Meeting to discuss the Village Design Statement

Date: Saturday 8th March 

Time: 10.00-11.30

Location: Village Hall

There will be a public meeting at the village hall on Saturday 8th March at 10.00 –11.30, to discuss the next steps in Monxton creating a Village Design Statement. The meeting will be opened by the Joan Leslie the VDS coordinator and Sue Ryan, Chairman of the Parish Council.

Introduction

Monxton is very fortunate to have Professor Peter Gibson, who was Chairman of the team that produced the excellent VDS for Abbotts Ann to conduct the workshop.  It will cover the gathering and recording of information on landscape and surroundings; pattern and content of settlement, and buildings and materials. It will also review the information from the questionnaire.  The second part of the morning will be further discussion on methods of recording information including photography. There will be a follow-up workshop a few weeks later to review the information and discuss how it should be presented in an attractive brochure. 

There will be an opportunity for all parishioners to review the material, text and illustrations in the VDS.  They will be able reassure themselves hat they are satisfied that the VDS gives the Supplementary Planning Guidance which will ensure that councils when considering planning applications will understand that Monxton’s distinctive character and that new buildings and other alterations will protect and where possible enhance the unique style of Monxton.

Objective

The objective of a Village Design Statement (VDS) is to present a design statement for Monxton parish in a brochure, illustrated with pictures of buildings, special features, layout of roads, the landscape, etc. It will provide the parish council and Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) with guidance in making  future planning decisions.  There are several examples in parishes which have already completed their VDSs where their parish councils and TVBC have accepted their guidance. VDSs are also given to anyone planning to build a house. There is a great deal of evidence of villages feeling that their efforts in compiling their design statement have been rewarded when councils have considered planning applications.

The Village Design Statement (VDS) Open Meeting on 15th February concentrated of the ‘what’ and ‘why’ and the huge importance of participation by  the members of Monxton Parish. The next steps are the  ‘how’ and actually ‘doing it’.  During the week beginning 16th February you will receive a questionnaire of only four questions.  It will ask your views on the landscape setting of where you live, your feelings about the layout of the settlement including the area of the parish where you live, what is distinctive about the buildings, and what you feel about any future developments in the village.  Your answers will be the building bricks of Monxton’s VDS and provide the necessary material for the first Workshop.  A volunteer from the design team will collect the survey with your completed answers shortly.

For Further Information about the Workshop please click here 

 For more information contact Joan Leslie: 

Telephone number:  01264 710253

e-mail address:  leslicot@aol.com.