Action for a Better Kington – KLAP update.

The Kington Local Action Plan reflects the views of Kington residents, through consulting in the local community to find out what the issues were and then the KLAP survey which was widely participated in.

The Plan shows how the ideas and projects coming out of the recent KLAP survey can be implemented – covering the issues listed below:

• Housing
• Pedestrian safety and better footpath provision
• High Street improvements for safety and to create a better shopping experience
• Support for business and the local economy
• Further development of tourism
• Transfer of public buildings to Town Council or community ownership
• Actions to protect the environment and green space
• Action to create a more sustainable Kington
• Needs of young people
• Services

The objective of the Plan is to create a more resilient Kington with a strengthened economy, an even better community and a well-protected environment.

The Action Plan lists these issues and the levels of support for all the different suggested actions and in many cases, who may implement them.

Kington Town Council have recently formally recognised the Plan as being a true reflection of the views of the local community and will be involved with many aspects of its delivery.

The Action Plan may also be viewed in the reference section at the Library.

Kington Town Council has now decided to prepare a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) together with the parishes of Huntington and Kington Rural, under powers of the new Locality Act. We believe that the opportunities and problems identified in Kington Local Action Plan both highlight the issues that should be given a more formal status in the Neighbourhood Plan and illustrate the likely public support for action which that Plan will require.

The Town Council has a central role in bringing much of this about and it is heartening that a large majority supported a small increase in the precept if necessary to aid this.

There are also many potential actions which may be furthered by other groups and individuals around the town.

KEY to abbreviations used: KTC = Kington Town Council, HCC = Herefordshire Council, NDP = Neighbourhood Development Plan, COT = Chamber of Trade, KLEEN = Kington Local Environment and Energy Network, NHS = National Health Service, Rec. comm = recreation ground committee, TIC = Tourist Information Committee, HA = Housing Association, CWM = Crooked Well Meadow, KARP = Kington Area Regeneration Partnership, MAP = Marches Access Point, KAA = Kington Allotments Association, LHS = Lady Hawkins School, (plus many other groups and organisations yet to be identified).
HOUSING Overall the community wants well designed, energy efficient housing built in small groups appropriate to the present character of Kington. A large majority (75%) think the initial housing allocation of 93 proposed in the HCC Core Strategy was either at the right level (32%) or too high (43%) so we assume that the present allocation of 200 will be strongly opposed.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
No more, or less houses should be built during the next 17 years	KTC to emphasis community opposition to the housing allocation in negotiations on the Core Strategy	Kington Town Council (KTC)	KTC and Herefordshire Council (HCC)	75%
New houses to have off street parking	Take findings forward to Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP)	KTC NDP		70%
New housing to be built on redundant sites	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP Housing Associations	Housing assoc.	67%
Housing to be energy efficient above and beyond current requirements	Take findings forward to NDP, find expamples of best practice	KTC NDP Housing Associations	KLEEN	65%
Use of local materials and traditions	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		63%
Home draught proofing and insulation scheme	Task force to work with local and national schemes to enable more residents to make improvements	KTC KLEEN	KLEEN	61%
New housing on individual plots	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		46%
New housing to be built in small clusters	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP	Housing assoc.	43%
Build using a mixture of styles and traditions	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		42%
Good sized gardens	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		38%
Larger room sizes	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		32%
Bungalows for people with mobility problems	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC Carers Support NDP		29%
Affordable housing	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP Housing Associations	Housing assoc.	29%
Infill between existing houses	Take findings forward to NDP			19%
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND FOOTPATH PROVISION. There is strong support for traffic calming measures to increase pedestrian safety and provide safe routes for walking and cycling to town facilities and for pleasure.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Improved safety for pedestrians throughout town	Task force to identify the most suitable measures to improve safety	KTC	KTC HCC	81%
Improved pedestrian access to doctors surgery	New all weather footway/s	KTC NDP	HCC NHS HA	75%
More safe cycling routes in and around Kington	Identify routes to extend and connect existing walking and cycle ways	KTC NDP	HCC Sustrans KLEEN	66%
Lower speed limit to improve pedestrian safety	Task force to implement 5 mph in town centre & 20 mph elsewhere	KTC HA HCC	HA HCC	57%
New all weather footpath between Hatton Gdns and Headbrook		KTC NDP HCC HA	HA HCC	55%
Traffic calming		KTC NDP HCC HA	HA HCC	47%
All weather footpath around Rec. and along river		KTC	Rec. comm TIC	46%
All weather footpath from Arrow View to Kington		KTC NDP HCC HA	HA HCC	37%
Traffic free zones (except for access)		KTC NDP HCC HA	HA HCC	33%
All weather footpath around Crooked Well Meadow		KTC	HCC CWM group	22%
HIGH STREET IMPROVEMENTS.There is a strong desire to improve safety on the High Street with 94% wanting action, although there is less agreement about the appropriate solutions. The high level of public concern emphasises the need for a detailed review of options that could be implemented to make using the High Street a safer and more enjoyable experience.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Lower speed limit in High Street	Set up task force: 5mph in High St.	KTC NDP HA	HA HCC	48%
More traffic enforcement		KTC HA Policing	HA HCC	48%
Wider pavements in High Street		KTC NDP HCC	HA HCC	43%
One way traffic in High Street		KTC NDP HA	HA HCC	40%
Shared surface scheme for High Street		KTC NDP COT	HA HCC	34%
Pedestrians only except deliveries and access		KTC NDP COT	HA HCC	29%
Timed pedestrianisation		KTC	HA HCC	23%
Traffic lights to improve safety		KTC HA HCC	HA HCC	11%
TRANSFER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS TO TOWN COUNCIL OR COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP. As a result of reductions in Public Spending HCC are seeking to either sell off or transfer public buildings and other community assets to Kington Town Council. There is strong public support for retaining these buildings in community ownership.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Take over Market Hall, Place des Marines and Coach House	Secure ownership for town if sold Priority 1	KTC	COT HCC	77%
Take over library	Secure ownership for town if sold Priority 2	KTC	HCC Lib. Services	72%
Develop Wesleyan Chapel for community use	Support any development which brings chapel into community use	KTC NDP		69%
Take over museum		KTC	HCC TIC	57%
Take over town council and tourist information office		KTC	HCC TIC	47%
Take over old police station		KTC	HCC MAP KARP	34%
KINGTON'S ENVIRONMENT. Kington's environment is highly valued by residents and they are especially keen to see green space protected. To achieve this our green areas need to be properly mapped and management and protective strategies agreed.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Remaining green spaces to have protected status	Audit of green spaces set up task force	KTC NDP	CPRE	92%
Kington is a great location with wonderful surrounding landscape	Take findings forward to NDP	KTC NDP		83%
A MORE SUSTAINABLE KINGTON. Residents were asked about their likely support for a range of environmental and sustainable initiatives. While a minority expressed interest in these, the level of interest could be capitalised on by local businesses and organisations.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Garden and food waste composting scheme	Assess demand for scheme and identify possible operators and locations	KTC NDP	KLEEN	50%
Local business to repair,refurbish and recycle goods	skills audit in local community	KTC	KLEEN COT training provers/workshop premises	48%
Locally run trade waste recycling scheme	Task force to take forward	COT KLEEN KTC		47%
Energy surveys for homes, farms and businesses.	Train bank of skilled local energy assessors	KTC KLEEN	COT KLEEN	45%
Regular advice sessions about saving energy and reducing bills		KTC KLEEN	COT KLEEN	38%
Community supported agriculture scheme		KTC KLEEN	KAA KLEEN	24%
Community food garden	Identify potential green or otherwise area in or close to town for permanent or temporary project	KTC	KLEEN KAA	23%
Lift-share scheme		KTC	KLEEN HCC	17%
Skills swap service		KTC KLEEN		17%
Garden-share scheme	Set up agency to match those seeking gardens with those offering them	KTC KAA KLEEN		17%
More Allotments	Identify potential members, develop business plan and secure land for more allotments	KTC NDP KAA	KAA KLEEN	10%
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. Younger members of the community were surveyed separately and have given their views.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Provision of Youth Club	Reopen Youth Club	KTC NDP LHS HCC		66%
Youth café with internet for teenagers	Expand Youth Club activities			58%
Regular film showings	Expand Youth Club activities			49%
Live music venue	Expand Youth Club activities			38%
Arts and crafts activities	Expand Youth Club activities			34%
Opportunities for work experience	Expand Youth Club activities			33%
Sound proofed rehearsal and recording studio	Expand Youth Club activities			31%
More places for skateboarding and rollerblading	Expand Youth Club activities	KTC CWM		24%
Youth shelter on Rec.	Expand Youth Club activities	KTC Rec Trust		17%
TOURISM: Tourism already benefits the economy of Kington and there are more ideas for initiatives to make Kington an even more attractive destination for visitors.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
A walking centre to attract more visitors to Kington	Open Walking Centre	COT TIC KTC		60%
More free parking to attract people to the town	Identify means to make parking free at point of use	KTC COT	TIC COT	58%
Shops open on Saturday afternoons	Promote Kington's shops, attractions and markets widely to make it worth it by increasing "footfall" in town	KTC COT	COT TIC	50%
More regular markets		COT	KTC HCC	46%
More events at Recreation Ground.		KTC Rec trust	TIC	37%
More public seating		KTC	TIC	24%
BUSINESS AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY: Policies for helping both existing businesses and new start ups were identified, a number linked to making the retail economy more vibrant.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Free start up premises and or rates holiday for new businesses		KTC COT		59%
Regular Saturday crafts and produce market	Form group to promote and manage new market	COT KTC		55%
Provide affordable business premises	Identify redundant premises potentially available for peppercorn rent	KTC COT		47%
Business start up advice	Approach existing training providers	KTC COT		44%
Help with marketing for new businesses	Approach existing training providers	KTC COT		41%
Provision of premises suitable for businesses		KTC COT		37%
Loyalty card for Kington		COT		37%
Work experience opportunities for young people	Compile and keep updated directory of business offering work experience	COT MAP LHS		33%
Business start up finance		COT		29%
Business management training	Approach existing training providers	COT		28%
BUS SERVICE
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Quicker / direct services to Hereford and Leominster	Direct Service to destinations		KTC HCC	49%
More destinations			KTC HCC	24%
Lower fares			KTC HCC	21%
More space for cycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs			KTC HCC	14%
SERVICES
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
NHS dentist in Kington	Pass information to Doctors surgery. Open NHS dental practice	KTC	NHS	74%
Numbers caring for others who could not manage without their help	Support for carers	KTC Carers Support NHS		24%
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR FINDING THE MONEY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES. Most people said that they would support a small increase in Council Tax to help support and maintain community services.
Desired Policies	Action Needed	Who will do it	Potential partners	Level of Community support.
Raise funds through small increase in council tax for specific projects in Kington	Set up direct debit for specific projects, discuss & consult KTC precept and budget setting	KTC	HCC	71%