Residents have designs on future (From Warrington Guardian)

Residents have designs on future

A WORKSHOP to discuss what should be included in the proposed Hartford Village Design Statement has been heralded a success by organisers.

More than 25 residents attended the church hall to contribute to the Village Characterisation Workshop, organised by the Hartford Civic Society, in a bid to provide ideas to be incorporated in the VDS.

Participants at the workshop worked together to list what they felt were the important features, landscapes and buildings that give Hartford its unique character.

The work involved analysing maps, as well as foot patrols around the village, where people photographed any distinctive landmarks.

Keith Sexton, one of the event's organisers, said: "This was a phenomenally successful event. Even those who had lived in the village for 20 years admitted to having learnt something new about the village.

"There is a clear consensus emerging that what people value about Hartford is its green open spaces, variety of trees and hedges and the quality of its wide diversity of architecture."

The information gathered and discussed at the workshop will form guidelines for the VDS document and provide the basis of a public consultation exercise planned for the next few months.

Character

A VDS is designed to protect a village from having its appearance and character changed by future building developments. It is not, however, about stopping development. Instead it seeks to manage change so that the character of the village remains in keeping with what the residents want.

If successful, the VDS will be adopted by Vale Royal Borough Council as supplementary planning guidance to work alongside the borough council's Local Plan in deciding if future developments get the go ahead.

scorrigan@guardiangrp.co.uk