Ringwood Town Council: Ringwoods Future

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RINGWOOD TOWN COUNCIL
Ringwood's Future Questionnaire 2

Required Fields "•"

In our first Ringwood’s Future leaflet we asked residents to tell us three things you loved and three things you hated about Ringwood. We also asked you to give us three things you wished we had in the town.

You have given us a lot of food for thought and based on what you have already told us, we really need your further help now to tell us about three things which have proved to be important to you. These relate to employment, housing and highway/traffic issues.

A huge number of people also told us that we should be looking to improve the community facilities. There will be a separate consultation on this in the New Year after the New Forest District Council’s consultants have completed their investigations into various proposals for redevelopment of the town centre and the possible use of parts of the car park for retail or a community facility. Once we have that report we will provide you with details and seek your views. Importantly, no decisions will be taken until after we receive your views.

To help us better understand the employment, housing and highway issues, it would help us if you could answer the questions set out below. The questions have been agreed with the District Council and anything you tell us will also help the District Council in any decisions it makes relating to the town.

EMPLOYMENT

There are a wide variety of employment opportunities in the town. However, the town has not been able to take advantage of the ‘new’ industrial revolution, which provides higher value jobs in the finance/banking/IT sector. Most of these appear to be found in Bournemouth or Southampton, which means that Ringwood residents have to travel to take advantage of these opportunities. If a site or sites near the A31 (to avoid bringing more traffic into the town) could be found, should this type of development be considered for Ringwood?

Yes
No

It would help if you could tell us why you have made your choice on this question.

HOUSING ISSUES

Current planning policies, which accord strictly with government guidelines, only allow for about 20/30 new residential units to be provided each year. Very little undeveloped land is earmarked for development. This means that in line with government policy, most new properties can only be built either in the back gardens of existing properties or by the demolition of existing houses. In Ringwood there are no huge areas of former industrial sites such as there are in the north, or indeed, estates of sub-standard houses that can be demolished and rebuilt with new low cost housing. The Town Council is aware that there are 950 households on the housing waiting list for accommodation in Ringwood. For those who want a two bedroom house/flat, the waiting period for permanent accommodation can be 11 years. For one bedroom houses/flats or three bedroom houses/flats, the waiting period is five years. The Town Council believes that such waiting periods are indicative of a shortage of low cost two and three bedroom accommodation in the town. It therefore would welcome your views on the following:-

A. Is 20/30 new properties per year sufficient?		Yes No
B. Do you agree that these should be built in the rear gardens of existing properties?		Yes No
C. Alternatively, should existing properties be demolished and replaced with higher density of residential units?		Yes No
D. Or should there be a phased release of undeveloped land for 2/3 bedroom low cost houses for sale and rent?		Yes No

If you believe (D) should be adopted, please indicate using the grid references on the available POP UP PLAN, land that you think could be allocated for a phased construction of low cost two/three bedroom housing units for sale and rent. (please make sure your browser can show pop up windows)

Please also let us have your reasons for the answers you have given to the questions above.

HIGHWAY ISSUES

The increasing volume of traffic in and around Ringwood has raised a number of interesting points. We would, therefore, welcome your comments on the following:-

1. How can we reduce the impact of the A31 on the town?

2. Which of these measures do you think would help? :-

An increase in the number of pedestrian bridge crossings		Yes No
Reduction in the speed limit on the A31		Yes No
The introduction of noise reducing surface on the road		Yes No
A reduction in the number of exits/entries in the West Street area		Yes No

Other please specify

3 What proposals should the Town Council support to reduce parking in the town centre streets and make the area safer for pedestrians?

4 It was originally proposed to construct a relief road from the A31 to the Christchurch Road in the Moortown Lane area to relieve traffic congestion in the Mansfield Road and town end of Christchurch Road. Should this be reconsidered?

Yes
No

Please tell us why you have reached your conclusion

Thank you very much for completing this questionnaire.

It would be helpful if you would provide the following information but this is not essential:-

What is your gender?	•	Male Female
What age group are you in?:	•	Under 16 16 to 25 25 to 60 Over 60
How many people’s views are represented on this form?	•
Your Name	•
Your Address	•
Your Telephone or Mobile Number	•

Data Protection Act 1998 - The information you provide is in accordance with the Data Protection Act and will not be used for any purpose other than for which it was collected.

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