Draft Plan at 14 Dec 2006
SWANAGE COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN
Swanage: Looking to the Future
2007 - 2027
December 2006
Swanage: Looking to the Future
1. Introduction
The Swanage Community Strategic Plan
This plan represents two years of work following three years of preparatory work by the local community in Swanage and it focuses on the long-term issues and challenges and how they will impact on our local culture, economy, environment, and social issues.
The plan has been undertaken, using resources and framework of the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, a process which was launched in 2001 in response to Government and South West regional policies. The objective of the initiative was to produce strategic plans that promote the regeneration of market and coastal towns. The principal concept of the initiative was that the plan should be a consequence of community aspirations and not be generated by local government organisations. The plan was put together by the Swanage MCTi Working Group, a task group of the Swanage Town Partnership, which was set up in 2005 to develop a community strategic plan for Swanage and its surrounding areas.
Who Prepared the Swanage Community Strategic Plan?
The Swanage MCTi Working Group was responsible for preparing the community strategic plan. The group was established after the 'Bringing It all Together Day' which was held in late September 2005. Members of the Research Team of Partnerships Access and Community Engagement (PACE) at Bournemouth University conducted the Healthcheck for Swanage and the surrounding areas and, compiled the Swanage Strategic Plan, between April and December 2006.
The Main Aims of the Swanage Community Strategic Plan are to:
ÿ Identify a clear vision for the town’s future;
ÿ Bring together information about Swanage and its environs;
ÿ Identify the main goals necessary to be achieved as well as strategies in achieving them;
ÿ Identify and prioritise specific projects to be implemented that could improve the quality of life in Swanage and its surrounding areas;
ÿ Monitor and evaluate the projects that are implemented.
2. Background to the Plan – The Swanage Approach
2.1 About Swanage and its Environs
2.1.1. Swanage in Purbeck
Swanage is a coastal town situated on the east coast of the district of Purbeck, also known as The Isle of Purbeck.
The Isle of Purbeck includes part of England’s Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. The southern area of Purbeck has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Purbeck boasts a great range of natural features and many attractions including:
ÿ A unique range of natural habitats that supports a diverse range of wildlife and flora;
ÿ Rich marine, wetland, heathland and grassland environments, which support a wide range of wildlife such as dolphins, puffins, water voles, falcons, Adonis blue butterflies and Dorset heath nightjars as well as varied plant life;
ÿ The Frome and Piddle chalk rivers;
ÿ Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks: Ballard Down is a chalk headland which is home to various wildlife and the rock stacks below the cliff are known as Old Harry;
ÿ The Blue Pool: a former hand-dug clay pit, which is so named because of the deep blue colour of the water created by light diffracting from clay particles, and which is surrounded by acres of woodland;
ÿ Corfe Castle ruins: An 11th century castle which was destroyed during the English Civil War;
ÿ Durlston Country Park: A nature reserve which covers over 260 acres of land and is home to many different species of animals, birds and reptiles, including dolphins;
ÿ Many picturesque villages, including Corfe Castle, Studland, Kingston and Worth Matravers.
2.1.2. Swanage
Swanage is located on the A351 on the east coast of Purbeck and is the largest town in the district. Swanage also shares many of its amenities and services with some of its surrounding villages: Harman’s Cross, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Studland and Corfe Castle.
History
At the time of Domesday in 1086 Swanage was recorded as having 30 inhabitants who were mostly fisherman. Swanage at this time was divided into two manors by the sea, which led two miles inland. These manors became known as North Swanage manor and South Swanage manor. However, the main industry upon which the town came to flourish was the stone industry and here it is worth noting that even in Roman times marble was quarried from the Purbeck area, with a marble seam running from Peveril Point to Warbarrow. During the fourteenth century the French also carried out many raids in the area, and it was this that led to the building of a defence tower that stood thirty-five feet in height for the population of roughly 60 to safely hide during raids. This tower now forms part of Swanage Parish Church tower. Over time, the centre of the flourishing stone trade became Corfe Castle and the commodity most in demand was marble.
The coast became a somewhat safer place after the founding of the Royal Navy in the 16th century, although Swanage was still being described at the time as ‘a single narrow street’. The Swanage stone trade really took off in the eighteenth century, with new mining methods, a new sea wall and beach ramps, as well as a new carriage road linking Swanage with inland Dorset further establishing Swanage as a quarry port. This all led to rapid growth for the town. The first census in 1801 recorded Swanage as having 1,382 inhabitants and 300 houses. The town grew rapidly throughout this century, and by the 1871 census it was recorded as having a population of 2,100.
John Mowlem was a businessman originally from Swanage who made his fortune in the stone business in London. He returned to his birthplace in 1844, and set about making dynamic changes to the town, developing its infrastructure and building roads, waterworks, markets, a town hall, library and a museum. Swanage’s first pier was built in 1859 and was used primarily for the shipping of stone. A newer and improved pier was built in 1896 to service the steamboats and visitors. Another Swanage-born businessman who made great improvements to the town was a man named George Burt, who was Mowlem’s nephew. After Mowlem’s death in 1868 he continued the development of Swanage’s infrastructure. He recognised that one of the major facilities Swanage lacked was a good transportation system and he set about bringing a steamboat and then a railway to the town. Swanage’s first steamboat, the Heather Bell, ran between Bournemouth and Swanage between 1871 and 1877 and the act enabling the building of a railway was eventually passed in 1881, the railway being completed in 1885. The railway was bought by the London and Southwest Railway the following year and Swanage became a popular holiday destination. Tourism in the area continued to grow, and with the decline of the stone industry between 1885 and 1896, it became the main industry in Swanage, as it continues to be to this day.
Attractions
Swanage offers a wide range of attractions, from award-winning beaches to historical trails and exhibitions. The town boasts award winning beaches which have European Blue Flag Beach status, and has also won the Encams Tidy Britain Group Seaside Award. Swanage has previously been a winner of the Small Coastal Resort Category of Southern England in Bloom Competition and won national acclaim in Britain in Bloom 2006.
Leisure facilities and attractions on offer in Swanage include:
ÿ Durlston Country Park;
ÿ Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre;
ÿ The Beach Gardens Sports Park: Offers tennis, basketball, bowls and golf;
ÿ Swanage Railway: An award-winning steam railway which dates back to 1885;
ÿ Swanage Pier: A unique pier that is over 100 years and which attracts over 125,000 visitors each year;
ÿ The Mowlem Theatre: The Mowlem Theatre was opened in 1967 and seats up to 400. It shows over 200 film performances each year and offers 60-100 nights of live theatre. It has two bars, a licensed restaurant, a function room and four shops;
ÿ Swanage Lighthouse;
ÿ The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) Lifeboat Station & Coastguard Watch House: this is one of the oldest and most frequently used lifeboat stations;
ÿ Swanage Market, held every Tuesday during the main season;
ÿ Several parks and grasslands, such as Days Park, The Downs, Sandpit Field and King Georges Playing Field;
ÿ Various amusements parks
Swanage is also home to a number of major cultural entertainment events including:
ÿ Swanage Blues Festival in March
ÿ Swanage Jazz Festival in July
ÿ Swanage Regatta and Carnival in August
ÿ Swanage Folk Festival in September
Swanage is Twinned with Rudesheim am Rhine and the 20th Anniversary of the Swanage Twinning Charter is in 2007.
Services
Swanage provides a series of services not only for itself but for many of its surrounding areas.
Main Services
Fire stations 1
Ambulance stations 1
Swimming pools 2 small indoor public pools
Outdoor sports pitch Yes
Post Offices 7 (Town centre; Herston; Ulwell; Studland; Langton; Harmans Cross; Corfe Castle)
Health and fitness centres None
Number of banks and building societies 7 (Lloyds TSB, Barclays; HSBC; Nat West; Portman; Nationwide; Alliance & Leicester)
Number of cash points 10 (At all banks; Co-Op; Town centre Post Office; Herston Post Office)
Number of solicitor’s practices 4
Number of accountant’s practices 6
Hospitals 1 (no Accident & Emergency )
Doctor’s practices 2 (Swanage; Corfe Castle)
Dental practices 3 (Swanage 2; Corfe Castle 1)
Opticians 1 (Swanage)
Job Centres None
Business Link office None
Public toilets in town centre 4
First schools 6 (Swanage 3; Langton 2; Corfe Castle 1)
Middle schools 1 (Swanage)
Secondary schools None
Post-16 education (VI Form College, Technical College) None
Police stations 1 (part-time)
Magistrates Courts None
Crown/other courts None
Registry Office Yes (part-time)
Pharmacies 3
Leisure and Tourism Services
Town Hall Yes
Public houses 21 (Swanage 12; Corfe Castle 4,; Kingston 1; Langton Matravers 2; Studland 1; Worth Matravers 1)
Number of hotels and Bed and Breakfasts 33 (Swanage 23; Corfe Castle 5; Kingston 1; Worth Matravers 1; Studland 3)
Number of hotel / B&B bed spaces 11,400 bed spaces at the peak of the season
Number of restaurants, cafes and take-aways 48 (15 restaurants; 15 pubs; 9 cafes; 5 fast food; 4 hotel restaurants)
Number of bus stations 1
Number of train stations 4 (Swanage- not connected to mainline, Corfe Castle; Norden; Harmans Cross)
1 halt (Herston)
Number of Travel Interchanges 1 (services do not always interconnect)
Number of coach parking areas 2
Number of cycle paths Limited number
Bus route services from villages to train stations 4 buses run from villages to Swanage
Bus routes/services 142,143 services to Poole and 150 service to Bournemouth
Cinema Yes (part-time)
Theatre Yes (part-time)
Public halls/community centres Yes
Museums Yes (small and subject-specific)
Library Yes
Art galleries No public galleries; some small private galleries
Churches 18
Land Uses and Settlements
The land use priority in Swanage today is to enhance the town as a tourist resort as well as providing affordable housing, and local policy is to re-use previously developed land for new building developments. Other priorities are to maintain the vitality and viability of the town as it is and to reduce the need for inhabitants and visitors to travel elsewhere to have their service needs met, or in other words to increase ‘self-containment’. Development densities in the Swanage area vary from high density around the town centre and around conservation areas, to lower density around peripheral areas such as North Swanage and Durlston. These low density areas have been increasingly subjected to residential intensification through the redevelopment of hotels and guest houses into flats. The main aim of new land use and new and existing settlement development is to retain the ‘existing character’ of the areas in which they are located.
2.1.3. Swanage Social and Economic Characteristics
Population
Swanage has a population of just over 10,000 and has experienced steady population growth over recent decades. Between 1981 and 1991 the population growth was around 10%, and between 1991 and 2001 it was 6%. The high proportion of residents aged 60 years and older means that Swanage has a higher death rate and a lower birth rate. The number of deaths is over double the number of births each year (70 births, 168 deaths in 2002). This would suggest that a net inward migration plays a significant role in Swanage’s population growth.
ÿ Gender: the distribution of male and female inhabitants in Swanage’s population is roughly 47% male and 53% female.
ÿ Age: The age group with the highest proportion of people is the 60-84 age group (29%), followed by 18-44 years (26.8%), 45-59 years (19.8), 0-15 years (17%), 85 years and over (4.7%) and 16-17 years old (2.8%).
ÿ Ethnicity: Swanage’s population is 97.3 White (93.92% British White, 0.87% Irish White, 2.55% Other White). 2.7% of the population is Non-White with a distribution as follows:
ß 0.53% Chinese;
ß 0.26% Asian or Asian British;
ß 0.06% Black or Black British;
ß 0.16% Mixed White and Black Caribbean;
ß 0.16% Mixed White and Black African;
ß 0.13% Mixed White and Asian;
ß 0.16% Other Mixed;
ß 1.21% Other Ethnic Groups.
ÿ Religion: 75.1% of the population are Christian and 15.5% stated that they had no religion. 0.7% are Buddhist, 0.3% are Muslim, 0.1% are Hindu.
ÿ Health: 65% of the population are in good health, 25.9% in fairly good health, and 9.1% are not in good health.
ÿ Economic activity:
o 47.7% of Swanage’s economically active inhabitants are in full-time employment, 22.5% are in part-time employment, and 3.9% are unemployed. A further 22.7% are self-employed, and 3.1% are full-time students that are in employment.
o Of the economically inactive population, 54.6% are retired, 13.3% are students, 15.7% are homemakers and 10.2% are permanently sick or disabled.
ÿ Skills and Qualification levels:
o 36.4% of working residents are employed in a high skill occupation, 44.2% are in an intermediate skill occupation and 19.4% are in a low skill occupation.
o 27.5% of the population have no qualifications; 18.4% have higher qualifications of Level 4 or above, i.e. a First degree or HND, etc.
Property
ÿ There are 5,300 dwellings in Swanage of which 83.7% have permanent residents. 3.9% are vacant, and 12.3% are second homes or holiday homes;
ÿ 31.9% of dwellings are detached properties, 17% are semi-detached and 14.8% are terraced properties. 35.1% are flats, maisonettes or apartments;
ÿ 47.8% of properties are owned outright, 27.7% are owned with a mortgage or a loan, 11.5% are rented from the local authority or Housing Association and 9.2% are rented privately;
ÿ The average price of a house in Swanage in 2005 was £220,000. A detached property costs on average £320,000, a semi-detached property £200,000, a terraced property £215,000 and a flat or maisonette £160,000;
ÿ The average house price in England and Wales in June 2005 was £160,000.
ÿ House prices in Swanage have risen by 118% since 1999, with the most significant increase being in the price of terraced properties (161%).
ÿ Income
ÿ The largest proportion (17%) of households in Swanage falls into the gross household income band of £10-15,000 per annum. This is followed by 16% in the £15-20,000 band, 14% in the £5-10,000 band and 13% in the £20-25,000 band;
ÿ 6% of households are in the lowest income band and 7% are in the highest income band.
Crime
Domestic Burglaries: Rate per 1,000 households 2004/2005
Swanage 2.5
Dorset 6.5
South West 10.7
England and Wales 14.4
Deprivation
The 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation is calculated from index scores of seven domains of deprivation. These domains are weighted differently, and the scores are combined to give an overall index score. This is then used to rank designated Super Output Areas (SOAs).
The figures in the table below show the ranking score for each of the SOAs in Swanage; these are ranked out of all 247 SOAs in Dorset. Therefore a score of 1 would be the most deprived area in Dorset, and a score of 247 would be the least deprived area in the county.
Domains of deprivation
SOA MULTIPLE 1.Income 2.Employment 3.Education 4.Health 5.Housing 6.Crime 7.Living
Most
Deprived
Swanage Herston 41 22 62 21 69 117 172 126
Swanage Townsend 63 42 96 19 71 169 77 81
Swanage Town Centre 64 47 82 142 89 193 57 9
Swanage South 115 167 110 138 121 187 13 25
New Swanage & Ulwell 119 124 91 139 87 78 139 114
Swanage North 142 81 125 108 109 218 39 75
Least
Deprived
Swanage King George's 164 128 186 95 154 215 49 48
SOA = Super Output Area (minimum 400 households or 1,000 population)
The following table lists Swanage’s 7 SOAs’ deprivation ranking scores on a national level. There are 32,482 SOAs in England; thus a rank score of 1 would be the most deprived area in England, and a score of 32,482 would be the least deprived area in the country.
SOA RANK SCORE
(out of 32482)
Most
Deprived
Swanage Herston 15732
Swanage Townsend 17486
Swanage Town Centre 17496
Swanage South 21323
New Swanage & Ulwell 21510
Swanage North 22412
Least
Deprived
Swanage King George's 24368
Industry
ß The industry that employs the largest percentage of people in Swanage is the wholesale and retail trade, which employs 15.2% of the working population; in comparison the hotels and catering industry employs 12.4%;
ß This is followed by health and social work (12.5%), and real estate (10%).
2.2. The MCTi Process for Swanage and Surrounding Areas
1998
∑ Prime Minister Tony Blair introduces a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal, 'Bringing Britain Together'. He pointed out that:
“Experience shows that success depends on communities themselves having the power and taking responsibility to make things happen. A new approach is long overdue. It has to be comprehensive, long-term and founded on what works.”
2000
∑ Early 2000: The Government encouraged public agencies to develop regeneration initiatives to tackle issues being faced by Market Towns and the surrounding rural areas;
∑ July 2000: A community based regeneration initiative was launched led by the South West of England Regional Development Agency - the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative (MCTi);
∑ The Market & Coastal Towns Association (MCTA) runs the Initiative in the South West with the aim to support ‘the development of vibrant, healthy and sustainable market and coastal towns across the south west’ (further information can be accessed via the website: www.mcti.org.uk).
2002
∑ The Swanage Town and Community Partnership (STCP) applied to the Countryside Agency for MCTi status and completed the MCTi Expression of Interest;
2003
∑ The STCP agreed to develop the Parish Plan application whilst waiting for the MCTI funding. The STCP will use the Parish Plan data as base line consultation for the MCTi;
∑ By May, the STCP is informed that Swanage is one of 15 MCTi towns on hold. No time scale is provided;
2004
∑ Purbeck District Council (PDC) introduced the Beacon Mentoring Scheme to Swanage Town & Community Partnership. Swanage is 'twinned' with Beacon Councils from Lincolnshire and Caradon who are chosen because of the skills they can bring to the community planning process. This was a short run scheme (July to December 2004) with the objective of developing skills within the local community;
∑ The Interim Parish Plan report was presented to the STCP. Some work still in progress;
∑ Beacon Mentoring scheme funded a Beacon Visioning Day. This was held at the Purbeck House Hotel and over 60 people attended. The information gathered to be fed into the MCTi process.
2005
∑ Parish Plan draft report was presented to STCP;
∑ MCTi Induction meeting was planned and held in April;
∑ The MCTi community agent was introduced to the STCP;
∑ A 'Bringing It all Together Day' was held in late September. At this workshop an MCTi Working Group was established to drive the process forward. The Working Group identified Consultants who would conduct the MCTi Healthcheck and subsequently collate data for the MCTi Plan for Swanage.
2006
∑ Members of the Research Team of Partnerships Access and Community Engagement, Bournemouth University were briefed in April (for more information about the consultancy team and their work, please refer to PACE, Bournemouth University on the following link: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/accessforall/about_pace/about_pace.html);
∑ July 2006: The MCTi Healthcheck for Swanage and its environs was completed;
∑ August 2006: The consultants began to develop the Swanage Strategic Plan in conjunction with the MCTi Working Group.
3. The Swanage Community Strategic Plan Vision
[We envisage for Swanage to be] A vibrant friendly and welcoming community with a thriving economy in a safe environment, whilst maintaining and enhancing the special character and culture of Swanage and its environs.
4. The Swanage Community Strategic Plan (CSP)
4.1. Role and Function
The Community Strategic Plan is a process through which the Swanage community can look at its future over a 20-year span and make sustainable plans accordingly. The Swanage Town and Community Partnership will be responsible for the implementation of the plan. Additionally, the Partnership will be responsible for the evolution of the plan through regular review and monitoring.
4.2. Conducting the Community Strategic Plan
The preparation of the Community Strategic Plan involved extensive public consultation, policy examination and research. A considerable source of information was the town’s ‘MCTi Healthcheck’. This was a ‘snapshot’ of the town and its surrounding countryside that accessed all necessary resources, identified issues of concern and set out areas of prioritisation. The ‘MCTi Healthcheck’ consisted of questions that covered all social, environmental and economic aspects that affect local residents’ quality of life in Swanage and its environs. The four areas of the ‘MCTi Healthcheck’ included: Economy; Culture; Social; and Environment.
Additionally, data from the following documents was also used to produce the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative 20 year plan for Swanage:
∑ Draft Parish Plan – 2004;
∑ Beacon Visioning Day – 2004;
∑ Draft Parish Plan Priority Dots;
∑ Multi Function Centre Feasibility Study;
∑ MCTI Healthcheck;
∑ Purbeck Community Plan - April 2006 to March 2009;
∑ ‘livingthrivingdorset’ - Dorset Strategic Partnership;
∑ Purbeck District Council – Core Strategy 2006 – 2026 Preferred Options Document.
The analysis of all this research provides the evidence-base for the Swanage Community Strategic Plan.
4.3. The Themes of the Community Strategic Plan
Following on from the MCTi Healthcheck report format, four themes - Economy, Culture, Social and Environment were used to develop the objectives, goals, strategies and project priorities for the CSP. The visions and objectives for each theme are described in the following section.
5. The Themes of the Swanage Community Strategic Plan
Culture
Our Vision
'An environment where everyone has the opportunity to take part in a varied range of cultural, leisure and educational activities’
Our Objectives and Proposals
C1 To encourage opportunities to participate in sporting, leisure and entertainment activities for both residents and visitors
_ C1.1 To develop facilities for sporting, leisure and entertainment activities
_ C1.2 To effectively promote opportunities for sporting, leisure and entertainment activities
_ C1.3 To encourage ‘value for money’ for local residents and visitors in the use of sporting, leisure and entertainment facilities
C2 To encourage opportunities and participation in learning activities
_ C2.1 To establish demand for learning activities
_ C2.2 To effectively promote opportunities for learning activities
_ C2.3 To match demand for learning activities with facilities and resources available
_ C2.4 To encourage learning as a leisure activity for all ages
C3 To encourage informal leisure pursuits
_ C3.1 To develop and promote new means of informal leisure pursuits such as walking routes and cycle paths
_ C3.2 To effectively promote the use of existing informal leisure activities
C4 To promote the cultural heritage that exists in the town and surrounding areas
_ C4.1 To promote the sustainable use of the Jurassic coastline
_ C4.2 To promote the work of local artists, crafts people and performers
_ C4.3 To actively encourage the growth of cultural and heritage ‘trails’
_ C4.4 To encourage development of suitable cultural and heritage venues and facilities
C5 To provide accessible information on activities for all residents and visitors
_ C5.1 To support and develop a suitable marketing approach for providing accessible information on local activities
Economy
Our Vision
‘An environment for encouraging a diverse, thriving and prosperous local economy’
Our Objectives and Proposals
EC1 To promote a wide range of business types
_ EC1.1 To obtain and make available information for new and existing businesses
_ EC1.2 To encourage the development of the business infrastructure through appropriate resource allocation and maximisation of opportunities
_ EC1.3 To ensure that conditions are conducive for local businesses to thrive
_ EC1.4 To effectively sustain existing business activity
EC2 To encourage the development of niche businesses and promotion of the unique character of Swanage
_ EC2.1 To establish what businesses have been successful elsewhere and within Swanage and its surrounding areas
_ EC2.2 To establish what barriers to businesses exist in Swanage
_ EC2.3 To identify what the opportunities are for encouraging development of niche businesses and promotion of the unique character of Swanage
EC3 To achieve a balanced business portfolio that overcomes existing seasonal restrictions
_ EC3.1 To develop a seasonal tourist product suitable for Swanage that overcomes existing seasonal restrictions through conduct of relevant research
EC4 To develop an entrepreneurial culture that promotes and enables commercial activities
_ EC4.1 To develop business initiatives that seek to promote an entrepreneurial culture
_ EC4.2 To develop connections with Business Links
_ EC4.3 To encourage the development of an entrepreneurial spirit through life changes
_ EC4.4 To celebrate local business success through case studies and mentoring schemes
_ EC4.5 To promote an entrepreneurial way of thinking through local schools
EC5 To effectively utilise existing assets of the town such as people and resources
_ EC5.1 To support existing local industries and arts and crafts
_ EC5.2 To promote current business and commercial activity
_ EC5.3 To develop a greater balance between existing professional skills and employment opportunities
_ EC5.4 To encourage the development of suitable business venues and facilities (see C4.4)
EC6 To develop and utilise the best possible use of ‘Green’ tourism
_ EC6.1 To support existing ‘Green’ schemes
_ EC6.2 To promote and develop further ‘Green’ activities
_ EC6.3 To identify and support opportunities offered by the world heritage status
Environment
Our Vision
‘A healthy and safe environment; maintaining and enhancing the character of the area’
Our Objectives and Proposals
EN1 To minimise all forms of pollution to the local environment
_ EN1.1 To encourage and inform local residents and visitors on reducing all forms of pollution
_ EN1.2 To raise awareness and encourage environmentally friendly practices
_ EN1.3 To identify ways and encourage the development of reducing pollution through pilot projects
EN2 To minimise the conflict between the environment, people and traffic
_ EN2.1 To help develop more efficient traffic management schemes (see S3.3)
_ EN2.2 To encourage the development of improving peoples accessibility to services and other public areas
EN3 To promote accessibility to the local natural environment which is consistent with the protection of this unique area
_ EN3.1 To encourage the improvement of transport facilities to and from local natural attractions
_ EN3.2 To help publicise the unique local natural environment
_ EN3.3 To help maintain the protection of the local environment through appropriate management schemes
_ EN3.4 To encourage the improvement of the quality of footpaths and cycle routes and bridleways within the town and surrounding environment (See C3.1)
Social
Our Vision
‘A welcoming town to visit with a strong community spirit; offering everyone a safe, friendly and affordable place to live and work’
Our Objectives and Proposals
S1 To promote the friendly and safe image of the town
_ S1.1 To highlight positive aspects about the town
_ S1.2 To strengthen the identity/branding of Swanage
_ S1.3 To provide diverse and quality services to visitors and local residents
S2 To improve the quality of and access to public amenities and open spaces within the town and its environs
_ S2.1 To support the development of quality toilets and baby changing facilities
_ S2.2 To support the development of transport and parking solutions
_ S2.3 To support the development of wet weather activities and facilities
_ S2.4 To promote supportive mechanisms within the town for people with disabilities
S3 To make the town more easily accessible
_ S3.1 To support improvements in transport for the public in and around the town
_ S3.2 To support improvements in road and pedestrian signage within the town
_ S3.3 To help develop more efficient traffic management schemes
S4 To support the appropriate allocation of accommodation and housing
_ S4.1 To research the housing stock within the town
_ S4.2 To support and encourage the development of a balanced housing stock
_ S4.3 To encourage the appropriate housing for those needing to live in the town
S5 To raise the profile of community and voluntary groups within the town
_ S5.1 To support the development of communication mediums for promoting the profile of local community and voluntary groups
S6 To increase local responsibility for community issues
_ S6.1 To encourage local police liaison relationships
_ S6.2 To promote social responsible issues to the community
_ S6.3 To promote a more inclusive local society
6. Project List – Provisional
The following list of potential projects will be finalised and prioritised after the public consultation event in January 2007.
Economy
EC1 One stop shop – land bank, website,etc.
Business Support Agency EC1.1, EC1.2,EC4,EC5, C1,C2,C5
EC2 Research appropriate good practice – similar sized towns, benchmark with successful niche businesses. To include IT needs. EC1.2, EC2, EC3.1, EC4, EC6.3
EC3 Business Forum EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, EC5, EC6, EN2.1
EC4 Training Strategy – local training; develop distance and flexi learning packages EC4.3; EC4.5, EC4.4, EC5.1, EC6.1, EC6.2, EC6.3,
C2
EC5 Promotional Strategy EC1, EC2, EC4, EC5, EC6
C4,C5,
S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S7
EN1.1, EN1.2, EN3.2
EC5 Urban Design –buildings, traffic, parking, conservation areas etc EC1.2; EC1.3; EC1.4,EC2.2; EC2.3, EC5.4, EC6
EC5 Mowlem Building EC1.2, EC1.3, EC 5.4,
C1.1, C2.3, C4.4,
S1.3
EC5 Durlston Country Park EC2.3, EC3.1, EC5.1, EC6,C1, C2, C3, C4
S1, S2
EN2.2, EN3
EC5 Carnival & Regatta, Blues, Jazz, Folk and String Festivals EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2, EC5.1, EC5.2,
C2.2, C2.4, C3, C4.2, C4.2, C5,
S1,S2.3, S5, S6.2, S6.3
EC6 Swanage Railway EC1.2, EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2, EC3, EC5, EC6,
C1,C2, C3, C4, C5
S1.2, S1.3, S2,S3, S%.1
EN2, EN3.4
Culture
C1 Multi Function Centre -?incorporate ‘one-stop-shop’ C1,C2,C3,C4.1, C4.2, C4.4, C5
EC1 etc
S2.1, S2.3, S2.4, S5
C2 Virtual Arts Centre
(Partner – STRATA) EC1, EC2, EC4.3, EC4.1, EC5.1, EC5.2, EC5.3, EC6, EC3
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
S2.4, S4, S5, S5.3
EN1.2, EN3
C3 Activity Holiday Packages – joining activities to B&B’s, flats, hotels etc EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, EC5, EC6
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
S2.4, S5.3
EN3
C4
C5 Tourism Forum EC1;EC2;EC3,EC4.1,EC4.3EC4.4,EC5.1,EC5.2,EC5.4 EC6,
C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,
S1,S2,S3,
EN1, EN2
Social
S1 Redevelop identity branding; Develop Partnership & invite with a view to develop strategy
Elements to include: Website/media formats; Signage; Destination management; Promotion/marketing; Target market research;
Partners: Railway, STC, TIC, PDC, DCC, STRATA, DURLSTON, Railway, Mowlem; Chamber of Trade; Hoteliers/Accom. providers and agents; National Trust; World Heritage group EC1,EC2.1, EC5.1, EC5.2
C3.2, C4, C5
S1.1 S1.2, S2.2
EN3.2
S2 Support & Monitor present audit:
Advise feasibility of options
e.g. donations/schemes/guidance S2.1
S2.2, S2.4, S3.1, S3.2, S3.3
S3 Traffic Management
Elements: feasibility study
Sea front re-development
Town centre redevelopment
Urban Design to draw in physical elements S2.2, S2.4
S3.1, S3.2, S3.3
S4 Check research and relate to Swanage & environs
Aesthetic (Urban design project)
Suitability of structure
Suitability of type (buy, rent, lease, etc)
Link to S4.1 research
Link to Developers
Community Land Trust Potential
EC1.3;EC2.2;
S4.2;S4.3
S5 Develop information Point via ‘one stop shop’ in e.g. library
Networking events.
Elements to include: researching requirements; setting up events; workshops; accessible database
Partners to include - VOLNET EC1.1,EC1.2, EC4, EC6,
C1,C2,C5,
S5,S6.1
S6 Formal Contributions via co-ordination meeting with Town partnership and with local education/young people EC1.2, EC4.3, EC5.2, EC6
S6
C1, C2,C3,C4,C5
EN1, EN2.2, EN3.3, EN3.4
Environment
EN1
EN1 Research (data gathering) on Forms of pollution
Celebrate the good, define the bad, research the unknown:
Stakeholders/Partners: Agenda 21/Durlston Country park, NT, BP, RSPB, the AONB, PDC, DCC, other private and public groups
Include artisans such as dry stone wallers/hedging/stonemasons etc.
Investigate feasibility of energy self sufficiency for Swanage. Integrate into LDF.
Energy saving workshops – help and encourage PDC to provide workshops/presentations to various groups/orgs/individuals: Hannah Dike;
Affordable Warmth Technician
Purbeck District Council 01929 557288
Assist in promotion /awareness of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism business. Part of Tourism Forum
All forms of litter – identify problems and options
Partners – STC; PDC; Contractors; Community
Seasonality/timing/prevention
EN1.1; EN 1.2; EN1.3
EC1;EC2;EC3;EC4.1;EC5;EC6
EN1.2;EN1.3
EN1.1;EN1.2;
EC6.1;EC6.2
EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4.1, EC4.3, EC4.4, EC5.1, EC5.2, EC6,
C1, C2,C3,C4,C5,
S1,S2,S3,
EN1,EN2
S6.2;EN1.1;EN1.2;EN1.3;EN3.3;EN3.4
EN2 Urban Design project
EC1.2, EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2.2, EC2.3, EC5.4, EC6
EN2
EN3 Research methods such as positive incentivised schemes for reducing visual impact of eyesores e.g. caravan parks using for example tree management/landscaping
Contradiction between LDF and Swanage MCTI Plan. S6.2;
EN3.2;EN3.3;
EN3 Investigate potential for introducing joined up transport solutions such as DARTLINK/train and boat and bus and ferry and major attraction such as Putlake, Durlston Country Park, Corfe castle, Swanage sea-front; Quarries; etc
Partners: Private & Commercial transport companies; Attractions
EC1.3;EC2.2;EC2.3;EC3.1;EC5.4;EC6
C1.2;C2.3;C3.1;C3.2;C4.1;C4.4
S1.3;S2.2;S2.3;S2.4;S3;
EN3
EN3.2 Research website links to Jurassic Coast and set-up accordingly (via TP work) Promote to PDC and DCC; Links to others such as STRATA. EC1;EC3;EC4;EC5.1;EC5.2;EC6
C3;C4;C5
S1;S2;S3;
EN3.3 Encourage the protection of the local environment through monitoring management schemes and review locations
e.g. identify responsibilities C3.1;C4.1;C4.4;
S1.1;S6.2
EN3.3
EN3.4 Research footpaths/bridleways and cycleways - ?mapping project Identify potential new pathways Identify responsibilities for pathways/etc including the
legal mechanisms to adopt
Links to Urban design project EC3.1;EC6.3
C1;C3;C4.1;C5.1;
S1.3;S2;
EN2.1;EN2.2; EN3.1; EN3.3;EN3.4
Swanage: Looking to the Future
2007 - 2027
December 2006
Swanage: Looking to the Future
1. Introduction
The Swanage Community Strategic Plan
This plan represents two years of work following three years of preparatory work by the local community in Swanage and it focuses on the long-term issues and challenges and how they will impact on our local culture, economy, environment, and social issues.
The plan has been undertaken, using resources and framework of the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, a process which was launched in 2001 in response to Government and South West regional policies. The objective of the initiative was to produce strategic plans that promote the regeneration of market and coastal towns. The principal concept of the initiative was that the plan should be a consequence of community aspirations and not be generated by local government organisations. The plan was put together by the Swanage MCTi Working Group, a task group of the Swanage Town Partnership, which was set up in 2005 to develop a community strategic plan for Swanage and its surrounding areas.
Who Prepared the Swanage Community Strategic Plan?
The Swanage MCTi Working Group was responsible for preparing the community strategic plan. The group was established after the 'Bringing It all Together Day' which was held in late September 2005. Members of the Research Team of Partnerships Access and Community Engagement (PACE) at Bournemouth University conducted the Healthcheck for Swanage and the surrounding areas and, compiled the Swanage Strategic Plan, between April and December 2006.
The Main Aims of the Swanage Community Strategic Plan are to:
ÿ Identify a clear vision for the town’s future;
ÿ Bring together information about Swanage and its environs;
ÿ Identify the main goals necessary to be achieved as well as strategies in achieving them;
ÿ Identify and prioritise specific projects to be implemented that could improve the quality of life in Swanage and its surrounding areas;
ÿ Monitor and evaluate the projects that are implemented.
2. Background to the Plan – The Swanage Approach
2.1 About Swanage and its Environs
2.1.1. Swanage in Purbeck
Swanage is a coastal town situated on the east coast of the district of Purbeck, also known as The Isle of Purbeck.
The Isle of Purbeck includes part of England’s Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. The southern area of Purbeck has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Purbeck boasts a great range of natural features and many attractions including:
ÿ A unique range of natural habitats that supports a diverse range of wildlife and flora;
ÿ Rich marine, wetland, heathland and grassland environments, which support a wide range of wildlife such as dolphins, puffins, water voles, falcons, Adonis blue butterflies and Dorset heath nightjars as well as varied plant life;
ÿ The Frome and Piddle chalk rivers;
ÿ Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks: Ballard Down is a chalk headland which is home to various wildlife and the rock stacks below the cliff are known as Old Harry;
ÿ The Blue Pool: a former hand-dug clay pit, which is so named because of the deep blue colour of the water created by light diffracting from clay particles, and which is surrounded by acres of woodland;
ÿ Corfe Castle ruins: An 11th century castle which was destroyed during the English Civil War;
ÿ Durlston Country Park: A nature reserve which covers over 260 acres of land and is home to many different species of animals, birds and reptiles, including dolphins;
ÿ Many picturesque villages, including Corfe Castle, Studland, Kingston and Worth Matravers.
2.1.2. Swanage
Swanage is located on the A351 on the east coast of Purbeck and is the largest town in the district. Swanage also shares many of its amenities and services with some of its surrounding villages: Harman’s Cross, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Studland and Corfe Castle.
History
At the time of Domesday in 1086 Swanage was recorded as having 30 inhabitants who were mostly fisherman. Swanage at this time was divided into two manors by the sea, which led two miles inland. These manors became known as North Swanage manor and South Swanage manor. However, the main industry upon which the town came to flourish was the stone industry and here it is worth noting that even in Roman times marble was quarried from the Purbeck area, with a marble seam running from Peveril Point to Warbarrow. During the fourteenth century the French also carried out many raids in the area, and it was this that led to the building of a defence tower that stood thirty-five feet in height for the population of roughly 60 to safely hide during raids. This tower now forms part of Swanage Parish Church tower. Over time, the centre of the flourishing stone trade became Corfe Castle and the commodity most in demand was marble.
The coast became a somewhat safer place after the founding of the Royal Navy in the 16th century, although Swanage was still being described at the time as ‘a single narrow street’. The Swanage stone trade really took off in the eighteenth century, with new mining methods, a new sea wall and beach ramps, as well as a new carriage road linking Swanage with inland Dorset further establishing Swanage as a quarry port. This all led to rapid growth for the town. The first census in 1801 recorded Swanage as having 1,382 inhabitants and 300 houses. The town grew rapidly throughout this century, and by the 1871 census it was recorded as having a population of 2,100.
John Mowlem was a businessman originally from Swanage who made his fortune in the stone business in London. He returned to his birthplace in 1844, and set about making dynamic changes to the town, developing its infrastructure and building roads, waterworks, markets, a town hall, library and a museum. Swanage’s first pier was built in 1859 and was used primarily for the shipping of stone. A newer and improved pier was built in 1896 to service the steamboats and visitors. Another Swanage-born businessman who made great improvements to the town was a man named George Burt, who was Mowlem’s nephew. After Mowlem’s death in 1868 he continued the development of Swanage’s infrastructure. He recognised that one of the major facilities Swanage lacked was a good transportation system and he set about bringing a steamboat and then a railway to the town. Swanage’s first steamboat, the Heather Bell, ran between Bournemouth and Swanage between 1871 and 1877 and the act enabling the building of a railway was eventually passed in 1881, the railway being completed in 1885. The railway was bought by the London and Southwest Railway the following year and Swanage became a popular holiday destination. Tourism in the area continued to grow, and with the decline of the stone industry between 1885 and 1896, it became the main industry in Swanage, as it continues to be to this day.
Attractions
Swanage offers a wide range of attractions, from award-winning beaches to historical trails and exhibitions. The town boasts award winning beaches which have European Blue Flag Beach status, and has also won the Encams Tidy Britain Group Seaside Award. Swanage has previously been a winner of the Small Coastal Resort Category of Southern England in Bloom Competition and won national acclaim in Britain in Bloom 2006.
Leisure facilities and attractions on offer in Swanage include:
ÿ Durlston Country Park;
ÿ Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre;
ÿ The Beach Gardens Sports Park: Offers tennis, basketball, bowls and golf;
ÿ Swanage Railway: An award-winning steam railway which dates back to 1885;
ÿ Swanage Pier: A unique pier that is over 100 years and which attracts over 125,000 visitors each year;
ÿ The Mowlem Theatre: The Mowlem Theatre was opened in 1967 and seats up to 400. It shows over 200 film performances each year and offers 60-100 nights of live theatre. It has two bars, a licensed restaurant, a function room and four shops;
ÿ Swanage Lighthouse;
ÿ The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) Lifeboat Station & Coastguard Watch House: this is one of the oldest and most frequently used lifeboat stations;
ÿ Swanage Market, held every Tuesday during the main season;
ÿ Several parks and grasslands, such as Days Park, The Downs, Sandpit Field and King Georges Playing Field;
ÿ Various amusements parks
Swanage is also home to a number of major cultural entertainment events including:
ÿ Swanage Blues Festival in March
ÿ Swanage Jazz Festival in July
ÿ Swanage Regatta and Carnival in August
ÿ Swanage Folk Festival in September
Swanage is Twinned with Rudesheim am Rhine and the 20th Anniversary of the Swanage Twinning Charter is in 2007.
Services
Swanage provides a series of services not only for itself but for many of its surrounding areas.
Main Services
Fire stations 1
Ambulance stations 1
Swimming pools 2 small indoor public pools
Outdoor sports pitch Yes
Post Offices 7 (Town centre; Herston; Ulwell; Studland; Langton; Harmans Cross; Corfe Castle)
Health and fitness centres None
Number of banks and building societies 7 (Lloyds TSB, Barclays; HSBC; Nat West; Portman; Nationwide; Alliance & Leicester)
Number of cash points 10 (At all banks; Co-Op; Town centre Post Office; Herston Post Office)
Number of solicitor’s practices 4
Number of accountant’s practices 6
Hospitals 1 (no Accident & Emergency )
Doctor’s practices 2 (Swanage; Corfe Castle)
Dental practices 3 (Swanage 2; Corfe Castle 1)
Opticians 1 (Swanage)
Job Centres None
Business Link office None
Public toilets in town centre 4
First schools 6 (Swanage 3; Langton 2; Corfe Castle 1)
Middle schools 1 (Swanage)
Secondary schools None
Post-16 education (VI Form College, Technical College) None
Police stations 1 (part-time)
Magistrates Courts None
Crown/other courts None
Registry Office Yes (part-time)
Pharmacies 3
Leisure and Tourism Services
Town Hall Yes
Public houses 21 (Swanage 12; Corfe Castle 4,; Kingston 1; Langton Matravers 2; Studland 1; Worth Matravers 1)
Number of hotels and Bed and Breakfasts 33 (Swanage 23; Corfe Castle 5; Kingston 1; Worth Matravers 1; Studland 3)
Number of hotel / B&B bed spaces 11,400 bed spaces at the peak of the season
Number of restaurants, cafes and take-aways 48 (15 restaurants; 15 pubs; 9 cafes; 5 fast food; 4 hotel restaurants)
Number of bus stations 1
Number of train stations 4 (Swanage- not connected to mainline, Corfe Castle; Norden; Harmans Cross)
1 halt (Herston)
Number of Travel Interchanges 1 (services do not always interconnect)
Number of coach parking areas 2
Number of cycle paths Limited number
Bus route services from villages to train stations 4 buses run from villages to Swanage
Bus routes/services 142,143 services to Poole and 150 service to Bournemouth
Cinema Yes (part-time)
Theatre Yes (part-time)
Public halls/community centres Yes
Museums Yes (small and subject-specific)
Library Yes
Art galleries No public galleries; some small private galleries
Churches 18
Land Uses and Settlements
The land use priority in Swanage today is to enhance the town as a tourist resort as well as providing affordable housing, and local policy is to re-use previously developed land for new building developments. Other priorities are to maintain the vitality and viability of the town as it is and to reduce the need for inhabitants and visitors to travel elsewhere to have their service needs met, or in other words to increase ‘self-containment’. Development densities in the Swanage area vary from high density around the town centre and around conservation areas, to lower density around peripheral areas such as North Swanage and Durlston. These low density areas have been increasingly subjected to residential intensification through the redevelopment of hotels and guest houses into flats. The main aim of new land use and new and existing settlement development is to retain the ‘existing character’ of the areas in which they are located.
2.1.3. Swanage Social and Economic Characteristics
Population
Swanage has a population of just over 10,000 and has experienced steady population growth over recent decades. Between 1981 and 1991 the population growth was around 10%, and between 1991 and 2001 it was 6%. The high proportion of residents aged 60 years and older means that Swanage has a higher death rate and a lower birth rate. The number of deaths is over double the number of births each year (70 births, 168 deaths in 2002). This would suggest that a net inward migration plays a significant role in Swanage’s population growth.
ÿ Gender: the distribution of male and female inhabitants in Swanage’s population is roughly 47% male and 53% female.
ÿ Age: The age group with the highest proportion of people is the 60-84 age group (29%), followed by 18-44 years (26.8%), 45-59 years (19.8), 0-15 years (17%), 85 years and over (4.7%) and 16-17 years old (2.8%).
ÿ Ethnicity: Swanage’s population is 97.3 White (93.92% British White, 0.87% Irish White, 2.55% Other White). 2.7% of the population is Non-White with a distribution as follows:
ß 0.53% Chinese;
ß 0.26% Asian or Asian British;
ß 0.06% Black or Black British;
ß 0.16% Mixed White and Black Caribbean;
ß 0.16% Mixed White and Black African;
ß 0.13% Mixed White and Asian;
ß 0.16% Other Mixed;
ß 1.21% Other Ethnic Groups.
ÿ Religion: 75.1% of the population are Christian and 15.5% stated that they had no religion. 0.7% are Buddhist, 0.3% are Muslim, 0.1% are Hindu.
ÿ Health: 65% of the population are in good health, 25.9% in fairly good health, and 9.1% are not in good health.
ÿ Economic activity:
o 47.7% of Swanage’s economically active inhabitants are in full-time employment, 22.5% are in part-time employment, and 3.9% are unemployed. A further 22.7% are self-employed, and 3.1% are full-time students that are in employment.
o Of the economically inactive population, 54.6% are retired, 13.3% are students, 15.7% are homemakers and 10.2% are permanently sick or disabled.
ÿ Skills and Qualification levels:
o 36.4% of working residents are employed in a high skill occupation, 44.2% are in an intermediate skill occupation and 19.4% are in a low skill occupation.
o 27.5% of the population have no qualifications; 18.4% have higher qualifications of Level 4 or above, i.e. a First degree or HND, etc.
Property
ÿ There are 5,300 dwellings in Swanage of which 83.7% have permanent residents. 3.9% are vacant, and 12.3% are second homes or holiday homes;
ÿ 31.9% of dwellings are detached properties, 17% are semi-detached and 14.8% are terraced properties. 35.1% are flats, maisonettes or apartments;
ÿ 47.8% of properties are owned outright, 27.7% are owned with a mortgage or a loan, 11.5% are rented from the local authority or Housing Association and 9.2% are rented privately;
ÿ The average price of a house in Swanage in 2005 was £220,000. A detached property costs on average £320,000, a semi-detached property £200,000, a terraced property £215,000 and a flat or maisonette £160,000;
ÿ The average house price in England and Wales in June 2005 was £160,000.
ÿ House prices in Swanage have risen by 118% since 1999, with the most significant increase being in the price of terraced properties (161%).
ÿ Income
ÿ The largest proportion (17%) of households in Swanage falls into the gross household income band of £10-15,000 per annum. This is followed by 16% in the £15-20,000 band, 14% in the £5-10,000 band and 13% in the £20-25,000 band;
ÿ 6% of households are in the lowest income band and 7% are in the highest income band.
Crime
Domestic Burglaries: Rate per 1,000 households 2004/2005
Swanage 2.5
Dorset 6.5
South West 10.7
England and Wales 14.4
Deprivation
The 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation is calculated from index scores of seven domains of deprivation. These domains are weighted differently, and the scores are combined to give an overall index score. This is then used to rank designated Super Output Areas (SOAs).
The figures in the table below show the ranking score for each of the SOAs in Swanage; these are ranked out of all 247 SOAs in Dorset. Therefore a score of 1 would be the most deprived area in Dorset, and a score of 247 would be the least deprived area in the county.
Domains of deprivation
SOA MULTIPLE 1.Income 2.Employment 3.Education 4.Health 5.Housing 6.Crime 7.Living
Most
Deprived
Swanage Herston 41 22 62 21 69 117 172 126
Swanage Townsend 63 42 96 19 71 169 77 81
Swanage Town Centre 64 47 82 142 89 193 57 9
Swanage South 115 167 110 138 121 187 13 25
New Swanage & Ulwell 119 124 91 139 87 78 139 114
Swanage North 142 81 125 108 109 218 39 75
Least
Deprived
Swanage King George's 164 128 186 95 154 215 49 48
SOA = Super Output Area (minimum 400 households or 1,000 population)
The following table lists Swanage’s 7 SOAs’ deprivation ranking scores on a national level. There are 32,482 SOAs in England; thus a rank score of 1 would be the most deprived area in England, and a score of 32,482 would be the least deprived area in the country.
SOA RANK SCORE
(out of 32482)
Most
Deprived
Swanage Herston 15732
Swanage Townsend 17486
Swanage Town Centre 17496
Swanage South 21323
New Swanage & Ulwell 21510
Swanage North 22412
Least
Deprived
Swanage King George's 24368
Industry
ß The industry that employs the largest percentage of people in Swanage is the wholesale and retail trade, which employs 15.2% of the working population; in comparison the hotels and catering industry employs 12.4%;
ß This is followed by health and social work (12.5%), and real estate (10%).
2.2. The MCTi Process for Swanage and Surrounding Areas
1998
∑ Prime Minister Tony Blair introduces a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal, 'Bringing Britain Together'. He pointed out that:
“Experience shows that success depends on communities themselves having the power and taking responsibility to make things happen. A new approach is long overdue. It has to be comprehensive, long-term and founded on what works.”
2000
∑ Early 2000: The Government encouraged public agencies to develop regeneration initiatives to tackle issues being faced by Market Towns and the surrounding rural areas;
∑ July 2000: A community based regeneration initiative was launched led by the South West of England Regional Development Agency - the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative (MCTi);
∑ The Market & Coastal Towns Association (MCTA) runs the Initiative in the South West with the aim to support ‘the development of vibrant, healthy and sustainable market and coastal towns across the south west’ (further information can be accessed via the website: www.mcti.org.uk).
2002
∑ The Swanage Town and Community Partnership (STCP) applied to the Countryside Agency for MCTi status and completed the MCTi Expression of Interest;
2003
∑ The STCP agreed to develop the Parish Plan application whilst waiting for the MCTI funding. The STCP will use the Parish Plan data as base line consultation for the MCTi;
∑ By May, the STCP is informed that Swanage is one of 15 MCTi towns on hold. No time scale is provided;
2004
∑ Purbeck District Council (PDC) introduced the Beacon Mentoring Scheme to Swanage Town & Community Partnership. Swanage is 'twinned' with Beacon Councils from Lincolnshire and Caradon who are chosen because of the skills they can bring to the community planning process. This was a short run scheme (July to December 2004) with the objective of developing skills within the local community;
∑ The Interim Parish Plan report was presented to the STCP. Some work still in progress;
∑ Beacon Mentoring scheme funded a Beacon Visioning Day. This was held at the Purbeck House Hotel and over 60 people attended. The information gathered to be fed into the MCTi process.
2005
∑ Parish Plan draft report was presented to STCP;
∑ MCTi Induction meeting was planned and held in April;
∑ The MCTi community agent was introduced to the STCP;
∑ A 'Bringing It all Together Day' was held in late September. At this workshop an MCTi Working Group was established to drive the process forward. The Working Group identified Consultants who would conduct the MCTi Healthcheck and subsequently collate data for the MCTi Plan for Swanage.
2006
∑ Members of the Research Team of Partnerships Access and Community Engagement, Bournemouth University were briefed in April (for more information about the consultancy team and their work, please refer to PACE, Bournemouth University on the following link: http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/accessforall/about_pace/about_pace.html);
∑ July 2006: The MCTi Healthcheck for Swanage and its environs was completed;
∑ August 2006: The consultants began to develop the Swanage Strategic Plan in conjunction with the MCTi Working Group.
3. The Swanage Community Strategic Plan Vision
[We envisage for Swanage to be] A vibrant friendly and welcoming community with a thriving economy in a safe environment, whilst maintaining and enhancing the special character and culture of Swanage and its environs.
4. The Swanage Community Strategic Plan (CSP)
4.1. Role and Function
The Community Strategic Plan is a process through which the Swanage community can look at its future over a 20-year span and make sustainable plans accordingly. The Swanage Town and Community Partnership will be responsible for the implementation of the plan. Additionally, the Partnership will be responsible for the evolution of the plan through regular review and monitoring.
4.2. Conducting the Community Strategic Plan
The preparation of the Community Strategic Plan involved extensive public consultation, policy examination and research. A considerable source of information was the town’s ‘MCTi Healthcheck’. This was a ‘snapshot’ of the town and its surrounding countryside that accessed all necessary resources, identified issues of concern and set out areas of prioritisation. The ‘MCTi Healthcheck’ consisted of questions that covered all social, environmental and economic aspects that affect local residents’ quality of life in Swanage and its environs. The four areas of the ‘MCTi Healthcheck’ included: Economy; Culture; Social; and Environment.
Additionally, data from the following documents was also used to produce the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative 20 year plan for Swanage:
∑ Draft Parish Plan – 2004;
∑ Beacon Visioning Day – 2004;
∑ Draft Parish Plan Priority Dots;
∑ Multi Function Centre Feasibility Study;
∑ MCTI Healthcheck;
∑ Purbeck Community Plan - April 2006 to March 2009;
∑ ‘livingthrivingdorset’ - Dorset Strategic Partnership;
∑ Purbeck District Council – Core Strategy 2006 – 2026 Preferred Options Document.
The analysis of all this research provides the evidence-base for the Swanage Community Strategic Plan.
4.3. The Themes of the Community Strategic Plan
Following on from the MCTi Healthcheck report format, four themes - Economy, Culture, Social and Environment were used to develop the objectives, goals, strategies and project priorities for the CSP. The visions and objectives for each theme are described in the following section.
5. The Themes of the Swanage Community Strategic Plan
Culture
Our Vision
'An environment where everyone has the opportunity to take part in a varied range of cultural, leisure and educational activities’
Our Objectives and Proposals
C1 To encourage opportunities to participate in sporting, leisure and entertainment activities for both residents and visitors
_ C1.1 To develop facilities for sporting, leisure and entertainment activities
_ C1.2 To effectively promote opportunities for sporting, leisure and entertainment activities
_ C1.3 To encourage ‘value for money’ for local residents and visitors in the use of sporting, leisure and entertainment facilities
C2 To encourage opportunities and participation in learning activities
_ C2.1 To establish demand for learning activities
_ C2.2 To effectively promote opportunities for learning activities
_ C2.3 To match demand for learning activities with facilities and resources available
_ C2.4 To encourage learning as a leisure activity for all ages
C3 To encourage informal leisure pursuits
_ C3.1 To develop and promote new means of informal leisure pursuits such as walking routes and cycle paths
_ C3.2 To effectively promote the use of existing informal leisure activities
C4 To promote the cultural heritage that exists in the town and surrounding areas
_ C4.1 To promote the sustainable use of the Jurassic coastline
_ C4.2 To promote the work of local artists, crafts people and performers
_ C4.3 To actively encourage the growth of cultural and heritage ‘trails’
_ C4.4 To encourage development of suitable cultural and heritage venues and facilities
C5 To provide accessible information on activities for all residents and visitors
_ C5.1 To support and develop a suitable marketing approach for providing accessible information on local activities
Economy
Our Vision
‘An environment for encouraging a diverse, thriving and prosperous local economy’
Our Objectives and Proposals
EC1 To promote a wide range of business types
_ EC1.1 To obtain and make available information for new and existing businesses
_ EC1.2 To encourage the development of the business infrastructure through appropriate resource allocation and maximisation of opportunities
_ EC1.3 To ensure that conditions are conducive for local businesses to thrive
_ EC1.4 To effectively sustain existing business activity
EC2 To encourage the development of niche businesses and promotion of the unique character of Swanage
_ EC2.1 To establish what businesses have been successful elsewhere and within Swanage and its surrounding areas
_ EC2.2 To establish what barriers to businesses exist in Swanage
_ EC2.3 To identify what the opportunities are for encouraging development of niche businesses and promotion of the unique character of Swanage
EC3 To achieve a balanced business portfolio that overcomes existing seasonal restrictions
_ EC3.1 To develop a seasonal tourist product suitable for Swanage that overcomes existing seasonal restrictions through conduct of relevant research
EC4 To develop an entrepreneurial culture that promotes and enables commercial activities
_ EC4.1 To develop business initiatives that seek to promote an entrepreneurial culture
_ EC4.2 To develop connections with Business Links
_ EC4.3 To encourage the development of an entrepreneurial spirit through life changes
_ EC4.4 To celebrate local business success through case studies and mentoring schemes
_ EC4.5 To promote an entrepreneurial way of thinking through local schools
EC5 To effectively utilise existing assets of the town such as people and resources
_ EC5.1 To support existing local industries and arts and crafts
_ EC5.2 To promote current business and commercial activity
_ EC5.3 To develop a greater balance between existing professional skills and employment opportunities
_ EC5.4 To encourage the development of suitable business venues and facilities (see C4.4)
EC6 To develop and utilise the best possible use of ‘Green’ tourism
_ EC6.1 To support existing ‘Green’ schemes
_ EC6.2 To promote and develop further ‘Green’ activities
_ EC6.3 To identify and support opportunities offered by the world heritage status
Environment
Our Vision
‘A healthy and safe environment; maintaining and enhancing the character of the area’
Our Objectives and Proposals
EN1 To minimise all forms of pollution to the local environment
_ EN1.1 To encourage and inform local residents and visitors on reducing all forms of pollution
_ EN1.2 To raise awareness and encourage environmentally friendly practices
_ EN1.3 To identify ways and encourage the development of reducing pollution through pilot projects
EN2 To minimise the conflict between the environment, people and traffic
_ EN2.1 To help develop more efficient traffic management schemes (see S3.3)
_ EN2.2 To encourage the development of improving peoples accessibility to services and other public areas
EN3 To promote accessibility to the local natural environment which is consistent with the protection of this unique area
_ EN3.1 To encourage the improvement of transport facilities to and from local natural attractions
_ EN3.2 To help publicise the unique local natural environment
_ EN3.3 To help maintain the protection of the local environment through appropriate management schemes
_ EN3.4 To encourage the improvement of the quality of footpaths and cycle routes and bridleways within the town and surrounding environment (See C3.1)
Social
Our Vision
‘A welcoming town to visit with a strong community spirit; offering everyone a safe, friendly and affordable place to live and work’
Our Objectives and Proposals
S1 To promote the friendly and safe image of the town
_ S1.1 To highlight positive aspects about the town
_ S1.2 To strengthen the identity/branding of Swanage
_ S1.3 To provide diverse and quality services to visitors and local residents
S2 To improve the quality of and access to public amenities and open spaces within the town and its environs
_ S2.1 To support the development of quality toilets and baby changing facilities
_ S2.2 To support the development of transport and parking solutions
_ S2.3 To support the development of wet weather activities and facilities
_ S2.4 To promote supportive mechanisms within the town for people with disabilities
S3 To make the town more easily accessible
_ S3.1 To support improvements in transport for the public in and around the town
_ S3.2 To support improvements in road and pedestrian signage within the town
_ S3.3 To help develop more efficient traffic management schemes
S4 To support the appropriate allocation of accommodation and housing
_ S4.1 To research the housing stock within the town
_ S4.2 To support and encourage the development of a balanced housing stock
_ S4.3 To encourage the appropriate housing for those needing to live in the town
S5 To raise the profile of community and voluntary groups within the town
_ S5.1 To support the development of communication mediums for promoting the profile of local community and voluntary groups
S6 To increase local responsibility for community issues
_ S6.1 To encourage local police liaison relationships
_ S6.2 To promote social responsible issues to the community
_ S6.3 To promote a more inclusive local society
6. Project List – Provisional
The following list of potential projects will be finalised and prioritised after the public consultation event in January 2007.
Economy
EC1 One stop shop – land bank, website,etc.
Business Support Agency EC1.1, EC1.2,EC4,EC5, C1,C2,C5
EC2 Research appropriate good practice – similar sized towns, benchmark with successful niche businesses. To include IT needs. EC1.2, EC2, EC3.1, EC4, EC6.3
EC3 Business Forum EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, EC5, EC6, EN2.1
EC4 Training Strategy – local training; develop distance and flexi learning packages EC4.3; EC4.5, EC4.4, EC5.1, EC6.1, EC6.2, EC6.3,
C2
EC5 Promotional Strategy EC1, EC2, EC4, EC5, EC6
C4,C5,
S1, S2, S3, S5, S6, S7
EN1.1, EN1.2, EN3.2
EC5 Urban Design –buildings, traffic, parking, conservation areas etc EC1.2; EC1.3; EC1.4,EC2.2; EC2.3, EC5.4, EC6
EC5 Mowlem Building EC1.2, EC1.3, EC 5.4,
C1.1, C2.3, C4.4,
S1.3
EC5 Durlston Country Park EC2.3, EC3.1, EC5.1, EC6,C1, C2, C3, C4
S1, S2
EN2.2, EN3
EC5 Carnival & Regatta, Blues, Jazz, Folk and String Festivals EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2, EC5.1, EC5.2,
C2.2, C2.4, C3, C4.2, C4.2, C5,
S1,S2.3, S5, S6.2, S6.3
EC6 Swanage Railway EC1.2, EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2, EC3, EC5, EC6,
C1,C2, C3, C4, C5
S1.2, S1.3, S2,S3, S%.1
EN2, EN3.4
Culture
C1 Multi Function Centre -?incorporate ‘one-stop-shop’ C1,C2,C3,C4.1, C4.2, C4.4, C5
EC1 etc
S2.1, S2.3, S2.4, S5
C2 Virtual Arts Centre
(Partner – STRATA) EC1, EC2, EC4.3, EC4.1, EC5.1, EC5.2, EC5.3, EC6, EC3
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
S2.4, S4, S5, S5.3
EN1.2, EN3
C3 Activity Holiday Packages – joining activities to B&B’s, flats, hotels etc EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, EC5, EC6
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
S2.4, S5.3
EN3
C4
C5 Tourism Forum EC1;EC2;EC3,EC4.1,EC4.3EC4.4,EC5.1,EC5.2,EC5.4 EC6,
C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,
S1,S2,S3,
EN1, EN2
Social
S1 Redevelop identity branding; Develop Partnership & invite with a view to develop strategy
Elements to include: Website/media formats; Signage; Destination management; Promotion/marketing; Target market research;
Partners: Railway, STC, TIC, PDC, DCC, STRATA, DURLSTON, Railway, Mowlem; Chamber of Trade; Hoteliers/Accom. providers and agents; National Trust; World Heritage group EC1,EC2.1, EC5.1, EC5.2
C3.2, C4, C5
S1.1 S1.2, S2.2
EN3.2
S2 Support & Monitor present audit:
Advise feasibility of options
e.g. donations/schemes/guidance S2.1
S2.2, S2.4, S3.1, S3.2, S3.3
S3 Traffic Management
Elements: feasibility study
Sea front re-development
Town centre redevelopment
Urban Design to draw in physical elements S2.2, S2.4
S3.1, S3.2, S3.3
S4 Check research and relate to Swanage & environs
Aesthetic (Urban design project)
Suitability of structure
Suitability of type (buy, rent, lease, etc)
Link to S4.1 research
Link to Developers
Community Land Trust Potential
EC1.3;EC2.2;
S4.2;S4.3
S5 Develop information Point via ‘one stop shop’ in e.g. library
Networking events.
Elements to include: researching requirements; setting up events; workshops; accessible database
Partners to include - VOLNET EC1.1,EC1.2, EC4, EC6,
C1,C2,C5,
S5,S6.1
S6 Formal Contributions via co-ordination meeting with Town partnership and with local education/young people EC1.2, EC4.3, EC5.2, EC6
S6
C1, C2,C3,C4,C5
EN1, EN2.2, EN3.3, EN3.4
Environment
EN1
EN1 Research (data gathering) on Forms of pollution
Celebrate the good, define the bad, research the unknown:
Stakeholders/Partners: Agenda 21/Durlston Country park, NT, BP, RSPB, the AONB, PDC, DCC, other private and public groups
Include artisans such as dry stone wallers/hedging/stonemasons etc.
Investigate feasibility of energy self sufficiency for Swanage. Integrate into LDF.
Energy saving workshops – help and encourage PDC to provide workshops/presentations to various groups/orgs/individuals: Hannah Dike;
Affordable Warmth Technician
Purbeck District Council 01929 557288
Assist in promotion /awareness of eco-friendly and sustainable tourism business. Part of Tourism Forum
All forms of litter – identify problems and options
Partners – STC; PDC; Contractors; Community
Seasonality/timing/prevention
EN1.1; EN 1.2; EN1.3
EC1;EC2;EC3;EC4.1;EC5;EC6
EN1.2;EN1.3
EN1.1;EN1.2;
EC6.1;EC6.2
EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4.1, EC4.3, EC4.4, EC5.1, EC5.2, EC6,
C1, C2,C3,C4,C5,
S1,S2,S3,
EN1,EN2
S6.2;EN1.1;EN1.2;EN1.3;EN3.3;EN3.4
EN2 Urban Design project
EC1.2, EC1.3, EC1.4, EC2.2, EC2.3, EC5.4, EC6
EN2
EN3 Research methods such as positive incentivised schemes for reducing visual impact of eyesores e.g. caravan parks using for example tree management/landscaping
Contradiction between LDF and Swanage MCTI Plan. S6.2;
EN3.2;EN3.3;
EN3 Investigate potential for introducing joined up transport solutions such as DARTLINK/train and boat and bus and ferry and major attraction such as Putlake, Durlston Country Park, Corfe castle, Swanage sea-front; Quarries; etc
Partners: Private & Commercial transport companies; Attractions
EC1.3;EC2.2;EC2.3;EC3.1;EC5.4;EC6
C1.2;C2.3;C3.1;C3.2;C4.1;C4.4
S1.3;S2.2;S2.3;S2.4;S3;
EN3
EN3.2 Research website links to Jurassic Coast and set-up accordingly (via TP work) Promote to PDC and DCC; Links to others such as STRATA. EC1;EC3;EC4;EC5.1;EC5.2;EC6
C3;C4;C5
S1;S2;S3;
EN3.3 Encourage the protection of the local environment through monitoring management schemes and review locations
e.g. identify responsibilities C3.1;C4.1;C4.4;
S1.1;S6.2
EN3.3
EN3.4 Research footpaths/bridleways and cycleways - ?mapping project Identify potential new pathways Identify responsibilities for pathways/etc including the
legal mechanisms to adopt
Links to Urban design project EC3.1;EC6.3
C1;C3;C4.1;C5.1;
S1.3;S2;
EN2.1;EN2.2; EN3.1; EN3.3;EN3.4
posted by The Postman at 10:08 AM
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