AGM

Tenterden Healthcheck - From Blueprint To Implementation

A Community Document

"This is the best thing of its kind I have ever seen" was the response of one senior regional officer, commenting on the "Tenterden Healthcheck and Action Plan". This hundred-page document is now available in the Town Library. An appendix of similar length contains detailed supporting analysis.

The Tenterden Healthcheck is the most comprehensive review of the needs of the town undertaken in recent years. It has built on the excellent Town Appraisal, completed a decade ago, and has drawn extensively from the professional inputs of "Tenterden Explored", published almost forty years ago. It also incorporates key aspects of the more recent conservation area and landscape appraisals and the Ashford Local Plan.

In a very real sense it is our community document. The Tenterden Town and Rural Partnership, established to undertake the Healthcheck, has involved our elected local government representatives at all levels, local government officers, and the local amenity bodies. Over fifty volunteers, with wide-ranging experience and expertise, have been intensively engaged in the four working groups over the past eighteen months, overseen by a steering group of fifteen.

There have been numerous opportunities for all residents and interested parties to contribute. Many of us have made our views known through questionnaires, at open days (including the Association's own open morning) and at public meetings.

The quality of the final document reflects the professionalism of the independent co-ordinator, Julian Owen, a leading expert on rural towns, and owes much to the able direction and commitment of the Colin Kinloch, Chairman of the partnership group.

Action Points

In total there are over 70 action points identified, as well as extensive recommendations under each of the four sections. The following highlights just some of the key ones.

The quality of the environment, especially in the Conservation area, including the High Street and Lanes, has been significantly eroded in recent years. Most obvious are: the bleak and confusing state of the points of arrival for visitors, especially the car parks; the clutter and often competing and confusing signs; basic street furniture entirely out of keeping with the historic character of the town e.g. the utilitarian railings.

The partnership group is therefore proposing a professional Streetscape survey. This will build on the analysis of "Tenterden Explored", published in 1967, but it will identify specific improvements and provide detailed costings.

In recent years the town has been allowed to develop in a linear form, creating a sense of suburbia and resulting in increasing car use. The most obvious examples are the ribbon development along and off the the A28, between the town centre and St Michaels, and along and behind the Appledore Road. Criteria for the location of any future housing, to be included in the Local Development Framework, should therefore include a presumption that favours lateral rather than linear development. Future housing should be restricted to identified areas which are within easy walking distance of the town centre. There should be a clear presumption against housing development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Kent Special Landscape areas.

The economic strength of the community relies heavily on the appearance and appeal of the town and capitalising on its access to nearby attractions. There is a need to improve the co-ordination of this and the quality and promotion of events. An events co-ordinator should therefore be commissioned to promote and manage the marketing of the town. Responsibilities would include promoting tourism, strengthening the town's events programme, supporting small businesses, improving signage for visitors (especially at points of arrival), enhancing the appearance of markets and improving the Town's website.

Transport and parking proved to be one of the most contentious issues in the Healthcheck review process.

Key areas requiring action include:

• A more comprehensible system of parking charges

• The rearrangement of parking to make better use of Station Road car parks

• As a short term measure, Highbury car park catering more for visitors, and the Leisure Centre car park providing for some long term parking

• Completion of pedestrian and cycling networks e.g. Tilden Gill and Grange Road

In the longer term, construction of a new long-term car park is needed. This would be of particular help to those working in the town.

Social and community provision has not kept abreast of changes in the local population. Medical provision is already under review and improvement of the Leisure Centre, to extend community use, is being explored. The significant growth in more expensive housing in the town has not been matched by provision for local needs. The partnership intends to tackle this through the Local Development Framework. Improved provision for young people is also required, including recreation facilities; the group is recommending the development of a strategy to promote this.

Endorsement and Funding

The partnership is currently looking to all three levels of local government to endorse the Healthcheck. Tenterden Town Council has already done so and, by the time you read this, we hope that Ashford Borough and Kent County Council will have confirmed their approval of the process and their support for the strategies. Other local groups are also being invited to formally adopt the Healthcheck. The TDRA committee has already warmly endorsed it as a template for securing the town's future development

This will help the partnership secure funding for implementing the first phase of actions: the Streetscape, the promotion and marketing of the town and improving points of arrival. While this will cost in excess of £350,000, there is the likelihood of matched funding being made available.