Clapham, Bedford Community Website

Consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Plan will take place from 7th June until 20th July 2019.

A copy of the response form is at

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6ZXGM92

or a paper copy is in the centre pages of the summer Village News. Please return paper copies to the Parish Office in the Village Hall car park.

Copies of the draft plan and supporting documents are on the library page of this website under Neighbourhood Plan. Paper copies of the draft plan are available to view at the Parish Office, the Post Office, the Spar, The Star and the Horse & Groom. Please provide an email or postal address if you would like a response to your comments.

If you need any further information please call the Clerk on 346366 or email claphampc@btinternet.com

The map of the new settlement area is on the library page under Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood Plan supporting documents

Copies of the Heritage/Character and Site Assessments carried out by Aecom, the Housing Needs Survey compiled by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Play Equipment Survey carried out by the NDP Group are available on the Library Page under Neighbourhood Plan.

Neighbourhood Plan

Following the October “Question Time” event, the information gathered throughout the Neighbourhood Plan process was assessed against criteria for development. Site allocations were considered by the Parish Council at their meeting on 18th December 2018 and the decision taken that the revised northern site should be allocated in the Neighbourhood Plan. The Parish Council decision was based on a balanced assessment of the two sites, incorporating technical advice, topography and the ability of sites to meet planning policy and the aims of the Neighbourhood Plan, as well as recognising the impact on residents adjoining the sites and the impact on the whole village.

Question Time Event

Ninety six residents attended the Question Time event held in October. Questions were asked about accesses to both sites, traffic congestion and speeding, bus services, build times, loss of agricultural land and the effect of the Planning Inspector’s refusal of previous planning applications for land in the eastern site. Some residents requested a referendum on the site but this question was asked in the May/June consultation. The Parish Council will now consider the recommendation and all the supporting information from the Neighbourhood Plan Group and make a final decision on the site at the December Council meeting.

Neighbourhood Plan Group and Parish Council response to Government consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework

Clapham Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Group consider the proposed change to land supply considerations as very detrimental.

Bedford Borough Council, which is about to submit its Local Plan for inspection, havs separately responded to set out that, if imposed, this proposal would mean that the five year land supply will no longer be based on the local plan OAN, but on the standard method, until such time as the plan is adopted.

If such an approach is to be introduced it should be accompanied by an additional transitional provision which allows exceptions for the small number of Councils who are in the process of preparing plans for submission before 24 January 2019 and which will be examined through the transition plan regulations (ie in accordance with the 2012 NPPF with housing requirements based on Strategic Housing Market Assessments).

This is because where Councils will be progressing plans with housing requirements which are below the standard housing need figure there is simply no logic in prescribing that for the short period between the proposed change in the NPPF and adoption of the local plan (less than a year), housing land supply is temporarily examined at a higher level risking the five year supply and undermining the plan before it has even been examined.

For Bedford Borough this means that imposing the standard method will add 2,200 dwellings to the five year requirement, reducing supply from 5.8 years to 3.5 years with no possible way of making up that difference in the time available.

In Clapham we have spent nearly five years consulting with the community and building support for the development of 500 homes as allocated in the local plan, on the basis that we have local control of the location of new homes. This proposal would risk our substantial work with the community and destroy all trust in the Neighbourhood Planning approach.

If the standard method is to apply before the local plan and neighbourhood plans are adopted and made, without transitional provisions in relation to five year land supply, we have serious concerns that a number of planning applications may come forward which aim to circumvent the neighbourhood plan process. In particular, in our village there are two competing site options, along with a number of previously rejected site proposals. Local residents have been assured that the location of development will be decided locally, and the parish council is due to confirm that decision on 18 December 2018 ahead of finalising our Neighbourhood Plan.

If competing sites can come forward within this window, before the local planning and neighbourhood planning processes have completed, our activity to consult and select sites will be lost which would be devastating.

Surely this outcome is not what the Government’s own localism agenda anticipated. If MHCLG would like to meet to explore and test the implications of the consultation proposals on the ground then Bedford Borough Council has offered to arrange a meeting, and Clapham NDP group would be happy to contribute to this discussion.

Feedback from May 2018 Consultation

Clapham Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) - 2018 Survey Results

438 responses were received online and on paper
There was broadly more support for the north Clapham site (Option 1) than the east Clapham site (Option 2)
There was significant support for all proposed NDP policies, mostly over 85%

Development Sites

Around 71% of respondents agreed that development should take place in North Clapham and additional analysis by postcode showed that these numbers rose to 79% for people living around East Clapham and fell to around 53% for people living in North Clapham.The North Clapham site was also seen as the best option for traffic management with 69% agreeing that traffic would be better managed through the North Clapham site.Again these figures were more significant for East Clapham residents (74%) than North Clapham residents (56%).There was also a majority in favour of the North Clapham option of a second school (59%) over the proposal for a single three form entry school (36%) with support in East Clapham at 62% and in North Clapham at 51%.

Preferences by postcode are shown in the chart below.

Comments

The comments were grouped into themes and whether the respondent was from the East or North of the village or if no postcode was provided.

Overall the top ten free text comments were:

North Option is better (64)
Concerns about traffic in the village or requests for traffic calming (51)
Concerns about traffic on the A6, particularly tailbacks to the Sainsbury roundabout (30)
Concerns about impact on The Slade/Highbury Group (15)
Need more exits to the A6/Suggestions to have exit direct from the North development (14)
Two schools preferred/Good to have a school in the north of the village (12)
Large 3 form school is too big for a village school and for small children (11)
Not enough consideration for local residents/insufficient engagement (9)
Concerns about drains and flooding (8) New shop required especially in North (8) Don’t have two schools as it will split the village (8) Protect farmland/prioritise brownfield (8)
East Option is better (7)

The top three comments split by postcode are shown below

There was a wide range of concerns and comments coming forward, creating 75 distinct categories. However, after the top three issues were considered, nearly half the comments categorised were made by only one person.

Residents from across the village were more supportive of the North Clapham option.

The primary concern of all areas relates to traffic, both in the village and feeding onto the A6 at peak times.

Although there were some who were concerned that two schools would split the village, more people expressed concerns about a single large primary school, and supported a school in the north of the village especially to facilitate walking to school.

Policies

There was significant support for all the policies in the plan with most scoring over 85% support.

Support for the individual policies is shown in the table below.

Policy BE4 relating to a business park had the lowest level of support – 68%, so we have amended it to read “New B1 office space will be supported as part of a mixed development, provided it is of a scale and suitably landscaped so as not to obtrude on surrounding residential properties.”

The intention of policy HN2 was not completely clear and so we have clarified this to read “New development should not erode the local gaps between Clapham & Bedford and Clapham & Twinwood Business Park”

The raw data file is too large to put on the website but if anyone would like to see it please contact me at claphampc@btinternet.com or 01234 346366

Thank you to everyone who filled in a feedback form at the exhibition on Saturday 12th May. If you weren't able to attend, the policies and posters from the developers are below and the feedback can be filled in online at Updated Clapham NDP May 2018 Consultation Survey

North Clapham - option 1

East Clapham - option 2

Clapham Neighbourhood Plan

Policies – summary

Objective - housing needs and sites for development

HN1. All new development should enhance the village character and the way in which it functions.

HN2. New development will not erode the local gaps between Clapham & Bedford and Clapham & Twinwood Business Park HN3. Sites will contain a mix of dwelling types and sizes to meet the current and future needs of Clapham residents. Developers must justify the mix in planning applications based on evidence of local need.

HN4. New housing should use sustainable urban design with sufficient off-street parking so that it will not create or add to existing parking problems. Garages will be built in direct association with the house whose inhabitants may be expected to use them to avoid parking dominating the street scene.

HN5. New housing must include an upgrade to existing sewers where necessary to prevent flooding and adverse impact on the local ecology.

HN6. New housing will be no more than 3 storeys high.

HN7. Refuse and recycling facilities should be securely located at the rear of new dwellings or screened to reduce their visual impact and accessible by collection vehicles.

HN8. Affordable housing provision should reflect the needs identified in the 2016 Clapham Housing Needs Survey and subsequent surveys during the period of the Neighbourhood Plan.

HN9. Housing for older residents and built to lifetime homes criteria will be supported as will a care home (policy
BE 5).

T1. New development must contribute to a balanced transport provision which will deliver good pedestrian and cycle connections to reduce reliance on vehicles. In line with policy GS5, new cycle and footpaths should link to the existing network of footpaths, bridleways and cycleways, to schools and to village green spaces.

T2. Proposals that comprise a traffic generating use and are located within the ‘areas of constrained access’ both listed below and identified on the proposal map will only be supported if they can adequately demonstrate that they will not create an adverse impact on highway movement.

T3. New development which provides off street parking in line with policy HN4 will be supported in order to keep traffic moving through the village.

T4. New developments which provide a spine road bus route that makes public transport accessible for the whole development, and improves the public transport options for homes accessed via Milton Road will be supported.

T5. Bus laybys should be provided to allow free movement of traffic where development will create more traffic movements on Highbury Grove and buses will cause congestion on new bus routes in new developments.

T6. Business and retail premises should provide sufficient parking for staff and customers to prevent adverse impact on highway movement.

The ‘areas of constrained access’ are: Highbury Grove, High Street, Mount Pleasant Road, Knights Avenue, Duke Drive, Green Lane, The Warren, Preservine Walk.

2. Objective - appropriate siting for the proposed new Community Centre

CC1. A new Community Centre will be sited immediately to the rear of the existing Village Hall and will incorporate secure refuse and recycling facilities.

3. Objective - protecting green spaces and public access to the river and allocating sites for leisure activities

Green Spaces

GS1. Development will not be permitted on the Local Green Spaces in the Bedford BC Local Plan 2035 or the Milton Road Burial Ground site

GS2. Development that enables more public access to the river will be supported provided it complies with other policies in the Neighbourhood Plan.

GS3. Existing Trees with a significant amenity value must be retained and schemes should allow space for these trees to mature without adversely affecting new buildings. New tree planting will use species which do not impact adversely on surrounding buildings throughout the lifetime of the tree. New trees should be included as part of the masterplan for new developments and willows, limes and poplars should be avoided.

GS4. To encourage socialising and allow simultaneous play, developments will be encouraged to provide well-lit play facilities which meet agreed criteria in terms of range and number of play items. This requirement will be subject to consultation with local schools and family groups and reviewed as part of the 5 yearly review of the plan.

GS5. Green spaces in new developments will be linked to each other with dedicated cycle and walking routes, will make connections to existing footpaths, bridleways and cycleways and create a continuous series of connected green spaces throughout the village. The siting of green spaces will be encouraged to provide pedestrian links to neighbouring areas, allowing for future connections between housing areas

GS6. Paths, access gates and routes will be of a sufficient width and a surface suitable to accommodate wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters and allow adequate passing space.

GS7. Linking pathways will be provided with lighting sufficient to provide safe routes around the village.

Coalescence

C1. Local gaps between Clapham and the neighbouring villages of Bromham, Oakley, Milton Ernest, Thurleigh and Ravensden should be maintained.

C2. Development along Clapham Road between the bungalow “Denver” and Towers Fitness Club and along Hawk Drive between no. 60 and Clapham Park will not be supported to maintain separation from Bedford.

4. Objective - retaining historic/important structures

HI1. Development adjacent to the historic/important structures listed in appendix 4 will:

- be sympathetic to the character of the structures

- respect the proportion and scale of the structures

- complement the structures through use of quality materials and finishes

H2. Future development will recognise the importance of the community structures listed in appendix 5

Appendix 4

Historic/Important Structures

Former Blacksmiths workshop, 27a High Street

Former Twinwoods, Airfield buildings

Former WW2 POW Camp Buildings, The Baulk

Front boundary wall Methodist Church, High Street

Memorial plaques on Village Hall entrance wall

Methodist Church, High Street

Parish Boundary marker stone, Bedford Road

Stone walls around Lower School and along High Street

The Ford Bedford Road,

War Memorial, Bedford Road

Woodlands Manor, Green Lane

Appendix 5

Community Buildings

Village Hall/Football Club

Changing Rooms

Scout Hut

Clapham Pre-School

Ursula Taylor School

5. Objective – business and the economy

BE1. New business/retail premises (B1, A1, A2 & A3) which provide employment for Clapham residents will be supported in a mixed development provided that off street parking is sufficient for employees and clients and noise, fumes or smell will not adversely affect neighbouring households.

BE2. New business locations must be readily accessible by cyclists and pedestrians to keep road traffic within the village to a minimum.

BE3. Development to provide new accommodation/storage units for micro-businesses will be supported provided it complies with policy BE1

BE4. A new B1 business park will be supported as part of a mixed development provided it is of a scale and suitably landscaped so as not to obtrude on surrounding residential properties.

BE5. Provision of mixed tenure extra care housing and/or care home facilities to meet local needs will be supported as part of a community hub within a new development.

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Important new information about both development options in Clapham.

The developers involved in the Clapham North and East Clapham site proposals have both made changes to their proposals in response to consultation with local residents. We are also holding a week of conversations with residents culminating with an open public drop in session on

Saturday 12^th May from 12-6 pm at Ursula Taylor School.

No decision has been taken about locations for development – this is your chance to comment and influence that choice. Both sites have benefits and drawbacks, and some technical details are still not resolved. Parish councillors want to know local opinions in order to guide their decision about the development locations. We have the opportunity, because of the Neighbourhood Plan, to make this decision here in Clapham, rather than have Bedford Borough Council make the decision for us.

Clapham North

Developers are now proposing a single, extended, site which runs along the west side of Milton Road up to Highfield Road and Judges Spinney. The site provides land for a new two form entry primary school to the north of Spriggs Close, creating a second school in the village. These changes are in response to concerns about insufficient room for housing and uncoordinated sites in previous proposals. A site outline for the new proposal is shown below. All plans are indicative and subject to additional detailed discussions.

East Clapham

A new proposal would bring a main access to the site directly from the High Street through the existing Ursula Taylor school site. Under the plans, access routes through Green Lane and The Slade remain, but are seen as secondary to the main High Street route. A new, three form, primary school would replace Ursula Taylor School, most likely sited adjacent to The Slade. These changes respond to the concerns about access, particularly via Green Lane, and the impact on the junction of Highbury Grove and the High Street. A new outline plan is shown – but any detailed layout would be subject to more work and a planning application so this is indicative only.

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We will be posting information about the Neighbourhood Plan over the next few months. Keep an eye out for regular updates.

The Neighbourhood Plan represents your priorities for the future. It is based on information provided by local residents over three years through a series of consultations. The plan covers issues like protecting heritage, green space and housing design.
If a vote of residents supports the Neighbourhood Plan, it will bring more funding into the village. Locations with a Neighbourhood Plan will receive 25% of community infrastructure levy funds compared to 15% in areas without a Neighbourhood Plan.
A decision will be made on the location for housing and a school in June 2018. There are two potential locations and there will be a chance to share your views up to the end of May on the options.
A public meeting will be held on Saturday 12 May so that residents can look at the options about where homes will be built and share their views. If you would like someone from the Neighbourhood Plan group to attend your group or event and outline the options, between now and June, please let us know.
If we don’t adopt a Neighbourhood Plan for Clapham, Bedford Borough Council will decide where development will happen. If we have a Neighbourhood Plan the decision will rest with the Parish Council.

Bedford Borough Council Local Plan 2035 Consultation

The consultation deadline for the Borough Local Plan has been extended to 29th March.

You can respond to this consultation online at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035, or by completing a response form available at local libraries and the Customer Service Centre on Horne Lane.

Responses can also be emailed to planningforthefuture@bedford.gov.uk or sent by post to Local Plan 2035, Planning Policy Team, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Bedford MK42 9AP.

Neighbourhood Development Plan

Thank you to everyone who completed the recent survey on the policies in the Clapham Neighbourhood Plan. There was a majority in favour of all the policies and a summary is below. The most important factor for siting new development was to minimise traffic in the High Street and a breakdown of the responses is below.

87% or more of respondents supported all the housing policies except for the preservation of local gaps between Clapham & Bedford and Clapham & Twinwood Business Park which was backed by 67%. Transport and Infrastructure policies were supported by 84% or more of respondents with the incorporation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems to prevent flooding the most important and favoured by 99%. 88% or more supported the facilities and amenities policies with 70% advocating building a new community centre behind the existing Village Hall.

More than 85% were in favour of the green space policies and the protection of existing green areas was overwhelmingly the key policy. Around 80% supported the maintenance of the gaps between Clapham & neighbouring villages and Clapham & Bedford town with 53% considering the gap to Bedford most important and 47% the gap to surrounding villages. All the business and economy policies were supported by 86% or more of respondents except the provision of a new business park which was backed by 76%. Policies that would provide employment for Clapham residents and extra care housing or a care home were considered the most important.

Apart from traffic issues, the siting of the new school is a major consideration. When the responses were broken down by area, there were 135 from south east Clapham and 67 from the north west of the village and their views on the school are summarised below. The remaining responses were from outside the village.

Outside consultants are currently undertaking a technical assessment of the sites put forward for development and we expect to receive their report by the end of this year. Residents’ feedback and the consultant’s report will then be used to shape the NDP and Parish Council’s approach to development, including the location.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies Consultation

The consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan policies will be closing on 25th September. Please let us know what you think by completing the survey at Clapham NDP September 2017 Consultation Survey

Your village, your voice.

Neighbourhood Plan Policies Consultation

The Neighbourhood Plan Group is currently consulting on the policies to be included in the Neighbourhood Plan. These set out the type of housing the village wants, what green space is needed and measures to ameliorate traffic and parking issues. There are also questions about new developments. Please complete the questionnaire at is Clapham NDP September 2017 Consultation Survey by 25th September.

Your village, your voice.

Local Plan 2035 Consultation

Bedford Borough Council is asking residents for their views on where growth and housing development should take place in the borough over the coming years as part of the Local Plan 2035.

The Local Plan 2035 will set out how much growth and development there will be in Bedford Borough until 2035. As well as building houses and flats, this also includes providing jobs and the development of facilities such as schools, transport and shops to support new communities.

Central government expects councils to produce Local Plans to demonstrate how the need for housing will be met. The consultation is therefore not about the scale of development, but on how and where it will take place.

Three consultations have already taken place to establish the scope of the plan and collect evidence on options for where future sustainable growth should be located. This fourth stage of the Local Plan 2035 consultation primarily focuses on the development of housing across Bedford Borough.

The calculation of Bedford Borough’s future housing needs is set in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. This document shows that as a local area we will need an additional 19,000 homes in the borough by 2035. Over half of the housing need can already be met by existing planning permissions or allocations, meaning that the Local Plan 2035 needs to allocate land for around an additional 8,000 new homes.

The consultation offers an opportunity for residents to comment on a preferred development strategy that includes one or more new settlements; development of the former Stewartby Brickworks site and expansion of selected villages. Comments will also be invited on a range of new and updated technical documents following the release of new national population and household projections in 2016.

Portfolio Holder, Councillor Colleen Atkins, said, ‘The Local Plan 2035 is important for the future of growth and housing in Bedford Borough. It will set out where development will take place in the borough over the coming years, and will have an effect on many of our residents. I encourage everyone to look at the proposals and to get in touch and give us their thoughts and suggestions.’

Further information as well as questions about key issues we would like your views on can be found on the Bedford Borough Council website. Please be aware that it is not necessary to answer all questions.

The consultation will run from 24th April – 9th June 2017. The easiest way to complete these questions is by using our on-line consultation page www.beford.gov.uk/localplan2015. (Which will be available from Monday 24^th April.)

You will be able to save a copy of your response for your own records and you will receive an acknowledgement so you know we have received your submission.

Alternatively, comments can be made by filling in the Word format questionnaire available on the website. If you prefer this method, please attach the completed Word document and send it to planningforthefuture@bedford.gov.uk.

If you cannot do this you can print and post your completed questionnaire or write a letter. Please attach a stamp and post it to:

Local Plan 2035 Consultation

Planning Policy Team

Borough Hall

Bedford

MK42 9AP

Or call our Local Plan phone number on 01234 718300; leave a message and we will return your call.

All comments should be received by 5pm on 9th June 2017. Responses will be acknowledged and published.

Local Plan 2032 Council Response

Clapham Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Group accept in principle that a number of houses will be needed in the village by 2032.

Residents object to 800 – 900 houses as they would result in the loss of Clapham’s rural nature and village identity. The proposal would not therefore encourage local identity or a sense of place.

Bedford already has a very low level of sustainable transport and 800 – 900 houses would result in a significant increase in the number of car journeys. Fewer car journeys is one of the criteria for sustainable development but because of its proximity to Bedford new residents are likely to travel to the station or to Bedford for work.

Bedford Road/Clapham Road is already at capacity during the rush hour and there are long tailbacks on the southbound A6. 800 – 900 new houses would increase pressure on both these roads.

Because of the proximity to Bedford 800 – 900 houses would result in very few new jobs being created in Clapham and would have very little effect on maintaining village services.

The site proposed for 800 – 900 houses is a green field site which would require significant new infrastructure including a new school and community centre.

Twinwood Business Park is a brown field site which has been put forward in the Call for Sites for development and the infrastructure could be upgraded for 800 – 900 dwellings.

The Borough Economy and Land Study notes that Twinwood Business Park is not a good opportunity site for growth and increasing employment capacity. It has been under-utilised for many years, its location and road connections limit its ability to compete with employment sites closer to the A421/M1 and there is no public transport. The study concludes that the most appropriate business/employment sites are along the A421.

Clapham Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Group therefore recommend that Twinwood business Park is considered as an alternative site for a new residential settlement.

Questionnaire Results

To see the data from the questionnaire click on the link below.

documents/neighbourhood plan/questionnaire data.zip

The Clapham Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire is now online at

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KBN2LDJ

Each member of your household is welcome to complete a questionnaire and the results will be used to help determine housing and business needs in the village; the green spaces and important structures that need protecting and the facilities residents want.

Please complete the questionnaire by 31st March 2015.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Copies of the Launch Event posters and comments received to date are below. If you have any comments on the questions or suggestions please send them to claphampc@btinternet.com

Launch Poster - Business		Launch Poster

		Launch Poster - Housing

Launch Poster		Launch Poster - Community

Launch Poster		Launch Poster - Environment

Launch Poster - Youth		Launch Poster - Infrastructure

Housing New houses on new estates must have adequate parking not 1½ cars Need more accommodation for elderly. Don’t have Tesco at Club, make that into block of flats for elderly If any new housing developments come keep them away from any potential flood risk, including open drains Housing for the elderly Strong sense of sustainability in new builds. Solar panels must be included on any viable house/business Ditto above Can Clapham support more housing? I think not Would be lovely to see alms type housing for long term Clapham residents. Also affordable housing for children of residents Knock down the flats and build small family homes Utilise land at back of Milton Road from hospital to cemetery Twinwood Road access to land at back of Milton Road is privately owned. Therefore there is no access owned by the above landowners who presumably made the suggestion about their land Please keep Clapham a village not a sprawling town with no community Housing for rent (not private) for local families not able to buy Ditto above Housing and community infrastructure to north west of village e.g. new village hall and school No more housing. Housing is sufficient for facilities in village Affordable starter homes/shared ownership for younger Clapham residents who wish to stay in village Clapham has enough houses for existing infrastructure Stop building houses until all the new ones are sold No more houses Stop building houses or village is turning into a town There will be more housing. The question is whether the village will have a say in how many, what type and where No more housing on the perimeter of the village behind the church Pull down the flats and build small houses with gardens and parking Please no more housing behind the church and the fields at the top of The Warren. They have been trying to do this for 60 years More reasonably priced houses for families We are lucky to have a doctor, dentist, Post Office, 6 small shops including a chemist. New houses have retained these facilities No housing on field at top of The Warren No more houses please – too much strain on schools, doctor’s etc. already No more housing. We moved to a village and would like to continue living in a village. Clapham is already becoming a commuter area, some residents on new estates very rarely come into main village Housing in Clapham – we are bursting at the seams and soon there will be no green spaces left No more housing in Clapham Pull down the flats we have and bring the area more up to date. Cotton End had the same style of building which has now been replaced with better quality housing More appropriate homes for older people would be a good addition. Could the redevelopment of the Village Hall area provide for an extra care scheme area Housing developments are inevitable – needs to be affordable – needs associated infrastructure such as Pre-school/nursery places Our village school needs to stay a village school – more houses means more children – the school is at near maximum capacity now We need starter homes or small bungalows. No more flats or large properties Provision for older generation and younger generation. Sufficient support system for the village and community No more housing estates. The village was very quiet when the bypass first opened. Now it’s as noisy as ever. New estates must have visitor parking spaces There are housing needs but remember Clapham is a village Adequate parking. Mount Pleasant is prime example of poor parking provision/laziness Where will our children live? New houses should be part of the village plan. Let’s make sure we get the right homes for the village Retirement “village” with facilities to enable retired people to live an make use of existing medical facilities as required Starter homes Infill only No more houses, keep green land Family houses to attract young families No more houses No more housing No more houses, leave our green spaces alone No more housing developments No more housing Affordable Housing Affordable Housing No more housing – too much pressure on school facilities More houses that are cheaper to rent More cheap rented homes

Business & Employment Small start-up units for aspiring local business – good idea Do everything possible to preserve local shops and pubs. Forthcoming Tesco development is a serious concern for these and will damage parking No Tesco to put existing businesses out of being Would like to see the return of proper shops/businesses to serve our community not takeaways. Also any employment opportunities from Tesco to favour local residents first The shopping centre in the village is great but the geographic centre of the village has shifted. Do we need more facilities along Milton Road? Clapham Club has river access and would be an ideal site for recreation with café and restaurant attached for family use. It seems a waste to turn it into a Tesco which will damage local shops. Support local shops, don’t let supermarket chains take over Only benefit of a Tesco might be getting a cashpoint back in the village To bring in a branch of a superstore will kill local shops and limit our choice of goods Consider ways in which to encourage new business and employment. Local jobs for local people, competitive rates, transport links, community benefits Bus service extended to Twinwood Business Park to increase jobs and reduce traffic It would be nice to have employment in the village Shopping is better than most villages but takeaways have taken over. More variety and better shops 40 years ago More community based workers Ensure Tesco does not kill off existing shops/businesses in village. We should support existing businesses Post Office and parade of shops highly valued. While Tesco will be convenient you will have killed off the other corner shops . Empty premises in due course My son is a stone mason and the provision of small working units would fit a need for this type of profession More business work and opportunities for small businesses Nothing more if it will impact current businesses. Balance housing/employment/commercial in Clapham. There are enough shops, in my opinion, throughout Clapham, including near The Glebe No Tesco No large shops, we have enough Mini supermarket near The Glebe area No Tesco Business development at Twinwood & Thurleigh preferable not in village No Tesco, Morrisons etc. in village No Tesco		Community Facilities & Village Amenities Community Centre needs frontage. Knock down houses to open it onto the road Protect the Playing Field as it is More toys in the Playing Field. New zip wire & repair the tyre swing Clean up river at peace gardens Preserve current boundary and use of Clapham allotments & King George Playing Fields. Better security due to vandalism/break-ins on the allotments How about an adult gym in the Playing Field. Would be a boon to the older generation Ditto Please, please, please keep the dog exercise area Allotments and Playing Field promote good health. Do not touch Do not touch the allotments Keep allotments and Playing Field to full size. Keep all pubs Clean up the river in Clapham and Riverside Gardens Protect Playing Field and allotments. Keep all pubs. Clean up River Gardens. Make community centre larger (try a second floor) We need a new Village Hall/Community Centre. Let’s get on with it Need a Village Hall with indoor sports facilities Incorporate the new Village Hall with the park. Put the building at the back or side so that the park could become the village green. If it was more open to view there would be less vandalism We need to really understand the population in the village and what the needs are especially social needs and care requirements Is there any space to make more parking around the shops? More consultation with outlying areas i.e. Peppercorn Park. We are part of the Clapham community Keep pubs. No change of use Sports centre. This would provide business, employment, youth inclusion and benefit the local community so more clubs can be formed. Would like to set up art club but can find nowhere Make more use of Village Hall Village Hall is well used. What do you want? Electric car charging and car pool A new Village Hall will provide lots of opportunities to reshape services. We should be bold & imaginative and not just replace what we currently have Could we make Clapham a dementia friendly community like some towns have done? New community centre is needed We need more capacity at the village school New school with off road parking New school in more appropriate location away from main road Interesting suggestion. Maybe somewhere around the Clapham hospital site More volunteers need to come forward and offer their time. Most committees in the village struggle to keep going because younger people don’t come forward to help develop new ideas New Village Hall. Recreation facilities Community Centre facebook Encourage more volunteering in the community New Village Hall based on housing development money New Village Hall Trim trail where suitable area exists New Village Hall and amenities office Gym facilities Gym facilities in Clapham Public toilet facilities in or near Playing Field Public toilet Public toilet Assistance with support groups for grandparents/carers looking after small children

Environment & Green Spaces The little park backing onto the river could be kept a little more maintained and more environmental. Also an information board such as is found in other locations I would like to see the field known in Clapham as the gymkhana field become an open public picnic space. Ditto Clapham park – ensure this is preserved as green field Put a proper river crossing at The Ford to open up to the many walks in Bromham Preserve green spaces Keep all the existing green spaces, allotments, playing fields, Millennium Wood, Browns wood etc. as green spaces for the public Protection for green spaces and woodland Bridge across the river Ouse at The Ford so path to Bromham can be accessed. River too deep to cross Green areas must stay green. None should be removed. The Playing Field would be more useful if a public loo could be provided Keep our green spaces Apart from existing proposal for solar farm in The Baulk, local papers have suggested a load coming all over the country. Do not let them take over Keep allotments & Playing Fields Preserve allotments & Playing Fields Keep our Playing Fields, Allotments too – maybe tennis courts as there used to be Stop locking up the King George Playing Field. It was put there to be used by the villagers. The disturbance to houses that back onto it should not be a reason for this. Develop the park so that it could be used by adults. A track around the outside for running/walking. Adult exercise equipment in the middle. Seen in Spain and very popular with the retired Value & keep park/field. Improve facilities at park – more social areas i.e. picnic tables for adults. Very well used area Picnic benches in the park. Keeping in good repair all equipment and tarmac Look at grants to improve play facilities. Natural play area? Keep children’s play equipment maintained – fix the zip wire. Involve children in the design of play areas Please can the path in Twinwood Road from the houses nearly up to Browns Wood be cleared as a lot of it is covered in dirt and pieces of bushes etc. from when hedges have been cut back Make the field usable for mums Protect Playing Field Improve & maintain allotments & green space areas More police patrols up Browns Wood to stop teens riding bikes, drinking, selling drugs up there More value and need for improvement on the Millennium Park Keep green spaces. More trees Must keep allotments & Playing Field Preserve green space between Bedford & Clapham Preservation of green spaces. More public access to river Keep allotments & green spaces Keep allotments & dog park Keep allotments Keep allotments & Playing Field Keep allotments & Playing Field . Also preserve green space between Bedford & Clapham Who does the bridle path walk belong to? Find out who the unmade road in The Baulk belongs to and make it a proper road as it is unsafe to use Pathway through Playing Field Retain green space More police in countryside Equipment in Playing Field needs fixing and making bigger Sewer maintained properly so that smell doesn’t overwhelm the village More parking spaces No buildings on green spaces		Children & Youth Young persons’ Newsletter or internet site for social media Skate park & picnic benches Community coffee shop for teenagers Would love to see maybe a youth café open in the evenings Regular structured youth activities Internet café and information centre for youth Ditto More competitive sports events More organised facilities for youth Green spaces/footpaths (not tarmac) and play area with shade Facilities for teenagers e.g. skate park More youth activities Playgrounds for kids with trees for shadow More support for youth in Clapham Youth Club (somewhere for teenagers) Bigger park More school places More facilities for Children’s Centre Better maintenance of park More play items in the park and better upkeep More play things at the park and on The Glebe. Tennis courts or a skate park on The Glebe More parks and things for young children to do More play areas/child friendly places More schools Bigger park More play stuff for the children i.e. sandpit & climbing frames More children’s activity places Encourage more child minders in the village More activities for teenagers – football goals/skate park- more access to activities Turn Ursula Taylor into a primary school Skate park Skate park Skate park Skate park Skate park Skate park Skate park Skate park

Infrastructure Slow traffic down through the High Street Ditto and Highbury Grove Cycleway along Bedford Road for safety of people walking on pavement Several resurfacing jobs need doing especially Knights Avenue where potholes are horrendous Roads in Clapham are congested. Large buses can’t get through. Need smaller community buses Cameras on bypass. Cars go far faster than limit. Also average speed cameras through village Park & Ride possible off A6. Buy a field for a car park Evening buses. Even a limited service More conspicuous policing Re. bus route 51. Do circular route up or down Milton Road to increase buses for top of Milton Road not just one an hour as at present Parking at bottom of Mount Pleasant is an accident waiting to happen. Ban them Improve footpath surfaces Speed restrictions. 20mph in all roads except High Street. Keep High Street 30 mph but have calming measures or smiley face signs to encourage drivers Why are there double yellow lines on High Street near school? Just encourages speeding High profile local policing Weight restrict HGV vehicles through the village A new path for cycles Better security to protect our village – vandalism a problem. Cameras/lighting Hedges next to cycle routes need to be thornless Bus service is very poor. Buses often overcrowded therefore well used More police in area Improvements in public transport – later buses Cycle paths Ditto The 50 bus route Kettering to Bedford and the 51 route Bedford to Oakley need a shared stop somewhere along their routes such as outside Suzuki Need average speed camera introduced to stop people speeding in their cars – unsafe Better transport infrastructure – less cars, more green buses. We have new train links More buses to serve Peppercorn Park & Milton Road. Service too limited at present Create a cycle route in partnership with neighbouring parishes Last bus from Clapham to town is 7.35pm approx. Sort out bad/thoughtless pavement parking Parking on grass verges should be banned Parking issues at the end of Fetlock Close. People have more than one car and just block or reduce access to garages More off road parking areas Build a proper cycle path into Bedford. The current one is downright dangerous No more building in flood areas. Upgrade drainage to cope with existing building A link road from Bedford Road to Manton Lane would be great Ensure that parking on pavements is illegal where it blocks pavement so those in invalid buggies or wheelchairs can get past. More dropped kerbs to help crossing. More protection required from flooding by river Ouse. Counteract silting up of the river and reduce flood threat Better rural bus service The Baulk always seems to be last on the list for road repairs Build away from the flood plain. New roads – upgrade sewage & drainage system Drainage – entrance to allotments and Village Hall (although this is being addressed) Some means of traffic calming in Highbury Grove & High Street Roundabout at Milton Road/Oakley Road opposite Fox & Hounds – dangerous turning Land at rear of Highbury Grove very prone to flash flooding. Would require new drainage system before development Traffic calming on High Street. Still used as preferred route from Oakley Parking issues on Oakley Road. Speed of traffic, parking on bus stops. Danger to children outside Folly Stores. Safety of children on scooters or cycling to school Buses should be more reliable. 15 – 20 minutes late is not acceptable Residents’ parking on High Street. Several houses with double yellow lines in front and no car access Crossing the road on Oakley Road from Folly estate dangerous Parking is major concern. Grass verges on roads could be removed to make laybys. Maybe residents with garages could be encouraged to use them. Drainage also a major problem Provide cycle track on Bedford Road & High Street to avoid danger from busy roads More bus services. Last bus to Clapham 8.55pm Sewage/drainage/flooding issues Take the yellow lines off the High Street – let people park and stop it being an easy route for speeding and boy racers. We do have a bypass Sewage system & surface water drainage system in High Street. Would not cope with more housing on a large scale Grass verges removed and replaced with dropped kerbs Lack of control of street parking e.g. obstruction of driveways Enable school parking off main road Bypass A6 – A421 More rubbish bins especially on Glebe estate Slow down traffic Speed camera in Bedford Road Improve road surface of Twinwood Road Improve drainage on High Street & Bedford Road Average speed cameras, High Street More dog poo bins No housing between village and waterworks – keep Clapham separate from Bedford Better internet connectivity Laybys along Highbury Grove Continue cycle path along High Street to Oakley More school places Improve drainage/sewer in Oakley Road area More CCTV Zebra crossings in Highbury Grove and by Samras – supporting children’s independence Connecting footpath to the play equipment on The Glebe. Route to Lincroft School. Footbridge is rather narrow by old Police House.