2012 09 15 Sandbach Town Plan Launched (1)

7/29/2019 2012 09 15 Sandbach Town Plan Launched (1)

1/24

Sandbach

Town Plan

2012


2/24

Sandbach Town Plan 2012

Contents

Page 3 Welcome to Sandbach Town Plan

Page 5 Sandbach - A Community Profle

Page 6 Population and Geography

Page 7 Sandbach - Its Heritage and Buildings

Page 9 How was the Town Plan developed?

Page 11 Park, Green Spaces and Wildlife

Page 12 Transport, Parking and Cycling

Page 13 Leisure, Events and Amenities

Page 14 Buildings, Heritage and Conservation

Page 15 Shops, Commerce and Jobs

Page 16 Young people

Page 17 Next Steps

Page 19 Sandbach Town Strategy

Page 20-21 Area Map

Page 23 References


3/24


3

1. Welcome to Sandbach Town Plan

2. What is a Town Plan?

3. Why Produce a Town Plan or Sandbach?

Following a number of Open Public and

Forum Group meetings, which took

place in the Autumn of 2010, a numberof residents and Councillors, who were

interested in the future of Sandbach,

formed the Town Plan Steering Group

and Support Focus Groups.

The aim of these groups was to carry

out an extensive survey with households,

businesses and schools to identify issues

of particular concern and to develop,

where possible, courses of action to

address these concerns.

In completing this document, theSteering Group has strived to reect

the views of all residents, businesses and

schools that have been given as much

opportunity as possible to join in the

consultation process.

We would like to thank the many

people who have taken part along the

way.

This document is only the start of

the process and it is anticipated that

residents, businesses, schools, clubs and

societies will become involved as the

various ideas and initiatives suggested are

implemented.

Paul Hebden Chair Sandbach Town PlanSteering Group

Sandbach Town Council was pleased

to champion the production of a Town

Plan for Sandbach. As representatives

of the community, Councillors strive to

identify residents concerns, hopes and

aspirations for their locality and the Town

Plan is the ideal tool to achieve this aim.

The involvement of the community in

the production of the plan has allowedthe sharing and development of ideas for

improving the town and the production

of a vision for the future development

of Sandbach. Community groups are the

heart of Sandbach and the Town Plan

has assisted in the formulation of many

community focussed projects that will

benet all residents and improve the

quality of life on offer to the people of

Sandbach.

Carolyn Lowe Mayor of Sandbach and

Councillor Sandbach Town Council


A Town Plan is a document to bring

together the views, opinions and

needs of the whole community,

covering relevant social, economic and

environmental issues.

It is dened by the Cheshire East

Parish Planning Protocol [August 2011]

as:

A Parish Plan is a detailed, critical but

at the same time constructive survey of

a community by the people who live and

work in that community or have some

other close connection with the community

(such as owning land or a business in

the Town). It provides an opportunity for

people to take stock of their community

and decide which aspects of their

community they like and wish to preserve

and perhaps enhance and which aspects

they do not like and want to change. The

idea is for the community to develop its

own voice and use this to create a shared

vision for the future and an action plan for

turning that vision into reality.

The Governments Rural White Paper

Our Countryside The future

launched the concept of the Town

Plan to set out a vision of what is

important to rural communities. It is a

comprehensive document, drawn up by

the community that sets out a vision for

the future encompassing social, economic

and environmental issues of concern.

It also enables the community to put

forward recommendations as to how life

in the Town could be improved and how

the Town should develop over time.


4/24



5/24


5

History

The Roman road from Middlewich to

Chesterton passed through SandbachTownship, but it is from Saxon times that

Sandbachs history can be traced and

is mentioned in the Domesday Survey

of 1086. There was a priest and church

and it is thought that Sandbach parish,

which covered a much larger area than

the current township, was a minster

parish, forming an important part of the

Diocese of Licheld.

Records from 1230 show that the

land in and around Sandbach was heldby Richard de Sandbach, High Sheriff

of Chester. In succeeding centuries, the

ownership of the manor passed from

the Sandbach family to the Leghs of

Booth and then the Radcliffs of Ordsall,

who held Sandbach for about 250 years.

In 1611, the Radcliffs sold part of the

centre of Sandbach to local yeomen and

then in the following year the rest of the

manor to the Crewes of Crewe Hall.

The Crewes disposed of most of their

Sandbach properties at a sale in 1917.During the Civil War, a party of

nearly 1,000 exhausted Scottish troops

rode through Sandbach on horseback

as they retreated from the Battle of

Worcester. A skirmish occurred as the

local people attacked the Scottish troops,

reported as The dispute was hot for

two or three hours and there were

some townsmen hurt and two or three

slain, the Townsmen slew about nine or

ten and took 100 prisoners. The central

common in Sandbach has since been

known as Scotch Common.In the late 16th and early 17th

centuries, Sandbach was noted for

the production of ne worsted yarns

and malt liquor, and the revenue from

these, together with that from the fairs

and market, made the Town modestly

afuent.

In the 1820s and 30s, Sandbach was

an important coaching stop on the roads

from London and Birmingham to both

Liverpool and Manchester. Later in the

19th century, the Town produced silk,boots and shoes and enjoyed extensive

trade with its corn mills and salt works

along the Trent and Mersey Canal.

The 20th Century saw the upsurge

of heavy vehicle manufacturing industry

within the Town. The Foden Steam

Wagon enjoyed huge success and

attained a worldwide reputation for

economy and reliability. From the early

1930s the industry concentrated on

diesel-powered heavy goods vehicles,which were produced in the factories

of both E.R.F. and Foden. In 1980,

production moved away from Sandbach.

The Foden brand was retired from new

vehicle manufacturing in 2006, having

celebrated 150 years within the industry.

A similar fate befell the E.R.F. brand,

which was withdrawn from the truck

market in 2007.


4. Sandbach - A Community Profle


6/24


6

Population

There are currently approximately

18,000 people living in Sandbach and the

immediate vicinity.


Age % Population

0-15 17.6%

16-64 62.7%

65 + 19.6%

Geography

Situated in the North West of England,

Sandbach is a commuter town close to

the M6, junction 17. The M6, being just 1

mile from the town centre, provides an

easy connection to the north and south

of the country.

Sandbach train station, also located

1 mile from the town centre in Elworth,

provides a half hourly service to the

heart of Manchester, and an hourly

service to Manchester InternationalAirport, whilst a 10 minute car or train

journey will bring travellers to Crewe

mainline station for connections to

London (1hour 50 minutes), Edinburgh

(4 hours) and the rest of the UK.

To the south of Sandbach, the

Trent and Mersey canal runs through

the village of Wheelock bringing somevisitors to the outskirts of town.

Sandbach as a whole consists of

distinct areas or villages which have

green elds that act as buffers between

these areas and allow them to retain

their own identities. The town centre

is situated in the northern part of

Sandbach, Sandbach Heath is to the East,

Wheelock to the South, Ettiley Heath

to the West, whilst Elworth is to the

North West. Each village contains at leastone church and many public houses.

Sandbach is surrounded by numerous

small county parishes consisting mainly

of farmland.

Percentage of Population of Sandbach by Age Group 2010

Source: Community Prole for Sandbach ACRE, RCAN, OCSI 2012


7/24


7

Sandbach - Its Heritage and

Buildings

Sandbach Crosses - The townsmost famous landmark is the two

sandstone obelisks which stand

on the square, dating from the 9th

century. The carvings are believed to

celebrate the Christian message. In

later times, they were broken up and

scattered far and wide by iconoclasts.

In 1816 they were re-assembled

and the cobbles, which came from

Sandbach Heath, were laid. The

crosses are Grade 1 listed. St. Marys Church - The present

building dates from 1661 and is one

of only two in Cheshire where it is

possible to walk through the bell

tower.

The Old Hall - The original hall was

the residence of the Lords of the

Manor of Sandbach. The present

Grade 1 listed building dates from

1656. It was initially constructed

square from wattle and daub, with an

oak frame. The oak for the timberframe is thought to have come

from either the Saxon-mondron

forest near Nantwich or the forest

that once covered a large part of

Sandbach Heath. In 1841, The Three

Tuns pub was added to the old

Manor House plus a further two

tenements. A third extension was

added in the late 19th Century by

the Crewe family which created the

coaching inn, called the Old Hall, aswe see it today.

The George - One of Sandbachs

coaching inns. The London

Stagecoach called everyday at 4pm

and the Rocket from Liverpool at

11am. Ye Olde Black Bear - Formerly

owned by Lord Crewe, it was

built in 1634 and is situated beside

the Market Square. It is a superb

timbered black and white building

with a thatched roof - the only one

left in Sandbach. It is rumoured that

Dick Turpin stayed here.

Town Hall - The Town Hall is one of

Sandbachs most imposing buildings,

built in 1890 by John Stringer at acost of 5,000, in the English Gothic

style. The top oor houses the main

hall and bar. The ground oor houses

the market hall.

Literary Institution - The Literary

Institution, a Grade II listed building,

was designed by Sir George Gilbert

Scott and erected in 1857. Inhabitants

of Sandbach and its neighbourhood

contributed 2,100 towards the

total cost of 2,500. The building

contained a library, corn exchange, areading room, an assembly room and

an upper oor ballroom. The main

ground oor room is currently the

Chamber of Sandbach Town Council.

Other historic sites and people of

note, include The Lower Chequer

public house, Sandbach School,

Almshouses, Sir Gilbert Scott and Dr.

Charles Latham.

Conservation areas

The current Sandbach ConservationArea consists of one major historical

delineation plus three later additions.

The major area takes in Hightown

to the bottom of High Street at the

Bridge. This area is the Town Centre

plus Well Bank to Dingle Lane /

Dingle Farm. The rst of the three

additions is the area west of Hawk

Street to the rear of the Crown

Inn. The second and third additions

include Bold Street, Welles Street and

Green Street, west of Bradwall Road,

to include Wesley Avenue to Chapel

Street. (See map on page 14).



8/24



9/24


9

In 2010, two public meetings were

held to explain how Sandbach Town

Plan would proceed and to encourageinvolvement from the people present.

Comments and suggestions made by

attendees were documented, with

the issues and concerns raised used

subsequently in the formation of Focus

Groups.

A Steering Group and ve Focus

Groups were set up. It was the role

of the Focus Groups to develop a

questionnaire to be used to investigate

views and gather information fromresidents, businesses, groups and

organisations. The questionnaires were

issued in early summer 2011 and

responses compiled and assessed during

the autumn and winter months.

732 responses were received from

residents to the main questionnaire.

1,452 responses were received for the

Youth Questionnaire. These responses

were used by the Focus Groups to

produce Actions Plans, based on

those responses which received clearcommunity support and identied key

stake holders to take ownership of these

actions. Presentations have also been

made to the secondary schools and tothe public.

The Steering Group has brought all

these action plans together to produce

the Sandbach Town Plan.

The completed Sandbach Town Plan

is more than just a report on the survey

results. It draws together the identied

needs of the community, addresses their

feasibility and states how and when they

could be implemented.

The Town Plan also links with existingand future strategies from organisations

that have an impact on the development

services and facilities in Sandbach. These

include, amongst others, roads and trafc,

planning and development, crime, the

environment and health issues that are

regulated by statutory authorities such

as Cheshire East Council, Sandbach Town

Council, and Cheshire Constabulary.

It also provides a lobbying tool to

demonstrate evidence of local needs

and level of commitment to potentialproviders of outside sources of funding.

5. How was the Town Plan developed?


10/24



11/24


11

Park, Green Spaces and Wildlie

It was very clear that the residents

of Sandbach have a keen interest inprotecting, maintaining and enhancing

the green spaces in and around the

town. An overwhelming majority wanted

all the existing green spaces, public as

well as private, retained and cared for

and supported improvements to the

existing wildlife corridor and nature trails.

The existing oral displays and

hanging baskets were considered

important to the character of

Sandbach and community gardens

and the availability of allotments were

an important element of the towns

green spaces. The existing sportsfacilities, which were supported by a

large majority, should be retained and

more area should be allocated for

sporting activities. Energy conservation,

particularly insulation of buildings, and

recycling our waste was also strongly

supported.

Dog fouling, fast food litter and

unsightly recycling areas were all

considered problems which needed

attention.

6. Community Issues and Actions

Action 1- Cheshire East Council is

aware of the importance placed on

green spaces and will take this into

account in the preparation of the Local

Plan. All the local groups involved will

monitor progress made on this.

Action 2 - Sandbach Town Council

and all the relevant local groups,

together with Cheshire East Council will

continually review the provision of oral

displays and community gardens.

Action 3 - The need to maintain the

present provision of outside sports

facilities is recognised. Sandbach Town

Council, the local sports clubs and

Cheshire East Council will continually

review the current availability of sports

facilities.

Action 4 - Cheshire East Council has an

Energy Conservation Plan, which they

will continually monitor.

Action 5 - Cheshire East Council has

conrmed that recycling is, and will

remain, a key priority.

Action 6 - An Action Plan is to be

developed by the Tidy Town Group in

order to look at dog fouling, fast food

litter, and grot spots around the town,

including unsightly recycling areas.

Action 7 - Temporary allotments

have been made available at Yeowood

Farm and are now in operation. Plans

for a permanent site continue to be

investigated by Sandbach Allotment

Society and Sandbach Town Council.

Action 8 - A Development Plan for

Brook Wood is now complete and

Sandbach Woodland and Wildlife

Group will be researching funding toimplement this plan during 2012 and

2013. Development plans for other areas

of the wildlife corridor will follow.


12/24


12

Transport, Parking and Cycling

Transport is at the heart of everything

we do and people want coherent andsustainable plans to ensure that they

are able to move about freely, easily and

safely. Be this by car, bus, train, cycle or

foot, or a combination, it is rightly seen

as fundamental.

The overwhelming view of

respondents is that Junction 17 of the

M6 requires urgent attention to reduce

bottlenecks on leaving the motorway

and avoid dangerous manoeuvres to get

around the problems this causes.Congestion is always an issue

and there is widespread support for

measures to reduce this, especially at the

start and end of the school day. Initiatives

to encourage schools and parents to

try to reduce congestion can include

walking buses and car sharing, both

having the added advantage of beinghealthier to all.

Perhaps as a result of the congestion,

or not, too many motorists regularly

break the speed limit and many feel that

better enforcement of limits would help.

Evidence suggests, however, that it is a

combination of enforcement, education

and engineering (humps, chicanes,

rumble strips etc) that produces the best

results.

Walking and cycling are verypopular and would be more so with

a combination of better maintained

pavements and cycle ways and greater

cycle parking provision.

Action 9 - Cheshire East Council and

the Highways Agency are currently

looking at proposals to alleviate the

problems at Junction 17, M6 and the

results of the questionnaires have been

passed to Cheshire East to add weight

to those discussions.

Actions 10 & 11 - Three Sandbach

Town Councillors are also governors

of primary schools and they have been

tasked with discussing the ideas of car

sharing and walking buses with them,

with a view to implementing one or

both initiatives.

Action 12 - Cheshire Police and

Fire Services have already started

an education process, Cheshire East

Council, Highways is also reviewing

all speed enforcement, education, and

engineering issues currently underway

with a view to producing an appropriate

mix of initiatives to reduce speeding in

and around the town.

Action 13 - Cheshire East Council,

Highways is undertaking a review of allpavements etc in the Borough to ensure

that all remedial action is carried out in a

timely and least disruptive manner.

Action 14 - Sandbach Partnership and

Cyclists Touring Club (the UKs largest

cycling charity) are already working

on identifying additional cycle parking

opportunities and better maintained and

utilised cycle ways, so that these may be

included in the Sandbach Town Strategy

document being prepared by Cheshire

East Council.


13/24


13

Leisure, Events and Amenities

Of the current facilities, those for pre-

school and primary school childrenrated highly but the 16 to 18 age group

fared lowest. (The separate survey of

young people produced a number of

suggestions to improve the position.)

There is widespread support for

events and facilities throughout the town.

Specically, there is very clear support

for making greater use of the Market

Square with more variety of markets

and events, including re-introducing the

Elizabethan Market.

There is also strong support to hold

music festivals and re-introduce the

Sandbach Half Marathon. The Town Hall

is recognised as an important feature of

the town and is considered to be of a

reasonable standard, though there are

concerns over the public toilets.

Control of late-night drinking is an

area of concern shared by many young

people and older residents. There is

recognition that the town centre has

many historic and attractive buildings

and that there is a pleasant atmosphere

during the day. At night, however, thecharacter of the town centre is blighted

by anti-social behaviour and an excessive

drinking culture.

Whilst there is clear support for

the Leisure Centre and the staff, there

were a high number of issues regarding

the facilities and extent of community

use both of the Leisure Centre and

the adjoining outdoor sports facilities.

Mechanisms need to be put in place

to resolve the many issues raised in

the questionnaire and take forward

improvements to the facilities.

In recent months, a number of

improvements have been put in place:

Sandbach Park toilets have been re-

furbished; the wet-change facilities at the

Leisure Centre have been completely

overhauled; comprehensive and

imaginative timetables of events and

activities in the town centre have been

planned for 2012.

Action 15 - Additional facilities for adults

and young people were introduced in

Sandbach Park since the survey and new

facilities are planned for Elworth Park.

Discos for under 18 year olds have been

introduced by Sandbach Town Council.

Action 16 - Sandbach Town Council is to

form a Working Group to identify and

address issues in relation to late-night

anti-social behaviour in the Town Centre.

Action 17 Since the survey, Sandbach

Community Cinema has been formed,

supported by funding from Sandbach

Town Council.

Action 18 - New programmes of

markets and events have been put

in place for 2012 and a Town Centre

Manager appointed.

Action 19 - A four-day programme of

events, including two Concerts, was

initiated by Sandbach Town Council to

celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee

in June 2012 and to determine the level

of support for such events in the future.

Action 20 - Following the transfer of the

Town Hall complex, plans to improve the

toilets and other facilities will be taken

forward at the earliest opportunity.

Action 21 - Refurbishment of Sandbach

Park toilets was completed in April 2012.

Action 22 - Cheshire East Council will

take forward a review of the present

joint use agreement at the Leisure

Centre, with a view to progressing

improvements.

Action 23 - Sandbach Town Council

to discuss with Sandbach High Schoolthe community use of outside sports

facilities at the High School.


14/24


14

Buildings, Heritage and

Conservation

The numbers of responses to thequestions in this section indicate that the

residents of Sandbach are concerned

about heritage and local conservation,

especially buildings conservation (e.g. The

Old Hall).

Many feel that there should be

tighter planning regulations in sensitive

and historical areas of the town centre,

and this is extended to include shop

frontages and signage, some of which are

considered to be inappropriate to thesurroundings.

The Sandbach link with the transport

Industry through the two major truck

manufacturers in the UK, namely Fodensand ERF, is considered by a large majority

to be a most valued part of the towns

heritage, as is the architecture associated

with Sir Gilbert Scott, which is of interest

to visitors and residents alike.

Detail of the history of the famous

Saxon Crosses on the Market Square is

considered to be lacking; many visitors

see the Crosses but are not sure of

what they represent or how or why they

came to be there.

Tel

Walk

ScotchCommon

PCs

Sandbach

George's

Park

Ex

Embury

Sandbach Bridge

Hall

William

Dingle Farm

StMary's Church

Court

Oakdene

A534

Green

SQUARE

Market

Car Park

STREET

CW

WELL

Ess

LB

Ps

Posts

WELLESSTREET

TCB

Works

Post

66.8m

Depot

Amb

63.5m

61.7m

68.0m

58.3m

BOLD

STRE

ET

OLD

MILL

ROAD

67.1m

68.2m

CR

FRONTSTREET

Ward

Bd

y

Tennis Courts

GREENSTREET

Brookdene

CONG

LETO

NRO

AD

Pump

HIGHTOWN

BANK

THE

AshfieldsPrimary

Dingle

Shelter

Club

CHAPEL

STREET

Bowling Green

Play Area

Care Centre

Bowling

Supermarket

El S

ubSta

FSta

PumpingStation

THECOMMONS

PH

COMMONS

Sandbach Park

Sta

COOPER

S OPENI

NG

Bradwall

Path

Path (um)

Bank

WESLE

YAV

Lodge

BRADWALL

Terrace

Rose

FLAT

LANE

BATH

ASHFIELDSWAY

Cross

es

WksPC

CEC

ILRIGBY

HAWK

STRE

ET

FS

Fodens

CLOSE

Foot

PO

67.3m

ROAD

Warm

Walls

SortingOffice

Croft

BELLEVUETERRACE

BROOK

Inst

Belvedere

The George

Paddock

El

(OLD)MIDDLEWICHROAD

COURT

Cottages

Old

DINGLE L

ANE

Lea

The

Sub

CROWNBANK

Cottage

RingOBells

Greenleaves

HOPE

End O'Lane

House

The LionTheGard

ens

WheatsheafHotel

Ivy Cottage

Hollies

Sandbach House

COMMONS

MILL

CHURCHST

DUNHAMCLOSE

Factory

Market Tavern

The Crown

Hotel

Old Hall Gardens

Flat

Lane

CHURCH

MS

Library

Church

Hawtho

rnCotta

ge

Old

Hall

Catriona

(NR)

(PH)

Marriott

Mill

11

SanbecWay

Warbu

rton W

ay

4to

6

11a

1to

9

3to

4

8 to12

39c

1 to 1

8

to

l

2to14

1

to

14

15to25

62to78

10to12

2

1

3 5

97

6

a

4

8

36

1a

27

25

15

49

19

59

31

13

41 39

38

60

28

12

37

51

10

18

17

32

42

53

20

48

14

26

22

35

a

21

23

38a

16

30

84

40

35

9a

33

36b36a

29

39a

34

44

48a

40a

61

2a

47

57

62

43

32a

23a

45

56

24

37a

4a

6-83a

2

1

ElSub S

ta

1

14

4

PH

16

Car Park

12

34

5

15

Shelter

49

23

1

PH

25

30

8

25

STREET

7

2

Car Park

4

3

11

14

6

37

Bank

1

2

1

1

GREENSTREET

5

1

2

19

6

El

5

9

1

2 1

PH

Shelt

er

1

4 0

Hall

20

7

Post

Sta

38

7

Park

11

35

Bank

18

11a

1

5

ElSubSta

6

1

4

7

Court

Posts

33

8

7

17

TCB

11

Hall

18

41

14

22

ElSubSta

Bowling

32

3

13

28

19

17

23

Cottages

33

Posts

PH

2

15

37

36

11

PH

22

2

11

6

12

11

47

27

5

20

Sandbach

39

17

1

5

3

1

7

6

6

27

12

11

TCB

13

31

41

36

11

21

21

9

4

2

9

4

9

10

Bank

28

1

59

1

2

34

PH

29

23

23

49

1a

21

7

STREET

2

14

2

19

13

10

2

28

17

4

Church

8

LB

41

1

Pos

ts

19

8

10

8

5

9

7

20

2

TCB

Court

17

18

4

14

PH

17

32

8

6

20

43

7

48

1

2

3

The

1

19

3

2

53

1

7

2

LB

PH

Posts

7

35

26

19

34

Green

15

20

11

a

8

36

2

Court

Sandbach

Bank

20

20

11

LB

27

ElSubSta

Club

1

3

Park

1

1

17

LB

CR

11

1

7

9

12

House

11

2

3

31

ElSubSta

38

14

Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100049045 2010.Map Ref: AB279S

0 50 100 150 20025 Meters

Action 24 - Cheshire East Council has

agreed to carry out a Conservation

Area Review as part of their 2012/13

plan. This will provide guidance as to

what may and may not be permitted

within the dened areas, along with a

management appraisal.

Actions 25 & 26 - Tighter regulations

for planning and shop frontages will beconsidered as part of the Conservation

Area Review so that good practice

guidelines can be drawn up.

Action 27 - The design of suitable

publications and signage is being

undertaken by the Sandbach Heritage

and Buildings Conservation Group.

Actions 28, 29 & 30 - The Heritage and

Buildings Conservation Group is devising

an action plan to promote and celebrate

the historical heritage of the town, its

links to the motor industry and also itshistoric buildings.

Sandbach Conservation Area


15/24


15

Shops, Commerce and Jobs

The shopping experience in Sandbach

is upheld by good customer service, thefriendliness of staff and the convenience

of shopping locally.

The variety of shops along the High

Street needs expansion, with a reduction

in takeaways and charity shops. The

majority of respondents were happy

with their shopping experience and

visited the town weekly.

There was support for the

introduction of a Sandbach Customer

Loyalty Card and a desire for the weekly

market to be improved. Respondents

demonstrated less support for the

production of a shopping guide,

provision of a coach park, to move the

market to the Cobbles and to declare

Sandbach a plastic bag free town.

Residents conrmed that Sandbach

Town Council should take over the

management of the Market and TownHall.

The overwhelming majority support

development of browneld sites for

housing and industry and are against

the use of greeneld sites. This view was

expressed within the free text areas of

the questionnaire, as well as in response

to specic questions.

The provision of fast-optic internet

was strongly endorsed and support

was also shown for the development

of a Junction 17 Business Park, with

slightly less backing for more hotel and

conference facilities.

Action 31 - Progress towards a Portas

Style Town Team is anticipated, which

should produce a greater inuence on

the retail mix along the High Street.

Cheshire East Council is to determine

whether a policy to address the issue of

the retail mix can be included in the new

Local Plan.

Action 32 & 38 - The transfer of the

Market and Town Hall to Sandbach Town

Council is complete and the council has

employed an Operations Manager to

address the improvements to the weekly

market. This asset, along with the TownHall, will continue to be an area for

active development and improvement in

the future.

Action 33 - The Love Local Life loyalty

card was introduced in November 2011

and is available in retail outlets and the

library. The card is promoted in store

and via a website and can be used in

many Sandbach shops, as well as other

Cheshire East towns.

Action 34 & 36 - Cheshire East Council

is to incorporate relevant results from

the Town Plan in the new Local Plan.

Action 35 & 37 - The emphasis in the

new Local Plan should be on the use of

browneld sites for future housing andindustry expansion.


16/24


16

Young people

In addition to seeking views of the adult

population, it was decided to involvethe two senior schools, Sandbach High

School and Sandbach School, in designing

a special questionnaire to highlight issues

important to young people.

Specic areas of concern at night

were identied, the worst being

Sandbach Park, closely followed by the

town centre and alleyways and, to a

lesser extent, Linden Bank Approved

Premises and Elworth Park.

Sandbach Leisure Centre, SandbachPark and the library all rated highly,

with lower ratings for Elworth Park and

Connexions.

The top two requests were for

better shopping and a cinema with

support for better facilities in the Parksand additional sports facilities. The

wish list for further improvements or

additional activities was diverse, with

lower levels of support.

The questionnaire asked which One

thing young people would change. Well

ahead was the request to close the

Linden Bank Approved Premises. Other

issues included, greater control over

excessive drinking and troublemakers

and the hope for a cleaner town.

Action 39 - Survey results of areas of

the town with safety concern presented

to Secondary Schools via Youth Councils

and an initial meeting held with Cheshire

Police.

Action 40 - Several measures to

improve safety in the town have

already been undertaken, eg removal

of overgrown shrubs in Sandbach Park.

An audit of CCTV camera equipment

is planned and speed limits are under

review. Additional actions are to be

indentied and progressed.

Action 41 - Sandbach Town Council is

to continue consultation with Sandbach

Traders and Retailers (STAR) regarding

the available range of shops for young

people. Newly appointed Town Centre

Manager will progress this with STAR

and Cheshire East Council.

Action 42 - Replacement of play

equipment planned for 2012/2013 in

Elworth Park. Sandbach Partnership is

progressing improvements to Sandbach

Park.

Action 43 - Cheshire Probation Trust

has been informed of the survey resultsrelating to Linden Bank Approved

Premises, and this is now in their hands

to progress, as appropriate.


17/24


17

This Town Plan was developed after an

extensive consultation. It is inuenced

signicantly by Sandbach residents, andits main purpose is to reect the wishes

and aspirations of the residents for the

future of the town.

It is intended to be a working

document, not one that sits on a shelf

somewhere and gathers dust. It will be

the subject of continuous monitoring.

Clearly, the more people involved in

the monitoring and implementation of

the plan, the greater success we will have

in meeting these wishes and aspirations.

Become involved and make Sandbach

Town Plan the vehicle that brings us the

town we have so clearly indicated wewant. If you are interested in helping to

implement the plan please contact Sue

Brereton at Sandbach Partnership on

01270 752124, or email sue.brereton@

sandbachpartnership.co.uk.

Sandbach Partnership will initiate

a formal review of progress against

plan in early 2014, and will then report

to Sandbach Town Council and other

interested parties.

7. Next Steps


18/24



19/24


19

Cheshire East Council is piloting a

collaborative, community initiative,

working in the spirit of neighbourhoodplanning aspects of the Localism Act, in

Sandbach, together with other towns

within the Borough. The output from the

public consultation stage provides:

A vision and strategy for the Town;

A development plan for site specic

proposals for growth, in terms of

houses and employment land, over

the next 20 years;

An infrastructure improvement plan,

including highways, roads and schools;

Initial themes and actions to deliver

the vision and strategy; for example,economy, community facilities and

transport matters.

Once completed, the results will

form a key evidence base for the new

Local Plan that is being prepared by

Cheshire East Council.

As this work progresses, however,

there will inevitably be some overlap

with issues and proposals that are raised

in the Town Plan. In due course, Cheshire

East Council will prepare an action planto take forward these themes and also

to eliminate the overlap.

Sandbach Town Strategy


20/24


20


21/24


21

AreA MAp

SAndbAch Town plAn


22/24



23/24


23

Action Plan, in summary chart form

Survey Questionnaires (full results can

be found on the Sandbach Town Council

and Sandbach Partnership websites and

at Sandbach Library)

CEC Parish Planning Protocol (August

2011) available at

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire Community Action: Various

Guides to Town/Parish Plans available

from Sue Brereton at Sandbach

Partnership 01270 752124 or email: sue.

[email protected]

CEC Local Planning and Place Shaping

documentation available at

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Sandbach Town Guide, available from the

Literary Institution, Sandbach Library and

shops

Historic Sandbach leaet in many shops

History of Sandbach, a copy of which is

available at Sandbach Library

Reerences:

Sandbach PartnershipA FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

Cover drawing by Jason Williams, winner of the 11-19 age group Illustrate Sandbach

Drawing and Painting Competition.

Photograph Acknowledgements : Ammgramm, Mike Benson, Carolyn Lowe,

Angela May, Matthew Morgan


24/24


Documents

2012 09 15 Sandbach Town Plan Launched (1)