What changes would you like to see in Knutsford?

KNUTSFORD EMERGENCY SUPPORT PLAN

Town Plan 'Action Plan' Recommendation EH 9 (B) contained in the Town Plan Report issued by the Steering Group in March 2010, is well on the road to completion and implementation. Named the "Knutsford Community Emergency Plan", drafting was undertaken jointly by a Town Plan specialist representative, Cheshire Joint Emergency Planning Team, Contingency Planning Cheshire Police, and the Cheshire East Council Local Area Partnership (LAP) for Knutsford.

The purpose of the Emergency Plan is to prepare the community to meet the challenges of any major emergency or serious incident within the town. Major emergencies include severe winter weather, a sustained heatwave, major storm damage, lying water, widespread electrical or telecommunications failures, contaminated drinking water, electrical power failure, a pandemic or epidemic, a major transport accident or plane crash within the town, a major fire or explosion, a period of very cold and snowy weather or a heatwave.

A major Town Plan milestone was reached on Monday 10th January 2011 when the Knutsford Community Emergency Plan was unanimously adopted by the Town Council. Four Emergency Plan Coordinator Councillors were appointed, as the plan requires, one from each Knutsford Ward. These Councillors, the Town Clerk and Emergency Plan Community Representative from the Town Plan organisation, form a Committee whose responsibility is to maintain the plan, and to initiate emergency procedures set out in the plan in the event of a major emergency or incident in Knutsford.

Completion and implementation of the Community Emergency Plan has achieved another of the Town Plan's goals and the second in the field of improving community safety and reducing potential hazards.

The Emergency Committee will seek to improve the plan over time and will update it on a regular basis. Full information on the Town Plan is contained on the website www.knutsfordtownplan.org/

It is intended eventually to publish an abbreviated version of the Knutsford Community Emergency Plan will on the above Town Plan website.

A REVIEW OF THE LAST MAJOR PUBLIC TOWN PLAN MEETING

A public meeting held on 2nd July in the Civic Centre, Knutsford, was attended by more than fifty people. We would like to remind readers that the number of people who completed the Town Plan Survey Questionnaire in Spring 2009 was 2,632. The purpose of this latest meeting was to launch the second phase of the Town Plan, the Implementation Phase, following publication of the Report and Action Plan prepared by the Steering Group and six Working Groups (comprising more than forty volunteers).

Speakers at the meeting, introduced by Steering Group Chairman Laurie Burton, were the Rt Hon George Osborne MP; this year's Town Mayor Councillor Peter Coan; Marylyn Kerby, Manager of the Local Area Partnership for Knutsford (Cheshire East Council - CEC); and Diane Smith who is Knutsford Town Manager at CEC. Erika Wenzel, Chief Executive of Cheshire Council, was invited and attended, and in an unscheduled speech said she felt bound to speak out because she was so impressed by what the Knutsford Town Plan team and the local community had achieved so far.

Member of Parliament for the Tatton Constituency, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, spoke enthusiastically about the work of the Town Plan; while he didn't necessarily agree with every single point made in the Report and Action Plan, which he had read cover to cover, he congratulated the Town Plan team on a thoroughly researched investigation following the Spring 2009 Community Survey, and a balanced, realistic and well-written Report and Action Plan.

The Town Mayor said he regarded the Town Plan's work as particularly laudible and felt it deserved full support from the community; Knutsford Town Council had unanimously endorsed the Report and would continue to give the Town Plan its cooperation.

The other speakers also congratulated the Town Plan team on completing well over 5,000 hours voluntary work - even at only £7/hour this work had a value of more than £38,000. A more realistic valuation at commercial rates would be closer to a quarter of a million pounds, a massive contribution in kind to the community by unpaid volunteers.

The meeting sought new volunteers to add some fresh 'blood', and to replace a few members who were going to take a well-earned rest from their voluntary labours over the past two years and more. An Implementation Committee (replacing the Steering Group) would now be formed, and with the help of working groups, would carry forward work completed in the first phase. This work is specified in the Action Plan contained within the Report released on March 2010 (copies are in the Library).

The last meeting of the Steering Group (which will then disband) will take place on Friday 30th July. At the same meeting it is intended to form the nucleus of the Implementation Committee and supporting working groups whose task it will be to convince, stimulate and work with Cheshire East Council, the Town Council and other bodies to implement agreed recommendations specified in the Town Plan Report and Action Plan. Anyone who is interested in or definitely wishes to volunteer to be involved in this work should contact the Town Plan Communications Officer (see email address and telephone number elsewhere on this site) or any Implementation Committee member.

TOWN PLAN FINAL REPORT

In Spring 2009, 2,632 people living in and around Knutsford answered a Town Plan Survey Questionnaire. Volunteer Working Groups and the Steering Group have now completed their analyses of the responses, carried out further research, held meetings with Council officials and others and have written a Town Plan Report. It includes prioritised recommendations, listed in the Action Plan. The Report, Action Plan and other Reference material can be viewed by selecting the links, below

Notes
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To view the documents without downloading press 'View'

To Download to keep or print press Download (you will require a PDF viewer or Word Processor installed on your computer):

Town Plan Report & Action Plan Download

Town Plan Display View Download

Survey Questionnaire View Download

Year 2001 Census for Knutsford View Download

Aircraft Accident Risks:-

- Possible Risks View Download

- Risk Reduction View Download

Road Speed Limits View Download

Chicanes View Download

Railway Line View Download

Traders Letter View Download

Survey Summary

Survey Period. 11 February to 27 April 2009 (75 days)

Eligibility. Everyone who lives in Knutsford, everyone who works in Knutsford, the owners of Knutsford businesses or land, pupils and teachers at Knutsford schools, and regular Knutsford shoppers.

Availability of Questionnaires:

1) Between 11th February and 27th April 2009 (75 days), the Questionnaire could be answered on-line via Town Plan websites www.thetownplan.blogspot.com/ and www.knutsfordtownplan.info/ There were also links to the online Questionnaire from five other well-known Knutsford websites.

2) By 3rd March and until 27th April 2009 (55 days) 6,500 questionnaires had been hand-delivered to residences within the Knutsford parish boundary, for completion.

3) From 27th February 2009, 1,500 Questionnaires were distributed to and a stock was maintained at the 8 Knutsford schools for collection by pupils, parents and/or teachers.

4) Between 27th February and 27th April 2009, 1,000 Questionnaires were positioned at nine pick-up and collection points around the town. These were at the following popular locations: Booths Supermarket, the Public Library, the Visitor Information Centre, the Cinema & Civic Centre, the Cooperative Late Shop, the Heritage Centre, Welcome Café in Longridge, and the Cooperative Shop, Parkgate – stocks of Questionnaires were replenished daily.

5) In addition, Questionnaires were available in Braille, Audio and in Large Print.

Hence, the Survey was well advertised and readily available to absolutely everyone!

Survey Respondents

1,131 people answered the Survey on-line via the Town Plan Blog / Website

1,258 people who completed the Survey manually, delivered forms to one of the 8 delivery / collection points around the town, another 177 were returned via schools and 66 more were mailed to the Town Clerk. Daily collections of completed forms were made by the Town Plan team.

The total of 2,632 completed Survey Questionnaires represents approximately 25% of the Knutsford parish population aged over 16 years, and equates to about 45% of households.

Survey Analyses

Questionnaires answered online were automatically and instantaneously analysed by the survey analysis software system, Survey Methods (see http://www.surveymethods.com/).

All hand-written Questionnaires were transcribed into the Survey Methods system by 27 volunteers over two months. This included re-typing all text as well as multiple-choice answers. All Survey data are now being evaluated by six volunteer Working Groups. They and the Steering Group will produce a Draft Report and Action Plan early in Year 2010. This will be trialled for comment by the Knutsford community. A Town Plan Final Report and Action Plan will follow in spring 2010. Thereafter, the Steering Group will maintain a dialogue with Councils and closely monitor implementation of recommended Town Plan actions.

Any Data Queries: please contact the Data Co-ordinator by email: derek.empson@ntlworld.com or 01565 651737

Achievements & Present Work

• May to July 2008 – Town Plan Mini Surveys identified more than 100 topics of concern

• August 2008 to January 2009 – preparation of online and paper Community Survey Questionnaire

• February to April 2009 – Survey launched. 25% of the population completed the Survey Questionnaire. 271,000 items of answer data were collected. In addition, more than 7,000 text comments are being digested.

• This was the most comprehensive impartial survey and the largest data sample of community views ever gathered in Knutsford.

• May to June 2009 – A statistical analysis was completed of all responses & written comments.

. July to September - on 13th July, Cheshire East and Knutsford Town Council were briefed by the Town Plan on progresss to date and the planned way forward. Working Groups are holding discussions with stakeholders, specialists & Councils, as necessary.

. October 2009 to February 2010 - Working Groups and the Steering Group carefully examine the Survey Results, carry out research and conduct meetings with council officials and other relevant bodies in order to decide the best way forward. Prepare a detailed report and Action Plan recommending the best way forward.

. March 2010. Report and Action Plan displayed in the Cinema Foyer and at St John's Wood Community Centre for 9 days from 8 to 16 March.

.March 2010. Final Town Plan Report Issued to Town Council and Cheshire East Council.

.May 2010. Knutsford Town Plan Implementation Phase commenced. Task - to initiate and complete all actions in the Town Plan Action Plan within the next two to five years.

Future Timetable

• 17 March to April 2010 – consider feed-back from members of the public who visited the Display and commented to the Steering Group. Finalise Town Plan Report & Action Plan and have it printed. Attend Local Area Partnership Meeting on 18th March.

• April 2010 – Distribute Final Report & Action Plan to the Town Council & Cheshire East Council Local Area Partnership for Knutsford.

. May 2010 – Town Plan Phase 2 will commence. A Town Plan Implementation Committee (TPIC) will form to maintain a dialogue with Cheshire East Council and the Town Council in order to monitor progress and continue pressure to implement actions recommended in the Town Plan Report. Volunteers to serve on the TPIC are welcomed. Please email details.

We Welcome your Help!

We warmly welcome the following who, in fairly recent times, have volunteered to assist the other (approximately 40) Town Plan working volunteers. They are:

Dianne Fawdry (who volunteered after visiting the Town Plan Display)

Mike Johnson (who manned the Display)

George Tyror (who also manned the Display)

We would like to hear from people who are interested in working with the Town Plan team of volunteers in any capacity, especially on the Town Plan Implementation Committee to be formed in April 2010.

Please contact the Communications Officer by telephone on 01565 650300 or by email at bobquin1@btinternet.com if you are willing to help. Thank you!

Calling all Young People!

We urge all young people to take an interest in the Town Plan. Questionnaires were sent to all Knutsford schools, and young people both at these schools and who are members of youth groups (e.g. Scouts) were asked to complete the survey. Although the Survey has ended, the Town Plan Implementation Committee (TPIC) are always ready to receive or listen to your ideas about how to improve Knutsford for young people of all ages. Simply email the address, below.

You might wish to contact us about sports, hobbies, music, games, cafes, clubs; or about cycling, road safety, bullying, litter, drugs, pedestrian crossings, confidential advice and services, careers advice, after school activities and facilities; in short, anything!

If you're under 16 you will need the permission of your parents or an appropriate responsible adult before you contact us either by letter or on this Blog Site.

What is the Town Plan?

Town (and Parish) Plans are a form of community-led planning aimed to give those living and working in rural villages and semi-rural towns such as Knutsford, a way of deciding for themselves - and letting local Councils know - how they would like their village or town to develop over the next five to ten years. Knutsford Town Plan is a blueprint for the future of the town. The Plan can address all factors that have an impact on the quality of life including social, transport, housing, recreation, town facilities, planning issues, etc.

A Town Plan is not produced by the local Council but by a Steering Group of volunteers from the local community. While working independently, the Group of nine members includes three councillors, to enable the two bodies to liaise in a co-operative way.

How did the Town Plan begin?

Parishes and towns all over the country began producing their Plans in 2001, funded by Government grants. In Knutsford, following persistent public requests, an initial consultation took place at a Public Meeting held in the Civic Centre in June 2007 when a large number of topics – well over fifty – were identified by 75 members of the public who attended. A second meeting took place later in 2007 to identify people who were willing to consider volunteering as members of the Steering Group or Working Groups. An inaugural meeting at which potential Steering Group members met for the first time to commit their support to the Town Plan took place on 7th February 2008.

The Steering Group has met formally every month or more frequently, since then. Its members cooperate on a daily basis between monthly meetings, working on the Town Plan project. Six Working Groups, all volunteers, address specific issues and the views of the community expressed through the survey; they will ultimately report to the Steering Group on their findings and recommendations for the future of the town. The Steering Group will write and approve the Final Report and Action Plan.

When Government funding ran out in March 2008, Cheshire County Council agreed to provide finance for Town and Parish Plans through Cheshire Community Action, a charity it supports to assist and oversee all Town Plans within the County. On 18th July, our request for a Development Grand (to cover the cost of printing, survey distribution, the hiring of meeting rooms, etc.) was approved and further necessary funds were provided by Cheshire Community Action. The Town Plan then also received additional financial grants for its work from Macclesfield Borough Council and the Town Council. The expenditure of these funds is strictly controlled and properly authorised. We also receive advice and assistance in kind from Bron Kerrigan, the Community Action facilitator, and from Diane Smith, the Knutsford Town Manager within Cheshire East Council. Until it was superseded by Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Borough Council had also been very supportive.

The community questionnaire was compiled in winter 2008 and the Survey was distributed, and collected between February and April 2009. Analysis of the results and follow-up work then commenced.

For any further information, please contact the communications officer, Bob Quin by email:
bobquin1@btinternet.com

Saturday, 23 August 2008