Introduction to this Exhibition
| Links | |||
| 1. A village plan | 2. Boundaries | 3. Green Belt | 4. Physical Env |
| 5. Development | 6. Services | 7. Council Services | 8. Information |
| 9. Problems |
| Let us know what you think, e-mail us at mail@hartley-parish-plan.org.uk |
It is 26 years since a detailed survey of Hartley was undertaken. New developments were being completed at Billings Hill Shaw and at Downs Valley. A lot has changed since then. There have been many smaller developments; more recently at Fairacre Place off Hoselands Hill, Broomfields off Culvey Close and Whitehaven in Stack Lane.
Some Basic Questions
Has the structure of the village improved since then?
Do we have all the services needed?
Have the roads improved?
With your help we shall answer these questions.
We shall be sending a questionnaire around to each household in May. This questionnaire is still being finalised but a draft version is exhibited in this exhibition.
We would welcome your comments so please use the comments pad attached.
Extracts from the 1979 Village Appraisal
A copy of the 1979 village appraisal is in this library.
The Location and Form of the Village
The Parish of Hartley is located 24 miles from London.
It is not of traditional village form but rather developed in the past century and a half from a rambling sprinkling of dwellings along two principal lanes converging at north and south.
The length of the Ash Road is generally busy in waking hours since it serves the destination or forms part of the route of most journeys within the village and to Longfield Station. Ash Road is burdened to a considerably greater extent at peak commuter and school attendance times both by village use and the almost 100% commuter traffic from New Ash Green. A Relief Road from New Ash Green via the Fawkham Valley to Long field is at present under discussion.
The Past
A page long history of the village is given.
The Present
The sub titles of this section comprise "Amenities and Services", "Recreation and Leisure", "Education", "Housing", "Employment" and "Churches" all of which will be included in this study.
The Future
Hartley despite its recent rapid growth is still a very attractive locality.
We could do better"
The Questionnaire and "What you say"
There were 18 questions analysed in the 1979 appraisal. The details are too long to précis here but can be viewed on our web site or a copy seen in the library. The children at both primary schools had their own surveys.
Finally there was a small section on the ecology of Hartley and a statement that the built up boundaries of Hartley should be left alone.
.A Village Plan for Hartley – Have your say
What is a Village/Parish Plan?
Here comes the Government Jargon
Village appraisals produced some year ago seem to have a variety of formats. Hartley's of 1979 appears to be more comprehensive than most. They all took stock of the sate of their village, conducted a questionnaire and looked to the future.
A village design statement sets out the village view on the future shape of the physical appearance of the village. It provides the planning authority with supplementary planning guidance to be used when deciding planning applications.
A village/parish plan should set out a vision of how the community wants to develop and identify the action needed to achieve. However, the Government does say that the final report must be consistent with Regional plans! It is important that the whole community has its say and hence our questionnaire will be sent to all households. In addition it is important that the village plan incorporates a village design statement so that our views will influence planning decisions.
Many other local villages have had their say.
Village Appraisals have been/are being conducted in
Hartley (1979)
Stansted and Fairseat (1985)
West Kingsdown (1993)
Eynsford (2000)
Fawkham (2001)
Village Design Statements have been/are being conducted in
Horton Kirby (2003)
Hextable (2005)
Leigh (near Tonbridge)
Village/Parish Plans have been conducted/are being in
Leigh (near Tonbridge)
Harrietsham (near Maidstone)
Borough Green
Shoreham (2003)
Village/Parish Plans are comparatively new. Hence not many local villages have completed them.
GRAPHIC 2 HORTON KIRBY
A Village Plan for Hartley – Have your say
The Parish Council has commissioned this project to find out the views of everyone in the village. It is being undertaken by a group of volunteers led by Gerald Cramp (01474 704849). Other committee members are
Derick Griffin (Vice Chairman)
Sandra Edwards (Treasurer)
Mark Heeley (Fund raiser)
Peter Mayer (Secretary)
Sheri Wildman (Publicity Officer)
Malcolm Harris (representing Hartley Parish Council)
Margaet Solman (representing Hartley Parish Council)
Ivy Sharp
Shirley Fairman
Hannah Conroy (Youth Member)
Details of our work can be followed on our web site
www.hartley-parish-plan.org.uk
This exhibition on our work in Hartley Library will be on view for a few weeks
The first stage is to collect together all the available data from official and local sources which we aim to finish by Easter time. Peter Mayer is progressing with this task.
During May we will be conducting a questionnaire survey to find out your views. These will be summarised and be included in our final report in the autumn. This will be presented to the Parish Council and to Sevenoaks District Council so that it can be incorporated in the new District Plan which is currently being prepared.
The final report will include a list of action points for us, the local community and our planning authority, Sevenoaks District Council.
Contentious issues could include traffic, both volume and speed on Ash and Church Roads, continued house building, bus and health services, facilities for teenagers and vandalism.
We are seeking the views of everyone. This is your chance to have a say in the future development of Hartley.