SLDC and any other relevant bodies press for such a scheme to be considered for implementation in Cumbria – areas to be covered by such an Officer to include: advice on home security, liaison with Neighbourhood Watch groups, safety-training for children, mediation in certain types of local disputes, and (possibly) dog-fouling.

Action ESS1.4  (by environment/safety/security Group): look into the feasibility of having an 0800 telephone number provided, available 24 hrs a day, for people to contact the Police for non-emergency matters, and make representations accordingly.

 Aim ESS2 :  To ensure that residents remain constantly aware of the vital nature of safety services like Air Ambulance, Coastguard, Fire Service, First Responders, Helpways, and that the high quality of these services is maintained. 

Action ESS2.1 (by all residents and relevant parish Groups): give support to these services by all possible means, direct and indirect, and make sure not to obstruct their efficiency in any respect.

Action ESS2.2 (by environment/safety/security Group): find ways of regularly drawing the attention of those inside and outside the Parish to the vital work of these services, by publishing (non-confidential) figures, publicising special events, etc.

 Aim ESS3 :  To improve the state of roads and pavements and verges within the Parish.

Action ESS3.1  (by steering group): ask Parish Council to take careful account of the fact that a singularly small number of survey-respondents consider pavement and footpath maintenance in the Parish to be ‘good’, and to make or press for improvements where necessary.

Action ESS3.2 (by environment/safety/security Group): investigate the possibility of dropped kerbs, in particular locations, for users of wheelchairs, pushchairs, etc., and make recommendations to Parish Council accordingly.

Action ESS3.3 (by environment/safety/security Group): to gather detailed evidence and ask Parish Council to press for an improved street-cleaning service in the Parish, through the proper fulfilling of their contract by SLDC.

Action ESS3.4 (by environment/safety/security Group): gather detailed information on the Parish Lengthsman scheme in operation elsewhere in the area (one lengthsman shared by a number of parishes helps to maintain verges, public footpaths, etc.) and, if appropriate, find ways of pressing Cumbria CC to adopt such a scheme.

 Aim ESS4 :  To improve the situation with regard to litter and dog-fouling in the Parish. 

Action ESS4.1 (by environment/safety/security Group): publish features in newsletters, designed to educate and persuade dog-owners; design and display appropriate posters; seek to have established a dog-park or dog-garden specifically for use by dogs and their owners (poop-scoops, bags and bins provided).

Action ESS4.2 (by environment/safety/security Group): design and display prominent posters to discourage the leaving of litter (including litter left by fishermen); arrange Community Litter Days, with fun events to attract all ages, competitions, refreshments, etc.; ask Parish Council to press for more effective management of litter bins.

 Aim ESS5 :  To try to have 7-day-a-week Meals on Wheels service introduced in the Parish.

Action ESS5.1 (by environment/safety/security Group): approach local government bodies, WRVS, Age Concern, etc., to examine the feasibility of such a service to cover provision of a daily hot meal and light cold meal for later (e.g. sandwiches), and make representations as appropriate.

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E.2     Flow Chart for the Action Plan

The flow chart on the following pages may be of interest to anyone seeking more information about how the actions in the Action Plan are envisaged as being carried out, but it is primarily intended as an outline for those who are directly involved in the implementation of the Parish Plan.

There are obvious respects in which the flow chart is necessarily more tentative than the Action Plan itself. Indications of the group responsible for the first move in connection with any particular suggested action (in column 2) are firm, and it is hoped that the timings of the first move to be made (column 3) will be adhered to in virtually all cases, although some of these are already a little speculative. But sheer volume of business will be a major factor here: where a group is assigned a great many actions by the Plan, it will obviously not be able to carry them all out at once, and may need to prioritise. This is especially so in the case of Arnside Parish Council, which – at a particularly busy time, after the summer ‘break’ – will be confronted by a very long list of requests and recommendations. All residents will hope that such situations do not lead to great delay, by the Parish Council or any other body concerned, and this is one area where the new Parish Plan Management Group will need to be vigilant. Nothing will be gained, however, by unrealistic expectations, which makes it desirable that any foreseen delays or deliberate ’slipping’ of the timetable should be made known publicly.

Equally, it would be inhibiting and possibly damaging to be inflexible about which groups/bodies are expected to take up responsibility once a particular ‘action’ is in motion (column 5). Firstly, there are cases where it is not possible to know this, and hence draw up a definitive list before the event. Secondly, in many instances where an Action Group has a proposal put on the agenda of some other body, that body may wish to come back to the Action Group – or go to others – to have certain tasks carried out.

In these as in other respects, it is not claimed that the flow chart has the same kind of authority as the Action Plan. Actions Groups, the Parish Plan Management Group, and Arnside Parish Council should all regard it as just a broad guide, and one that may rapidly need to be refined, modified, and added to. Those residents who have been members of the Steering Group and the Task Groups will sometimes be able to supply a little more detail, if this is required, to explain the thinking behind particular actions and projections concerning the course that these actions may take.