1

Bloxham Neighbourhood

Plan

Recreation and Leisure

Facilities

Draft 2.8

13th November 2014

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1. CONTENTS Contents .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 5 1. Background Context ....................................................................................................................... 6

What are the key documents informing this report? ......................................................................... 6 Who are the key stakeholders? .......................................................................................................... 6 What the NPPF says ........................................................................................................................... 6 NPPF Implications ............................................................................................................................... 7

2. Vision, Issues and Challenges ......................................................................................................... 8 The Vision ........................................................................................................................................... 8 The Broad Areas of focus .................................................................................................................... 8 The issues ........................................................................................................................................... 8 The challenges .................................................................................................................................... 8 The strategy ........................................................................................................................................ 8

3. the prevailing context .................................................................................................................... 9 Important Factors: .............................................................................................................................. 9

Why so much difficulty over land? ............................................................................................... 10 4. Overview of available facilities ..................................................................................................... 11

Outdoor Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 11 Indoor facilities? ........................................................................................................................... 11

5. What are Green Spaces – General Background ........................................................................... 12 What are green spaces? ................................................................................................................... 12 Definitions of greenspaces ............................................................................................................... 12

Caution – different meanings depending upon context .............................................................. 13 Types of Play area ............................................................................................................................. 13 CDC Evaluations of the ward situation ............................................................................................. 13

6. Where are the Bloxham Green spaces ........................................................................................ 14 Green Space Locations ..................................................................................................................... 14 Some Bloxham Green-spaces ........................................................................................................... 15 CDC Green Spaces map – Bloxham ................................................................................................... 16

7. Green Space formulae and general data ..................................................................................... 17 What this section contains ............................................................................................................... 17 CDC Green-space standards? ........................................................................................................... 17

The CDC Planning Obligations (2011) Standards ......................................................................... 17 CDC Open Space Update (2011) ................................................................................................... 18

Fields in Trust standards ................................................................................................................... 18 What BNDP will use for a standard .............................................................................................. 18

The increased number of houses ..................................................................................................... 19 The increased Population ................................................................................................................. 19 The increased space requirements................................................................................................... 19

8. Green Space Areas - category by category.................................................................................. 20 Amounts of natural and semi-natural green-space .......................................................................... 20 Amounts of amenity green-space .................................................................................................... 20 Amounts of Play Space ..................................................................................................................... 21 General Sports and Recreation Areas ............................................................................................... 22 Allotments ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Does Bloxham have a deficit or surplus of green-space land?? ....................................................... 23

Summary of the quantitative state of affairs ............................................................................... 23 Qualitative views upon green-spaces. ......................................................................................... 24

9. Play Areas – Leaps, laps & neaps ................................................................................................. 25 The Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 25

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The facts ........................................................................................................................................... 25 The Locations .................................................................................................................................... 25 The areas .......................................................................................................................................... 26

Neighbourhood Play Areas (NEAPS) ............................................................................................. 26 Medium size Play Areas (LEAPS) .................................................................................................. 28 Local Area of Play (LAPS) .............................................................................................................. 29 Private recreation areas available to the public .......................................................................... 30 Evaluation of the situation regarding Play Areas. ........................................................................ 32

Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 33 Awaiting discussions with Oxford Playing Fields Association but the current thinking is : .............. 33

10. Sports Pitches ............................................................................................................................ 33 The issues? ........................................................................................................................................ 33 The Facts ........................................................................................................................................... 33 The Areas .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Flooding and inadequate drainage ................................................................................................... 34

The emerging deficit of pitches. ................................................................................................... 35 The absence of any all-weather facility. ....................................................................................... 35

Lack of any ground for adult cricket ground .................................................................................... 35 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 36 Awaiting discussions with Oxford Playing Fields Association but the current thinking is : .............. 36

11. Local Green Space – protecting key spaces .............................................................................. 37 What is Local Green Space? .............................................................................................................. 37 Proposed Local Green Space Areas .................................................................................................. 37

The Red Lion Gardens .................................................................................................................. 37 The recreation grounds ................................................................................................................ 37

12. School Sports Facilities .............................................................................................................. 38 Locations ........................................................................................................................................... 38 The Warriner School Sports facilities ............................................................................................... 38 Bloxham School Sports facilities ....................................................................................................... 39

13. Indoor Spaces ............................................................................................................................ 40 The Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 40 The Facts ........................................................................................................................................... 40 The Locations .................................................................................................................................... 41 The Facilities ..................................................................................................................................... 41

Jubilee Park Hall ........................................................................................................................... 42 The ex-Servicemen’s Hall ............................................................................................................. 42 Parish Rooms ................................................................................................................................ 43 The Ellen Hinde Hall ..................................................................................................................... 44 St Mary’s Church .......................................................................................................................... 44 Baptist Church .............................................................................................................................. 45 Bloxham Lawn Bowls Club ............................................................................................................ 46 Godswell Care Home .................................................................................................................... 46 Bloxham Primary School .............................................................................................................. 46 The Warriner School ..................................................................................................................... 47 Bloxham School ........................................................................................................................... 47 The Courthouse ............................................................................................................................ 47 Bloxham Mill ................................................................................................................................. 48

Recommendations ............................................................................................................................ 48 14. BNDP Questionnaire Results relating to recreation ................................................................. 49

Use of Bloxham outdoor recreation facilities in a typical week ................................................... 49 Who needs more recreational facilities? ..................................................................................... 49

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Who is MOST in need of IMPROVED outdoor recreation facilities .............................................. 50 Do we have enough Sports pitches? ............................................................................................ 50 What additional facility would get most long-term use? ............................................................. 51 Whole Village vs Local provision .................................................................................................. 51 Recreation facilities for those with disabilities. ........................................................................... 52 Summary of what residents think about outdoor spaces. ........................................................... 53

15. Bloxham Organisations ............................................................................................................. 54 16. Who owns or farms local land? ................................................................................................ 57 17. Areas of recreation land............................................................................................................ 58

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Summary

1. The CDC calculations of green-space do not stand up to scrutiny. Their calculations are wrong and they do not apply their own definitions. In consequence they wildly overstate the area of amenity green space of which we are desperately short. Preventing further loss should be a high priority. We should identify and nominate protected “green areas.”

2. Bloxham meets the CDC recommended amount of sports pitches for the population now but not for population we can expect within a year or so.

3. CDC has recommended levels for allotments. We have none despite considerable demand for them. The P.C. has so far been unable to attract any offers of local land.

4. The quality of children’s play areas in Bloxham is variable and below that found in many smaller surrounding villages. Residents would welcome upgrading these.

5. Residents prefer spending to be mainly on ‘whole-village’ areas. 6. Residents prioritise improvements in quality and quantity of provision for teenagers. 7. A MUGA is thought to be the most likely best value. Locating this to avoid nuisance

will be a challenge. 8. We have no village adult cricket pitch but for residents this was a low priority. 9. The cemetery is almost full. 10. Villagers are keen to protect public footpaths and local walks. 11. The configuration of community Halls is not ideal but does create flexibility. 12. Enlargement and updating of an existing Hall is desirable. 13. The need for a larger indoor space alongside or instead of the existing halls has been

flagged up at various meetings. The questionnaire indicated residents thought an additional hall, alongside the planned project at St Mary’s Church, was not a viable option.

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2. BACKGROUND CONTEXT

What are the key documents informing this report?

1. NPPF - Deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services.1

2. CDC Local Plan - Policy BSC 10 Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation Provision2

3. Oxfordshire’s Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy (2012 – 2016)3

4. CDC Planning Obligations (2011)4

5. CDC Recreation Strategy (2007-12)5

6. CDC Playing Pitches Strategy (2008?)6

7. Playing Pitch Strategy Background Document (2008)7

8. CDC Green Spaces Strategy (2008-16)8

9. Green Spaces Strategy Background Document (2008)9

10. CDC Open Space Update (2011)10

11. CDC Community Space Provision (2006)

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12. An Indoor Sports & Recreation Facilites Assessment for CDC By PMP (2006)12

13. An Indoor Sports & Recreation Facilites Assessment For CDC by PMP (2006)

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14. Public Health and Landscape – Creating healthy places by the Landscape Institute14

Other documents are mentioned as appropriate in the text that follows.

Who are the key stakeholders?

Those who own or manage facilities (E.g. a Trust)

Those who support or subsidise them (E.g. Residents or the Parish Council)

Those who actually use them. (E.g. Football Club, history club or a mother & toddler)

Owners of land that could be available for recreation.

What the NPPF says

The following are summaries of the main paragraphs w.r.t. recreation 73. Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an

important contribution to the health and well-being of communities. Planning policies should identify specific needs and quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area.

1 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6077/2116950.pdf

2 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9803

3 Oxfordshire’s Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2012 – 2016

4 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=10579

5 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=255

6 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=6290

7 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=6291

8 https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media/pdf/m/5/Cherwell_Green_Spaces_Strategy_2008-2016.pdf

9 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=6292

10 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=12527

11 http://bloxhamneighbourhoodplan.co.uk/cdc-community-space-provision-updated-2006/

12 http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=6205

13 http://bloxhamneighbourhoodplan.co.uk/cdc-indoor-recreation-spaces-audit/PPG17%20assessment%20-

%20indoor%20sports%20and%20recreation%20facilities%20assessment 14

http://www.landscapeinstitute.org/PDF/Contribute/PublicHealthandLandscape_CreatingHealthyPlaces_FINAL.pdf

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74. Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless it is clearly surplus or will be replaced by better facilities elsewhere

75. Planning policies should protect and enhance public rights of way and access.

76. Local communities through local and neighbourhood plans should be able to identify for special protection green areas of particular importance to them that rule out new development on them other than in very special circumstances.

NPPF Implications

The need to produce an updated assessment of the quantity of recreation space

The need to produce an updated assessment of the quality of recreation space

The inability to sell existing recreation spaces for housing unless clearly surplus.

Protection of any really important green areas.

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3. VISION, ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

The Vision

To ensure indoor and outdoor play and recreation areas are accessible to all residents and provide attractive opportunities to improve health and well-being.

The Broad Areas of focus

Outdoor recreational provision

Indoor recreational provision

The issues

Outdoor

1. Protecting and enhancing the amenity green-spaces we have. 2. Addressing under-provision of pitches for our expanding population. 3. Improving the quality and quantity for recreational facilities for

teenagers. 4. Improving mediocre quality whole village play areas. 5. Balancing LAPS and LEAPS vs high quality whole village provision. 6. Protection and enhancement of public footpaths and walks 7. Lack of allotments 8. Uncertainty about facilities for those with disabilities

Indoor

9. Making the most of the available indoor recreation spaces.

The challenges

Outdoor

1. Availability of new land for anything other than housing. 2. Ownership by Trusts with their own traditions, agendas and priorities. 3. Private ownership of publicly used spaces (Red Lion gardens) 4. Off-street parking capacity near recreation facilities 5. Impact upon neighbours – e.g. parking, sound and light pollution. 6. Quality of consultation with CDC and OCC regarding S106 monies

Indoor

7. The configuration of buildings – a historical accident. 8. Impact upon neighbours – e.g. parking and noise 9. Ownership by Trusts with their own traditions, agendas and priorities.

The strategy

1. Catalogue the facilities currently available. 2. Evaluate how provision compares with national and local

standards. 3. Gather resident views on quality and quantity of provision. 4. Engage further with the community to address any remaining

issues and challenges 5. Evaluate the options.

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4. THE PREVAILING CONTEXT

Important Factors:

1. Money 2. The support of existing land-owners /

trustees for initiatives upon existing sites.

3. Access to new (or different) land on which to implement any initiative requiring this.

4. The support of the village, especially immediate neighbours, for initiatives likely to result in issues of parking, and noise or light pollution.

Factor and Done?

S106 funds from existing and future developments

Amount currently available?

Amount from existing permissions?

Estimated amount from future developments?

Money from various grant-awarding bodies.

Oxon CC 15 and OCVA advice Service

UK/EU Government sources16.

Other free17 and paid for18 advice on grants

The Lottery funding site that does the searching for you.19

Support for development on existing sites.

PC has a duty of due diligence and of risk assessment that an investment is likely to deliver the outcomes over the predicted period.

Seeking a gift, loan, renting or purchase of land

Attempts to identify appropriate sites that might be available has not been productive. The only possible site is owned by developer Taylor-Wimpey!

Local and seems to be selling at around 10K/acre = £25K/ha.20 slightly above Savills market survey value of around £18K/ha

Seeking shared-use agreements on school land

Poor drainage prevents Warriner school sharing facilities in winter. Whether they might accommodate a MUGA may be worth investigating.

Support of residents for a specific location

We largely know what residents want but there may be local objections according to the placement.

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Oxfordshire grants 16

Government funding website 17

Grantnet 18

Grantfinder 19

Lottery fundfinder 20

Fischer German – Between Tadmarton Rd, Courtington Lane and Ells Lane

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Why so much difficulty over land?

There are three reasons: 1. Farmland is a good investment (270% in last 10 years and forecast 47% in next five.)21 2. Farmland that acquires planning permission gets an eye-watering 10,000% return. This is our

main problem. 3. Most unbuilt upon land in the village is owned by Bloxham School and is unlikely to become

available during the duration of this plan if ever.

Land owned by Bloxham School

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Savills Market Survey UK Agricultural Land 2014

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4. OVERVIEW OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES

Outdoor Facilities

This is just a brief overview and some details (esp ownership) may need checking. This level of detail is not especially pertinent to the neighbourhood Plan.

Play Areas Pitches Green-spaces / allotments

Footpaths and bridleways

Jubilee Park Jubilee Park Jubilee Park Recreation Ground Recreation Ground Recreation Ground Aldous Drive (NEAP) Warriner School Bloxham Park Est. Ayres Drive (LAP) Bloxham School St Mary’s Church Bridges Close (LEAP) Primary School Village Green Crabtree Close (LAP) Bloxham Primary Cumberford Joiners Greenhills Park Red Lion The Avenue The Slade Barford Rd Bloxham Park Green

= PC = CDC = OCC = School = Trust = Private = Developer ***Ownership of all these all needs checking again.

Nationally around 70% of people of all ages use parks and recreation grounds frequently.22 23 The Bloxham usage seems to be less than the national level. Going for a walk was the most popular leisure activity of visitors to parks (75%), followed by taking children to a play area (43%) and sitting and enjoying the surroundings (28%).24

Indoor facilities?

Community Halls School buildings Church Buildings

Museums and libraries

Private

Ex-Servicemen’s Hall

Warriner Hall, Lecture theatre & sports hall

St Mary’s Church Bloxham Museum Bloxham Bowls Club

Jubilee Hall Bloxham School Great Hall, Dewey Centre, Swim Pool

Bloxham Baptist Church

Elephant & Castle

Ellen Hinde Hall Boxham Primary School

Joiners Arms

Parish Rooms Red Lion?

= Trust = PC = School = Private ***Ownership of all these all needs checking

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Keep Britain Tidy. (2010). People, Places and their Green Spaces 23

.Improving Urban Parks, Play Areas and Green Spaces 24

Understanding the Contribution Parks and Green Spaces can make to Improving People’s Lives

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5. WHAT ARE GREEN SPACES – GENERAL BACKGROUND Green spaces are important both from a landscape and a recreational perspective. They create an air of ‘openness’ and, at their best, offer safe and pleasant shared community spaces. Bloxham is not well endowed with high quality accessible green spaces. 25

What are green spaces?

Parks and gardens (areas for informal recreation and community events).

Natural and semi-natural green space (areas providing for wildlife conservation, biodiversity and environmental education and awareness).

Amenity green space (areas providing opportunities for informal activities or enhanced appearance of residential or other areas).

Provision for children and young people (play areas LEAPS, LAPs etc.).

Outdoor sports facilities (facilities for participation in outdoor sports).

Allotments and community

Cemeteries and churchyards Green corridors (areas providing for walking, cycling and horse riding)

Civic spaces (civic and market squares designed mainly for use by pedestrians).

Definitions of greenspaces

Type of Space Definitions

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Parks and Gardens Not a requirement for rural settings

Natural and semi natural A publicly accessible, spacious, clean and litter free site with clear pathways and natural features that encourage wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Sites should be maintained to protect nature conservation interest with interpretative signage and safety features where appropriate.

Amenity green space Places which can provide for a wide variety of informal recreation activities in addition to their role in enhancing the character of a development

Play space – Young Children “A site providing a suitable mix of well-maintained formal equipment and an enriched play environment to encourage informal play and recreation by children and young people. A safe and secure location with good access to the site that includes ancillary facilities such as 'hang out shelters,’ seating where appropriate.”

Play space – Young persons

Outdoor Sports All sports facility sites should be free from dog fouling, vandalism, graffiti and litter, with level, well drained and good quality surfaces. Sites should provide good quality ancillary facilities, where appropriate, including changing accommodation, toilets, car parking and facilities for a range of age groups. The maintenance and management of sites should continue to ensure safety and effective usage

Allotments A clean and well-kept and secure site that encourages sustainable communities biodiversity and healthy living with appropriate ancillary facilities to meet local needs, clearly marked pathways to and within the site.”

Cemeteries and churchyards Encourage biodiversity and be an oasis for personal quiet contemplation.

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CDC Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications to Local Plan (Part 1) Appendix 8: Infrastructure Delivery Plan 26

CDC Open Space Sports and Recreational Facilities Needs Assessment and Audit Strategy -PMP_(July_2006)

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Caution – different meanings depending upon context

The phrase green spaces is not always used with the same meaning in mind!

Planners may use it to include all of the above.

Planners may reserve it just for natural & semi-natural green space and amenity green areas.

In the language of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ‘Local Green Space’ has a special meaning in which a piece of land has bestowed upon it a “green-belt” level of protection against development.

We will try and make clear in which context we are using it!

Types of Play area

CDC basically endorse the Fields in Trust -National Playing Fields association approach of seeking the provision of three distinct types of children’s play areas to cater for the needs of different age groups

Meaning What it is What it’s like

NEAPS Neighbourhood Equipped Areas of Play

NEAPs broadly equate to traditional mixed recreation areas

The Jubilee Park

LEAPs Local Equipped Areas of Play

LEAPS are the bigger developer funded areas. These have to be at least 10m from any property boundary and 20m from the dwelling itself

The Woodlands Park Play area

LAPs Local Areas of Play LAPS are the small developer funded areas. These can be as close as 5m from a property boundary and are usually intended for very young children

Almost like a garden play area

CDC Evaluations of the ward situation

CDC did an update of these spaces in 2011 for Bloxham, Bodicote and Milton combined.

Type of area Current provision (ha) Current shortfall (ha)

Parks and gardens 0 0

Natural/ semi-natural green space 2.25 8.32

Amenity green space 2.19 3.33

Allotments 1.74 0.43

Children and young persons 0.28 4.3

Outdoor sports provision 35.22 0

41.68 16.38

This is not especially informative for Bloxham residents. Whether there is green-space in enough Milton or Bodicote is not of massive interest to Bloxham residents! On the other hand the CDC Local Plan Update Appendix 8: Infrastructure Delivery Plan does note 6.38 ha amenity open space with priority provision in Addebury, Bloxham and Bodicote, Cropredy and Sibford Wards to help address deficiencies in open space sport and recreation.

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Local Plan Update Appendix 8: Infrastructure Delivery Plan

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6. WHERE ARE THE BLOXHAM GREEN SPACES

Green Space Locations

Here by green space we mean most green areas with public access.

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Some Bloxham Green-spaces

These are just some photos to illustrate some of the green-spaces on the previous map. The range usable areas to ‘hang-out’ through to little more than wide grassed verges along busy roads.

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CDC Green Spaces map – Bloxham

CDC has a series of ID numbers for different green-spaces and so we include this for use in conjunction with some of the later Tables. It includes many areas with no public access.

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7. GREEN SPACE FORMULAE AND GENERAL DATA

Don’t we already know all this?

There is no real data for Bloxham. Some of the CDC documents only deal with larger areas such as:

The rural north – Adderbury, Bloxham and Bodicote, Cropredy, Hook Norton, Sibford & Wroxton.

The Ward – Bloxham, Bodicote and Milcombe

… and knowing there are allotments in Bodicote isn’t much consolation to residents in Bloxham!

What this section contains

1. Basically it looks at Cherwell District Council (CDC) and Fields in Trust (FIT) documents on green spaces including the formulas that CDC uses to negotiate S106 funds from developers.

2. We use these to formulate appropriate assumptions as to what ‘green space’ (Play areas, sports pitches general ‘green amenity areas and allotments) residents might expect.

3. Where CDC data for Bloxham is available we have shown it, correcting it where it either doesn’t fit with its own definitions or where the area values used are erroneous.28

4. It does not attempt to assess how we remedy any deficits. Nor, at the moment, does it take a proper look at actual rather than theoretical need.

CDC Green-space standards?

CDC documents express things in slightly different ways and so we tabulate here the key standards from some different documents as a background to where we have got the BNDP values from.

The CDC Planning Obligations (2011) Standards29

Type of provision

Quantitative Standard Accessibility Standard

General green space (parks and gardens/ natural semi-natural/ amenity green space)

1.51 ha per 1000 urban dwellers 2.3 ha per 1000 rural/urban edge dwellers

5 minute walk for amenity open space )(400m) 15 minute walk for other(1200m)

Playspace (combining provision for younger and older children including MUGAs)

073 ha per1000 people 5 minute walk (400m) except for NEAPs - 15min walk (1200m)

Outdoor sports provision (comprising tennis courts, bowling greens, golf courses and playing pitches)

1 13 ha per 1000 people 10 minute walk (300m) urban areas 10 minute drive (8km) rural areas but varies in CDC documents

Allotments 0.31 ha per 1000 people 10 minute walk (800m)

In Bloxham we have two main parks and the greatest distance any resident has to walk to get to one of these facilities (Maule Close to the recreation ground) is around 1200m

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See Final section for actual areas via Googlemap 29

http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=10579

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CDC Open Space Update (2011) 30

Type of provision

Quantitative Standard

Parks and Gardens 0.48ha per 1000 urban population 0 for rural population

Natural/semi-natural green space 0.69 ha per 1000 urban population 1.8 ha per 1000 rural/urban fringe population

Amenity green space 1.23 ha per 1000 urban population 0.94 ha per 1000 rural/urban fringe population

Allotments 0.37 ha per 1000 population

Children and young persons 0.78 ha per 1000 population (0.59 ha per 1000 population for younger children 0.19 ha per 1000 population for older children)

Outdoor sports 1.13ha per 1000 population

Fields in Trust standards

CDC is a member of the Rural Services Network and is classified by them as a significantly rural authority. Given this it is notable that The Fields in Trust (FIT) document31 recommends a considerably greater area for outdoor sport than does CDC. Type of Local Authority Benchmark Standard

Rural 1.72 ha/1000

Urban 1.15 ha/1000

What BNDP will use for a standard

Type of provision

Quantitative Standard Comment

Natural/semi-natural green space (NSNGS)

1.80 ha/1000 From open space update 2011 data. In planning obligations 2011 spaces are not subdivided into these categories

Amenity green space (AGS) 0.94 ha/1000 From open space update 2011 data. In planning obligations 2011 numbers are not separated from NSNGS)

Allotments 0.37 ha /1000 The open space update (2011)which re-works the value to account for missed sites.

Children and young people 0.78 ha/1000 (0.59 ha /1000 0.19 ha/ 1000 )

From open space update 2011 data. In planning obligations 2011 spaces are not subdivided into these categories

Outdoor sports 1.13 ha/1000 Same in both documents

Note - We have used 1.13 to remain consistent with CDC but we note CDC derived their formula according to the number of males in a given age group which is rather quaint. Bloxham has several very active and successful girls’ soccer teams!

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http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media.cfm?mediaid=12527 31

Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play

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The increased number of houses

Many villages could use the 2011 census data for the required area calculations. Bloxham, however, is growing at 12 times the average rate for rural villages and we need to take account of recent housing permissions.

Recent Housing Permissions

YEAR Approved

Year Built

No. on planning permission

Existing on site

Location

2012 5

Old Deer Park

2012 2012 2

Exchange Lane

2012 2013 2 1 garden Claypits

2012 2013 10

Godswell Park Appartments

2012 36

Travellers Site

2013 3 1 garden Greenup

2013 2 1 garden Ebbs Neuk at appeal

2013 85

Frampton – Milton Rd

2013 75

Gladman

2014 60 Millers

Total 280

The increased Population

The 2011 census figure for the population of Bloxham is 3,164. However since that date a total of 280 permissions have been granted in Bloxham The Planning obligations document assumes an average occupancy of 2.39 people per dwelling and so the expected population for 2015 will be 3,164 + (280 x 2.39) = 3,833.

The increased space requirements

Space requirements including existing housing permissions

Type of Space (ha/1000 people)

2011 Requirement ha

2015 Requirement ha

Parks and Gardens 0 0 0

Natural and semi natural 1.8 3.164 x 1.8 = 5.7 3.833 x 1.8 = 6.9

Amenity green space 0.94 3.164 x 0.94 = 3.0 3.833 x 0.94 = 3.7

Play space - Children 0.19 3.164 x 0.19 = 0.6 3.833 x 0.19 = 0.6

Play space - Young persons 0.59 3.164 x 0.59 = 1.9 3.833 x 0.59 = 2.3

Outdoor Sports 1.13 3.164 x 1.13 = 3.6 3.833 x 1.13 = 4.3

Allotments 0.37 3.164 x 0.37 = 1.2 3.833 x 0.37 = 1.4

Cemeteries and churchyards 0 0 0

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The recently published SHMA suggests a 21.7% increase in the number of households in Cherwell from 2011 – 2031. We have NOT incorporated any additional population to take account of this. Neither have we included the 14.6% population increase used by CDC. I.e. Our figures represent an absolute known minimum need to increase.

8. GREEN SPACE AREAS - CATEGORY BY CATEGORY

Amounts of natural and semi-natural green-space

The expected requirement for 2015 is 6.9 ha (see previously.) They are described in more detail here. So far as we are aware the only areas mentioned in the CDC audit that might count towards NSNGS are the churchyard and cemetery and for these the areas have been calculated incorrectly. We have used data for all the ‘Rural Area 1’ Bloxham spaces from Appendix J of the CDC Audit30 as the starting point.

Category – Natural and Semi-natural Greenspace

Site ID

Site Name CDC Category CDC Area NP Category NP Area

475 St Mary’s Churchyard* NSNGS 0.79 ha NSNGS 0.08 ha

476 St Mary’s Cemetery* NSNGS 0.92 ha NSNGS 0.56 ha

482 Barford Rd AGS** AGS (0.2) ha NSNGS 0.21 ha

-- The Slade Reserve*** Not counted - NSNGS 2.46 ha

-- Proposed Mintondale Open Space****

Not counted - NSNGS (0.67 ha)

Total N&SNGS 1.71 3.31

* We have used a Google maps app to estimate the areas.

** CDC categorise the Barford Rd verge as an Amenity Greenspace (AGS) but it in no way fulfils the CDC criteria. It’s a wide verge on a busy road bend. Rather than scrap it we have move it to the NSNGS category.

*** The Slade is currently in a state of disrepair but there are PC plans to bring it back into use. (See diagram below)

**** The last mentioned is currently a muddy field and should only be counted if proper drainage and facilities are created. It also seems highly likely a strip of this land will be required to widen the existing single-track road into the very busy Bloxham Mill

() Has not been counted in the total

Amounts of amenity green-space

The expected requirement for 2015 is 3.7 ha They are described in more detail here. We have extracted all the ‘Rural Area 1’ spaces in Bloxham from Appendix J of the CDC Audit30 Additionally to get a proper description of Bloxham green-spaces we need to:

Re-categorise the Barford AGS to NSNGS

Include the pub spaces in the village centre

Tentatively include the proposed Tadmarton Rd country park

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Category – Amenity Greenspace

Site ID

Site Name CDC Category CDC Area ha

NP Category NP Area ha

475 The Avenue AGS 0.1 0 AGS 0.07

476 Cumberford Close AGS 0.07 AGS 0.05

482 Barford Rd AGS 0.20 NSNGS -

479 Greenhills Park AGS 0.07 AGS 0.08

-- Gascoigne Way AGS 0.24 AGS 0.25

-- Central Pubs – Red Lion & Joiners

- - AGS (0.09)

Tadmarton Rd Country Park (proposed)

- - AGS 2.69

TOTAL 0.58 ha 3.14

Amounts of Play Space

The combined requirement for child and youth play areas is 2015 is 2.9 ha. If we stick to the CDC configuration of provision it would be LAPS 0.6 ha; LEAPS 2.3 ha Both are described in more detail here. THE CDC Audit appears not to include any Bloxham play areas under category Rural Area 1. and says little beyond a statement on map 8.1 of the 2006 Open Space document that “The majority of Bloxham does not have access to children and young people’s provision.”

Category – Play Areas

Site ID

Site Name CDC Category CDC Area ha

NP Category NP Area ha

Crabtree Close - - LAP 0.01

Recreation Ground - - NEAP 0.06

Jubilee Park - - NEAP 0.07

Bridges Close - - LEAP 0.25

Ayres Drive - - LAP 0.08

Aldous Drive - - NEAP 0.10

Barford Road (Bovis) (0.10)

TOTAL 0.57 ha

It is likely the Bovis development (Barford Rd) will contribute a LEAP or area for play around 0.1ha to the above total making it 0.67 ha. There is no legal requirement to have the standard FIT-NPFA / CDC configuration26 of local LEAPS and LAPs rather than contributions to more centralised provision. Indeed FIT document from which it comes warns of the potential for slavish adherence to national standards to have a, “limiting effect

upon local consultation and engagement.”

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General Sports and Recreation Areas

The expected requirement for 2015 is 4.3 ha Outdoor sports areas are described in more detail here. In assessing the availability of sporting space the CDC audit documents include land which is clearly private and not available for public use (e.g. the schools) or only available to paying members or guests (e.g. the driving range.) We see no point in doing this unless joint use agreements are in place – which they are not and which - for good reasons - are unlikely to be. Consequently – the NP Figures ignore all pitches to which there is no public access

A number of the fields are mislabelled in the audit. We have corrected them as far as we can.

Category – Sports pitches

Site ID

Site Name CDC Category CDC Area ha

NP Category NP Area ha

none Bloxham Primary Sports Ground Outdoor sports - Private (0.86)

466 Warriner School Sports pitches Outdoor sports 5.57 Private (6.43)

468 Bloxham School attached field Outdoor sports 1.98 Private (1.89)

469 Jubilee Park Outdoor sports 2.01 Public (Trust) 2.09

470 Bloxham School Running track Outdoor sports 2.24 Private (4.41)

473 Bloxham School Rugby pitches Outdoor sports 3.57 Private (2.90)

none Hillside Farm Driving Range Outdoor sports - Private (0.08)

474 Bloxham School cricket field Outdoor sports 1.98 Private (1.60)

483 Recreation Ground Outdoor sports 1.68 Public (Trust) 1.67

none Bloxham Bowls Club - - Member only (0.08)

729 Warriner Tennis Courts Outdoor sports 0.1 Private (0.1)

TOTAL 19.13 3.76 ha

We are not clear what value CDC use for the contribution of Bloxham to the 35.22 ha of outdoor sports land that they quote across the ward (Bloxham, Bodicote and Milton.) What is apparent is that there is a considerable area of outdoor sport land in the village but very little (~20%) having public access. It does contribute to enhancing the appearance of the village but makes negligible contribution to government policies on sport and health for the permanent residents of the village.

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Allotments

The expected requirement for 2015 is 1.4 ha (see previously.) The reality is that there aren’t any but there seems to be a substantial demand for them. We note the Local Plan Update 2014 states Allotments to be provided as part of development throughout Kidlington and rural areas in accordance to Local Plan standards.32 Likewise the same document notes, “ Children's play areas, sports pitches, and courts to be provided as part of development throughout Kidlington and rural areas in accordance to Local Plan standards.”

Does Bloxham have a deficit or surplus of green-space land??

The CDC figures are from old documents. They will be aware these are out of date.

How areas shape-up against recommended 2015 levels

Type of provison

BNDP 2015 Recomm’d

CDC area ha

BNDP Area ha

CDC Deficit ha

BNDP Deficit ha

Natural & semi-natural green-space (NSNGS)

6.90 1.71 3.31 5.19 3.59

Amenity Greenspaces (AGS) 3.70 0.58 3.14 3.12 0.56

Play Areas 2.90 0 0.57 2.90 2.33

Sports areas 4.30 3.69 3.76 0.61 0.54

Sports areas - private - (15.44) (18.35) - -

Allotments 1.4 - 0 - 1.40

Summary of the quantitative state of affairs

Remember these figures take account of existing housing permissions but not of any subsequent growth. They show a quantitative deficit in all areas. To what extent concerns parallel the quantitative deficits is set out next.

32

CDC Local Plan Update Aug 2014 Appendix 8

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Qualitative views upon green-spaces.

The previous quantitative study is only half the story! In the sections that follow we will make clearer the nature of what we have but first we make clear that not all types of green-space are equally valued. There are certain areas critical to the functioning of the community the loss of which would be devastating whether or not there is a large deficit. The Red Lion garden is one such area. In contrast people ponder why the village would need a country park when we live in the country?

Type of green-space Village views

Natural & semi-natural green-space (-3.59 ha)

The deficit may be reduced by a further 0.67ha if the Mintondale development delivers some open-space.

People are not massively concerned about this. Provided public footpaths are near the village do not all become ‘urban routes through new estates’ residents feel they have OK access to natural spaces.

Amenity Green-space (-0.56 ha)

The low deficit assumes delivery of a proper country park as part of the Tadmarton Rd development.

The Red Lion garden is regarded by residents as an AGS and loss of this to development would meet with huge opposition. It’s the only village centre open space with public access. It’s effectively our village green! It’s already seeking heritage status. We shall nominate it as an NPPF Local Green-space

Play areas. (-2.33 ha)

The steering group view is sceptical as to the wisdom of applying FIT formula to include the population from pre-1990 housing where most houses have an integral play area (called a proper garden!) The FIT statement explicitly states that its working context is one of, “Recognition of the more efficient use of land through higher density development.”

The local view supports this scepticism seeking much improved ‘whole village’ (or at least half village!) areas as offering our rapidly growing community something both more exciting and more socially cohesive than an ongoing plethora of ‘territorial’ LEAPS.

Sports pitches (-0.54 ha)

The formula is reasonable but takes no account of:

Flooding and drainage issues on ‘The Rec’ limiting its usefulness.

Bloxham has a highly active young people’s football club.

The CDC formula is designed for boys. Girls play football!

Allotments (-1.40 ha)

Bloxham has no allotments although there may be some private arrangements.

The Bloxham NP Questionnaire indicated there was a potentially large demand for allotments should they become available.

Some of these points will be taken up further in subsequent sections.

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9. PLAY AREAS – LEAPS, LAPS & NEAPS

The Issues

1. Improving mediocre quality whole village play areas. 2. Balancing LAPS and LEAPS vs high quality whole village provision. 3. Appraising the extent to which provision caters for those with disabilities.

The facts

There are:

Two long established recreation areas one at either end of the village.

A number of smaller areas created as part of developer obligations.

Almost nowhere in the village is more than 1200m from a main recreation area.

The total play area does not meet CDC recommendations.

Residents would prefer to upgrade the main areas rather than more LEAPS and LAPS

One of the main areas is owned by a Trust that operates in a non-transparent fashion.

The Locations

26

The areas

Neighbourhood Play Areas (NEAPS)

There is a recreation ground at either end of the village.

The Jubilee Ground (towards the north)

The Recreation Ground (at the south.) Both seem to have regular use by someone from about 25% of households although passing observation suggests the Jubilee is the more heavily used of the two.

The Jubilee Park Play Areas

This area is part of the Jubilee Park sports and recreation facilities.

It is managed by the Jubilee Park, Bloxham Charitable Trust (Charity Ref – 281021)

It is on land owned by the Parish Council

Jubilee Park Play Equipment

27

The Recreation Ground Play Area

The Rec is the less well developed of the two major Bloxham recreation facilities.

It was given to the village by George Allen in 1910

It’s managed on behalf of the village by the George Allen Recreation Ground Trust (Charity Ref 304272)

The trustees do a lot of the maintenance of the ground free of charge.

The Trust do not seem to welcome public engagement with or access to its proceedings which poses an impediment to major investment from Parish Council funds.

Recreation Ground Play Equipment

28

Medium size Play Areas (LEAPS)

The Aldous Drive LEAP

This is a play area created in response to developer obligations when the Woodlands Park Estate was built. It is currently the responsibility of Cherwell District Council who have maintenance funds that were provided by the developers.

Bridges Close LEAP

Another play area created in response to developer obligations. It is currently the responsibility of Cherwell District Council who have maintenance funds that were provided by the developers.

29

Bridges Close LEAP Equipment

A small play area created in response to developer obligations. It is currently the responsibility of Cherwell District Council who have maintenance funds that were provided by the developers.

Local Area of Play (LAPS)

Ayers Drive LAP

A small play area created in response to developer obligations. It is currently the responsibility of Cherwell District Council who have maintenance funds that were provided by the developers. This is right at the eastern edge of this estate and has just a few pieces of play equipment suitable for 2 – 5 year olds.

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Crabtree Close LAP

A small play area created in response to developer obligations. It is currently the responsibility of the developers : check PC haven’t taken it on.

Private recreation areas available to the public

The village green is too close to the busy A361 for play but nearby are two privately owned spaces belonging to the Joiners Arms and the Red Lion that are valued by residents although both are liable to occasional flooding from Bloxham Brook.

The Joiners area

This includes

Timber framed slide

Equipment for Aunt Sally

The Red Lion area

This currently has its freehold up for sale, has:

See-saw (under-5s),

Slide

Double swing.

The above photo simply shows the areas with play equipment. In fact the gardens are the closest the village gets to having a village green and any loss to development would be hugely contested as representing removal of the only central amenity green-space that the village has. (See photos that follow taken from heritage bid document.)

31

Community Events at The Red Lion

32

Evaluation of the situation regarding Play Areas.

The deficit in quantitative area

Neither residents nor the working groups have seemed hugely concerned about the deficit in the numerical area of play spaces.

Virtually all children live within 1200m of the Recreation Ground or the Jubilee Park which is the generally used guide to accessibility.

People were opposed to developer funds being spent primarily on equipment for LEAPS preferring investment in equipment to be on the two central areas.

This doesn’t mean the village doesn’t want local space to play. Rather that these are not dominated by equipment.

The deficit in equipment

CDC seem resistant to straying from their own LEAP and LAP guidelines33 of having equipped areas on every new estate although their own document states “However this approach will

not be appropriate in all circumstances and in some cases combined areas of play will be more appropriate to local circumstances. This will be negotiated on a case by case basis. However it will be essential for the combined areas of play provided to cater for all age

ranges.” The negotiation seems to have largely been with developers rather than the P.C.

Interestingly the FIT document upon which CDC recommendations are based points out “There are no recommendations to have a set amount (or indeed any) equipment in these play areas. According to the latest FIT recommendations34 playground areas no longer have to provide a set number of pieces of equipment, but rather play experiences.”

This situation may relate to the fact that at present the two main recreation areas are not as good as those provided in many much smaller villages.

Residents would welcome investment in to bring these up to modern standards.

There was particular concern about provision for teenagers although this tends to merge into sports facilities as a MUGA was widely considered a likely good investment

The least concern is about 2 – 5 year olds.

There is a realisation that we have no adult outdoor recreational equipment (such as an outdoor gym.)

We do not have any benchmarks to know how well, or badly, our facilities cater for those with disabilities.

33

CDC Planning Obligations Document 34

Planning and Design for Outdoor Sport and Play

33

The available funding

There is a significant amount of funding available but we will doubtless still have to raise extra funds to create something really good.

The available land

There are no real impediments to investment in under-12 play equipment at the Jubilee Grounds which is owned by the Parish Council (P.C.) and has recently acquired a re-energised management group.

The Parish Council would like to invest in upgrading under-12 play equipment at the Recreation Ground but there is strange reluctance of the Trust to openness and engagement with the Parish Council. E.g. Despite the P.C. being the main provider of funds for upkeep of the facility they are not permitted to attend the Trust AGM ! This is less than helpful.

Residents are keen to see improved provision for teenagers and a MUGA was suggested but work with OPFA indicated there are better options.

Investment in some all-weather facility isa possibility but not on existing land where noise and possibly light pollution would prove unacceptable to residents. Possible ways forward include:

o seeking a joint use project with the Warriner school o seeking an arrangement over land near the Warriner school from the Feoffees

charity.

There may also be a country park associated with a recently permitted development and maybe something like a fitness trail might be incorporated into this.

Recommendations

Protecting the recreation spaces might be part of the neighbourhood Plan but what equipment goes into them isn’t. Current thinking seems to be to create some costed plans to put to the village as what we could do provided on the two main recreation grounds. This is for the PC not NP to organise.

10. SPORTS PITCHES

The issues?

1. Issues of flooding and inadequate drainage especially at the recreation ground 2. The emerging deficit of pitches 3. Absence of any all-weather type facilities – Astroturf, 3G, MUGA 4. Lack of any ground for adult cricket

The Facts

Bloxham clay is essentially impermeable35 and all sports grounds are prone to waterlogging

Consequently schools may hire out grounds in the summer but not during the winter.

The Recreation ground is particularly prone to flooding and often unusable.

Around 80% of the village sports grounds are privately owned and not publically accessible.

There is no type of publically accessible ‘all-weather’ surface in Bloxham

There is no public ground capable of safely accommodating adult cricket.

35

British Geological Survey data

34

The Areas

The Jubilee Grounds

2.09 ha

The Recreation Ground

1.67 ha

Flooding and inadequate drainage

General impermeability has already been mentioned.

At one stage the Rec became a lake for days on end and drainage was installed.

It still gets waterlogged as it is close to Bloxham brook and also subject to run-off flooding from an adjacent estate built some 700mm or so above the level of the recreation ground.

We have no idea of the likely cost of improved drainage or whether the Trustees would allow this.

35

The emerging deficit of pitches.

This is addressed in the section on green space calculations.

The recreation ground pitches 1.67 ha

The Jubilee pitches 2.09 ha

Total 3.76 ha

Actual need 4.4 ha (by 2015)

Deficit 0.64 ha

The FA recommendations36 vary from 0.411 ha for under-11s to 0.742ha for over-18s.

The CDC recommendations are37 Senior/Youth 0.9ha, Mini soccer (2 pitches) 0.7ha

i.e. The village will be essentially one pitch short of meeting CDC recommended levels once existing housing permissions have been fulfilled.

Awaiting Mtg with Ian Holroyd to get horses-mouth details on situation so far as BFC concerned.

The absence of any all-weather facility.

Frequent water-logging would make some sort of all-weather facility a blessing.

Warriner School sought a 3G pitch with FA sponsorship but we think it has been won by North Oxon Academy.

There is no obviously available piece of land. Local farmland seems to be selling at around 10K/acre = £25K/ha38 - above Savills39 market survey value of around £18K/ha. It follows Land for one more pitch, if available might cost around £25K plus the cost of creating the pitch and any changing / shelter facilities.

Residents favour creation of a MUGA for village use. A basic 35 x 17 m (38 x 18 yds) macadam surfaced MUGA costs around £28K plus the cost of the security fence which ranges from around £18K to £40K for high security anti-vandal fencing.40 So £50K+ It might fit on around 0.1ha of land.

of where such a resource would be acceptable. It would not be acceptable on the two existing sports sites. One possibility might be a joint project with Warriner school using a piece of their land with suitable guarantees of appropriate village access. Another might be to seek land near the Warriner owned by the Feoffees (charity.)

There has been no discussion of the management arrangements for its use. Possibilities include involvement of: the Warriner School, Bloxham FC or some new or existing group of Trustees

Lack of any ground for adult cricket ground

Basically – both sports grounds are too near to housing to allow adult cricket to be played safely. The BNDP Questionnaire showed only a minority (12%) thought addressing this was important, possibly because The Warriner School is known to hire-out it’s grounds for cricket in the summer.

36

FA Pitch sizes 37

The Provision Of Open Space In New Residential Development 2006 38

Fischer German – Between Tadmarton Rd, Courtington Lane and Ells Lane 39

Savills Market Survey UK Agricultural Land 2014 40

Advice from charleslawrence@allcourts.co.uk

36

Recommendations

Awaiting discussions with Oxford Playing Fields Association but the current thinking is :

To Liaise with Bloxham F.C. regarding the balance between pitch supply and demand.

To liaise with Warriner School to check-out any interest in their accommodating a joint-use MUGA

To liaise with the Feoffees to see if they have any appropriate land that could accommodate a basic MUGA

For the PC to liaise with CDC Planning regarding division of S106 monies for equipment between on-site and more ‘central’ facilities.

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11. LOCAL GREEN SPACE – PROTECTING KEY SPACES

What is Local Green Space?

We are now using it in the NPPF context which states, “Local communities through local and neighbourhood plans should be able to identify for special protection green areas of particular importance to them. By designating land as Local Green Space local communities will be able to rule out new development other than in very special circumstances.”

Proposed Local Green Space Areas

Because of the unusual dearth of land in Bloxham would make loss of three specific areas catastrophic to the community. These are:

a. The Red Lion Gardens b. The Jubilee Fields c. The Recreation Ground.

The Red Lion Gardens

This space is the closest Bloxham gets to having a usable village green. Without it there would be no central village location to accommodate whole village outdoor events.

We seek Local Green Space status for the Red Lion Gardens.

The recreation grounds

One might think these would be automatically protected as a result of statements in policies from Sport England41 or the NPPF. 42 E.g. The NPPF states

Section 3 - Supporting a prosperous rural economy – para 28, “… promote the retention of sports venues.”

Section 8 - Promoting healthy communities – “Planning policies should be based on robust

and up‑to‑date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation facilities.”

Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:

an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or

the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or

the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss.

The Bloxham situation is that:

1. All appropriately sized land suitable for additional sporting provision within the built-up area of Bloxham is already used for that purpose by Bloxham School.

2. The two community recreation grounds offer balancing and accessible provision at either end of the village that would be impossible to replace with anything equivalent.

Because of these very particular circumstances we seek Local Green Space status for both the main village recreation areas: The Jubilee Park and the Recreation Ground.

41

Sport England - A Sporting Future for the Playing Fields of England 42

NPPF

38

12. SCHOOL SPORTS FACILITIES This doesn’t fit into any neat category but seems worth recording!

Locations

The Warriner School Sports facilities

Warriner sports facilities are used by community groups, schools and individual private hirers. The following can be hired:

• Badminton • Basketball • Dance • Football (indoor only) • Gymnastics • Netball • Swimming (seasonal May, June, July and September)

39

• Tennis • Trampoline

There is currently a bid pending for a 3G pitch The majority of sports facilities would be hired as there needs to be a “Transfer of Control Agreement” TOCA and relevant insurance paperwork to cover the use of educational premises. There are no free sessions available for public use for health & safety reasons, security and insurance purposes. However, the access to our tennis courts on Bloxham Grove Road is not locked and the community/public do use the courts without officially booking – they do so totally at their own risk! We do not officially hire the playing fields for football or rugby as the condition deteriorates due to lying on a clay belt, they become unplayable for curriculum purposes. However, we do hire the cricket pitch to community cricket clubs. The use of educational premises has to be monitored and official documentation must be in place. For insurance and security reasons we need to know who is on our premises. The Gym is used by various organisations. E.g.

lst Bloxham Scouts,

Circuit training,

Dance Addiction,

Children’s Gym classes

Bloxham School Sports facilities

Bloxham School may hire out the following facilities for community use: The Dewey Centre which includes:

• 4 Badminton courts, • 5 a side football, • basketball, • Netball, • volleyball, • indoor hockey all marked out) • Cardio Gym & weights room • Climbing Wall • Squash Courts

Additionally the following may be available

• Astroturf pitches (but highly limited by lack of permission for lighting.) • Netball Courts • Swimming Pool

In the swimming pool the following are offered:

• Swimming lessons for children, • Survive & Swim courses, • Aqua Aerobics • Swimming sessions for clubs • Public sessions for adult & Family swimming.

40

The school regularly advertises access to its facilities as set out below.

13. INDOOR SPACES

The Issues

Bloxham has several community halls but most are old and small. There is an oft-repeated cry for one large, modern community hall.

The Baptist Church congregation doesn’t fit into its building.

There are so many events that even with several Halls people have to look beyond Bloxham.

The Facts

Bloxham has a large number of buildings that regularly accommodate community activities. Many are old – with varying degrees of updating - and have limited capacity.

The only ‘community-based’ building able to seat over 100 people is the parish church. This currently retains a very inflexible formal layout but there are plans to change this.

Both the state primary and secondary school are available - insofar as it fits with their own needs - and used by the community – especially the Warriner Sports Hall.

Bloxham School makes various indoor facilities available to the public on a regular basis.

A number of private institutions have one-off arrangements with certain groups but are not more generally available.

41

The Locations

The Facilities

Note - In the descriptions that follow the activities are illustrative rather than current as no attempt is being made to keep this aspect of the document updated.

The proposed development of St Mary’s Church at a cost of over £1M could give rise to a huge multi-use venue.

The Baptist Church might also be interested in a large venue for joint church-community use should land become available for this.

42

Jubilee Park Hall

The Hall is

carpeted,

heated,

kitchen

toilets

changing rooms.

seats 100

car parking for 25.

Activities include:

Womens Institute

History Society

Weight Watchers

Youth Club

Occasional use for coffee mornings

Table Top Sales

Family Parties

Organisation

Received a lottery award of £40K in 1999 for improved car-parking – but capacity is still limited.

Managed by a charitable Trust – 281021 - Jubilee Park, Bloxham

Trust main contact - just changed

Booking - changed?

The ex-Servicemen’s Hall

The Hall is:

The most heavily attended community hall according to the questionnaire

Very central

Wooden floor,

Coin –in slot heating

Toilets,

Kitchen,

Curtains.

Recent double glazing

Drop-down screen

Theatre style lighting

No dedicated parking space

Activities

yoga(2),

pilates,

film society,

Friday country market,

table tennis(2),

2nd

Bloxham Guides,

Zumba(2) ,

KSYS Kickers,

Children’s Flamenco

Caterpillar Music (kids),

Bloxham Elfins,

Councillors Surgery,

Occasional

quiz nights,

plant sales,

jumble sales,

children’s activities,

British Legion

43

Organisation

Built in the 1930s for ex-servicemen and their families, it now belongs to the people of Bloxham and is run by Trustees who are – apparently - independent of the British Legion and responsible to today’s villagers.

Received a lottery grant of £5K in 1999 for new flooring.

Has had PC grants for various improvements

Holds regular fund-raising events to maintain and improve

Secretary John G Cooke 01295-720-420

Booking Mervyn Jones 07881- 730-698

Parish Rooms

The Hall

Carpeted,

Heated,

Well equipped kitchen,

Toilets.

Seats 80.

Limited car park (4-5 cars) and some space on main road.

Activities:

Thursday Club,

Tuesday Lunch Club,

Soup Saturday,

Boys Brigade,

Bridge Club,

Gardening Club,

Mothers Union,

Art Group,

Church Group,

Parish Breakfast,

Parish Council.

Organisation

Managed by a charitable Trust - 1129237 - The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish Of Our Lady Of St Mary, Bloxham

Trust Main Contact Rev Sarah Tillett Tel: 01295 720252

Bookings Liz Robson Tel: 01295 720596

44

The Ellen Hinde Hall

The hall

Sprung wooden floor

High ceiling,

Waiting room,

Changing room,

2 toilets,

Upstairs meeting room.

Tea-making facility

Has been recently refurbished

Minimal parking space.

no disabled access

Activities:

Badminton (11 groups),

keep-fit, dance classes (2),

Boys Brigade()

Organisation

Built in the 1930s and given to the village by Ellen Hinde, only daughter of the founder and

first headmaster of Bloxham School, around 1946.

Managed by a Charitable Trust 304271 - The Ellen Hinde Memorial Hall

Trust main contact - Mrs Louise Thomson

Booking: Carmen Guard – 01295-720-339

St Mary’s Church

The Building

Rated as one of the top 100 churches in England

Huge space

Inflexible seating

Lack of adequate kitchen and toilet facilities

Tension between layout for traditional church or community use.

Low efficiency heating

Activities:

Regular church services

Regular Church Groups

Christenings, Weddings and Funerals

Special services

Organisation

A traditional church appreciated for its architectural beauty but with a relatively small proportion of the community who would see themselves as active users or

45

Occasional concerts

Occasional meetings and events

therefore stakeholders.

Proposed Changes

There are proposals to rebalance the use of the church and nearby buildings to involve the wider community and by making them stakeholders produce a ‘virtuous spiral of improvement for worship, mission and community engagement

Details are to be worked out but we are looking at a major project that could, given agreement and support, embrace not only the church but also the nursery school, museum and parish rooms and might include such things as a local library, café etc.

Total costs which might be in the order of £1.4M. We would need support to attract heritage lottery funding and we already have support from some ‘people of influence’ who might argue it as a useful case study of ‘the role of community involvement in church preservation.’

There would need to be a demonstration of local commitment to the project and also the creation of structures to ensure both ‘legacy use’ by the community and on-going funding-streams to support such use.

Baptist Church

Building

Kitchenette (plans for upgraded kitchen),

Heated,

Carpeted,

Toilets (plans for toilet for disabled).

Seats 120

2 additional rooms, holding 30 and l0 persons. Equipped with PA system and computer controlled Overhead projector,

Hearing loop and music keyboard.

No parking

Too small to accommodate the existing needs of the Sunday Congregation

Activities

Girls Brigade,

Tiddlywinks Toddler Group,

Tiddlywinks for babies and carers,

Bite Size,

Coffee mornings.

Used nearly every day for mainly church related activities.

Occasional:

Bloxfest refreshments,

Women’s World Day of Prayer (Previous bookings included Aerobics, Drama Group and Deaf Group.

Organisation

Managed by the Baptist Church

Main Contact - Mike Tydeman (pastor) Tel: 01295 721525.

Bookings: Currently not offered to residents because of limited facilities

Proposed Changes

A limited upgrade project is planned in the near future.

The building no longer accommodates the congregation and, were land to become available, a shared church-community use building would be very much on the agenda.

46

Bloxham Lawn Bowls Club

The Hall is

Carpeted

Heated

Kitchen,

Toilets,

Seats 50,

Car park for 30

Activities:

It does not seem to be generally available for hire but does receive occasional village use for wakes, receptions etc.

Social area for Bowls Club Members

Senior Citizens Club.

Organisation

The club seems to be a privately owned organisation.

In 1957 an open meeting was held to form a village Bowls Club and Bloxham Bowls Club was born!

In 1996 a major lottery grant of almost £50K allowed upgrading of the pavilion and in 2002 additional money was raised by selling off part of the club car-park.

Contact Pat and Rod Ostler Tel 01295 720531

Godswell Care Home

This has a high quality theatre within the building which is occasionally let out on an ad-hoc basis to groups for activities of which the management approve.

Bloxham Primary School

The Building The primary school will hire out rooms for village use insofar as is compatible with their own needs. There may be issues in terms of non-availability of caretaking staff (e.g. through holiday periods

Activities

1st Bloxham Brownies,

Dance Fit, lst

Bloxham Beaver Scouts,

Rainbows

lst Bloxham Cubs,

Butterfly Meadows,

Messy Church

47

The Warriner School

The Building Various rooms can be hired. E.g. The P.C. has hired the Lecture Theatre and the NDP has held meetings in the main hall which can accommodate around 300 people seated.

Activities E.g. The Lecture Theatre is hired by the Warriner Choral Society

Bloxham School

The Building The Great Hall and Dining Hall are not generally available for hire but may be made available, usually for charitable events, at the school’s discretion. The Music room in the Sam Kahn Music School is occasionally used for recitals that are open to the local public.

Activities In recent years the school has played a major role in hosting the Bloxham Festival of Faith and Literature

The Courthouse

Building

A 14C building rebuilt in the 1680s.

The museum received lottery grant (£4K) in 2005 to improve flooring and was recently refurbished with cabinets from the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Lower floor: Bloxham Museum

Upper Floor: Rainbow Nursery

Garage area: Bloxham Fire engine

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Occupants Bloxham Museum

Managed by a charitable trust - 283146 - The Bloxham Village Museum

Closed through the winter. Open weekends and bank-holidays

Contact - Peter Barwell Tel: 01295 721 256

Rainbow Village Nursery School Rainbow Village Nursery is a privately owned provision which has been open since 2000. It is a private nursery school. It’s educational URN is 403371 It has 22 places and 40+ children on-roll. It’s Ofsted rating (April 2013) is 2 (good.) Open Mon – Fri 0:07:30 – 17:30 Contact - Clare Campbell

At the present time neither building is available for public use outside of the above activities.

Bloxham Mill

The Building Meeting Rooms Café open Mon to Fri 8.30-3.45, tea, coffee, sandwiches, cakes and light lunches. Seating inside 50, outside 20. Parking spaces.

Activities

Provides office or virtual office facilities for over 100 companies

Rooms may be available to hire insofar as this fits with existing commitments

Organisation

Bloxham Mill Ltd is a private limited company incorporated on 20

th Dec 1999

Its book value at the time of writing is £1.25 million.

Supportive in accommodating events for the Neighbourhood Plan and also an important local networking facility.

Ray Avery, Managing Director 722 800

Recommendations

There is little chance of being able to persuade Trustees of the various Halls to sell them and put the money into a kitty for a large new hall – and no convenient piece of purchasable land that would accommodate such a hall.

The Jubilee Hall is the one that (physically) would be most easy to enlarge

It also has more car-parking potential than the others.

It is owned by the P.C. and so avoids needing to negotiate with Trusts.

It’s changing areas are used for the majority of sports events We recommend investigating the enlargement and improvement of the Jubilee Hall

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14. BNDP QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS RELATING TO RECREATION

Use of Bloxham outdoor recreation facilities in a typical week

i. Both the Jubilee and the Recreation Ground children’s play areas are each used by someone in about 25% of Bloxham households.

ii. Both the Jubilee and the Recreation Ground pitches are each used by someone in about 20% of Bloxham households.

iii. All the LAPS (local play areas for under 5s) together are used by about 5% of the households. (Collins, Woodlands, Crabtree)

iv. Each of the leaps is used by someone from about 2% of households.

This data is per household, not per individual so It’s hard to make any valid comparison with the national data but casual observation would suggest a lower usage in Bloxham.

Who needs more recreational facilities?

The questionnaire asked (yes, no, don’t know) responses to: does the village need:

Q 38 - 42 Yes No Ratio

(Yes:No)

More play areas for 0-5 year olds? 14 39.6 0.35

More play areas for 5 - 12 year olds? 26.5 31.1 0.85

More recreation areas for teenagers 53.6 14.3 3.75

More recreation areas for adults 32.5 34.2 0.95

The ranking was:

teenagers > adults > primary age children > pre-school children

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Who is MOST in need of IMPROVED outdoor recreation facilities

The slightly different question, “Which of these groups is MOST in need of IMPROVED outdoor recreation facilities” brought broadly similar answers with a high %age of “don’t know” responses.

Q44 Percent Number

Age 0-5 6.4 41

Age 6-12 11.8 76

Teenagers 38 245

Adults 9.8 63

Don't know 34 219

Totals 100 644

The ranking was:

teenagers > primary age children > adults > pre-school children

Do we have enough Sports pitches?

People were asked if they thought there were enough sports pitches. This question had a very large don’t know response

Q43 Percent Number

Yes 54.2 319

No 13.6 80 Don't know 32.3 190

Total 100.1 589

There are probably better ways to get a sensible evaluation of this such as:

i. Using recognised calculations relating to the numbers in the community ii. Using local knowledge of the Trusts owning the land as to bookings. iii. Factoring in the ‘year-round’ usability taking account of flooding etc.

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What additional facility would get most long-term use?

Q45 Which of these recreation facilities do you think would get most long-term use?

Which would get most long-term use? % Number

MUGA 44.3 229

skateboard park 24.2 125

Outdoor gym area 14.7 76

Full size cricket field 12.2 63

Other 4.6 24

Total 100 517

The ranking for these is

MUGA > skateboard park > outdoor gym > full size cricket pitch

Whole Village vs Local provision

We asked (Q46, “ How do you think money for recreation should be split between local play areas on each development and our whole village areas (The Jubilee Grounds and the Recreation Ground)?” This was asked because CDC have a ‘recipe’ approach to getting S106 funds from developers which favours provision of LAPS (Local areas of play) and LEAPS(Local equipped area of play) on every new development. The view has been expressed that whilst a small LAP for very young children may be appropriate investment in more central whole village facilities might foster a less “ghetto” mentality and greater village cohesion than a random collection of LEAPS. Q46 asked residents what they thought.

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What to spend money upon % No.

Mostly local equipped play areas 3.9 22

Split between local and whole village areas 22.1 126

Mostly upgrading whole village areas 48.7 277

Don't know 25.3 144

100 569

Basically very few thought spending all the developer recreation money on LEAPS was a good idea.

Mostly central > split central and LEAP > Mostly LEAP

Recreation facilities for those with disabilities.

The main recreation areas data back a long way and it’s uncertain how much attention has been given to proper access and appropriate equipment for those with disabilities. We asked – “Do you think existing village outdoor recreation facilities offer adequate recreational opportunities for children with physical disabilities?”

48 Do you think existing village outdoor recreation facilities offer adequate recreational opportunities for children with physical disabilities?

Q48 % No.

Yes 3.8 22

No 38.2 221

Don't know 58 336

Totals 100 579

This question produced a higher proportion of residents who felt unqualified to answer than any of the other 93 questions in the questionnaire. For those who did respond the answer (No : Yes ratio) is almost 10:1 that we do not cater well.

We need external advice upon this issue.

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Summary of what residents think about outdoor spaces.

i. We do not have reliable data upon usage of the main recreation areas but

observation would indicate they are less used than the areas in some other local villages.

ii. Teenagers are thought to be most in need when it comes both to the amount and the need for improved outdoor recreational facilities.

iii. Both adults and primary aged children are thought to also have need of more / better facilities.

iv. The majority of people think we have enough sports pitches. We need to supplement this perception with measurable data from other sources.

v. Local vs whole village provision –residents favour at least a portion of S106 funding going more towards improved whole-village areas.

vi. A MUGA gets by far the highest approval regarding additional provision. vii. A skateboard park (which is likely to serve the same age-group) gets only half the

approval . viii. An outdoor gym – which could serve both teenagers and adults, comes next. ix. A full-size cricket pitch comes last – possibly because Warriner have one that they

rent out. x. Recreation facilities for those with disabilities need investigating further.

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15. BLOXHAM ORGANISATIONS

Organisation Contact Phone Email Website

Banbury Spiritualist church Jean Carruthers

262-532 spiritualbanbury@btinternet.com

Banbury Catholic Churches Deacon Bob Hughes

262-073 http://www.banburycatholicchurches.org.uk/

Banbury Neighbourhood watch

Deborah Tonks

754-611 http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n425.htm

Bloxham Baptist church Rev Mike Tydeman

721-525 http://bloxhambaptist.org/

Bloxham Bell ringing Alan Griffin 720-359 ajg@argonet.co.uk

http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=SP430357&DoveID=BLOXHAM

Bloxham Bowls club Rod Ostler 720-531 patnrod19@aol.com

Bloxham Boys’ Brigade Heather Westbury

722-312 http://www.1stbloxhamboysbrigade.moonfruit.com/

Bloxham Bridge club Marylou Howard

720-470 http://www.banbury-cross.co.uk/leclbridge.htm

Bloxham Broadsheet Articles Brenda Kirkham

720-104 brenkir@gmail.com

Bloxham elfins (woodcraft folk)

John Ekers

BloxFest Rani Tandon 721189 http://www.bloxfest.org.uk/#/contact/4540003262

Bloxham Flower club Kate Phipps 721-049 http://www.southmidlandsnafas.org.uk/bloxham.html

Bloxham Football club Scott Cuthbert

722901 scott.cuthbert@sky.com

Bloxham Gardening club Pat Golby 252-650

Bloxham Morris Dancers Verna Wass 758-222 http://folkinoxford.co.uk/bloxham-morris.html

Bloxham Mothers union Peggy Ellis 721-588 http://www.bloxhamvillage.com/MU.HTM

Bloxham Scout group Kate Broome

720-854 http://www.bloxhamscoutgroup.org.uk/

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Organisation Contact Phone Email Website

Bloxham Senior Ctizens Paddy Hopkins

721-342 http://www.cherwell-local.org.uk/site/Bloxham--Senior-Sitizens/index.htm

Bloxham Village History Club Ian Myson 720-951 Brownies – Bloxham 1st Petula

Wilson 07501-040-700

Clerk to the Parish Council Theresa Goss

710--965 clerk@bloxhampc.co.uk http://www.bloxhamparishcouncil.co.uk/

Ellen Hinde hall Carmen Guard

720339

Ex-servicemen’s hall Mervyn Jones

Films in Bloxham John Groves 720-513 finchamgroves@totalise.co

.uk http://filmsinbloxham.net/

Friends of Bloxham Primary School

Amanda Baxter

http://www.bloxhamprimary.ik.org/p_FOBPS.ikml

Friends of St Mary’s, Bloxham

Ian Myson 720-951

Friends of Warriner School http://www.thewarrinerschool.co.uk/index.php/f-o-w

Girls Brigade Sarah Sandy 264-449 Guides Carol Davis

Jubilee Park hall Mandy Fountain

722-717 mandfoun@aol.com

Lunch club Pat Angel 720-186 Methodist chapel David

Gibbard 721-201

N Oxon Archery club Ron Fender Parish Rooms Liz Robson 720-596

Police – local team Scott Evans, Gerry Doyle Nikki Dale

0845-8 505-505

Pre-school playgroup Susan Spillett Rainbows Lisa Barton

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Organisation Contact Phone Email Website

Royal British Legion Bill Richardson

720574 wrich@onetel.com http://banbury.legionbranches.net/

St Mary’s Church Rev Sarah Tillett

720-252 http://www.achurchnearyou.com/bloxham-our-lady-of-bloxham/

St Mary’s Day Centre Pud Hawkins 721-814 http://www.dementiaweb.org.uk/day-centres-and-

activities.html

St Mary’s Bloxham Youth Group

http://www.byg.freeuk.com/index.html

Table tennis Jim Jackson 721-220 Tiddlywinks Rachel

Mitchell 720-831

Village coordinator Jean Phillips 720-934

Village Museum Peter Barwell

721-256 peter.barwell@btinternet.com

http://www.bloxhammuseum.com/

Vintage motor cycle club Peter Brooks 01926-813-855

Volunteer Connect Sheila Finlayson

0845 815 0092

http://www.volunteerconnectbanbury.com/

Warriner Choral Society Mrs Nason 01869-

338-494 http://www.warrinerchoralsociety.co.uk/

WI Market stall Margaret Griffin

720-359

Women’s institute Gwynneth Read

720-880

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16. WHO OWNS OR FARMS LOCAL LAND? A key issue for a whole range of decisions is the potential purchase of land for extended recreation facilities. This is a first try at a map of who farms the land. It is highly likely to contain errors and, we know, is changing day by day. If you spot errors – don’t just laugh: tell us!

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17. AREAS OF RECREATION LAND.

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St Mary’s Churchyard

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