Plan for Area
Turls Hill Lane
Gate Number 9, Roper Way
Turls Hill Woods
WOODSETTON CHARITABLE TRUST
INCORPORATING
TURLS HILL and
Five year plan
AIMS
To preserve and enhance this outstanding example of the
pre-industrial
within the Borough of
OBJECTIVES
A plan to prevent this historic green area from being swallowed up by the surrounding urban developments, and for its present 18th century rural aspect to be retained and enhanced, for the enjoyment and recreation of the local community, and also for the benefit of the indigenous wildlife.
SUMMARY of existing landscape features.
A medieval highway, now a bridleway and footpath,
Rural field and hedge patterns that have not changed for several hundred years,
A woodland area, and many tree and hedgerow species,
Two meandering streams and two pools that abound with birds and wildlife,
An overgrown limestone quarry of historic and geological interest,
Many meadows with grazing Horses.
A network of off-road byways and footpaths, which could be developed to provide useful links for every-day local journeys.
The Association’s proposals fall into these categories,
1.0 CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT
2.0 COMMUNITY AWARENESS
3.0 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
4.0 COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY
5.0 SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
6.0 BEMEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY
7.0 PROPOSED WORKS WITH COST ESTIMATES
8.0 OPERATING STRUCTURE
9.0 BACKGROUND OF THE ASSOCIATION.
1.0 1.0 CONSERVATION & ENHANCEMENT
The designated area to be restored in accordance with the recommendations of the Management Plan, which covers; meadows, footpaths, bridleways, hedgerows, watercourses & pools, and other landscape features.
2.0 2.0 COMMUNITY AWARENESS
To create, within the various sectors of the community, an awareness and appreciation of the outstanding assets and features of this landscape, with especial reference to the possibilities of expanding recreational and educational uses in the future.
3.0 3.0 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Improving, and promoting the regular use of the network of off-road byways and footpaths, linking all the various parts of the neighbourhood, will encourage more walking and cycling, with corresponding Improvements to the health and well being of the local community.
4.0 4.0 COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SECURITY
The installation of suitable gates and barriers in appropriate locations, will keep motor vehicles and motorcycles away from footpaths and pedestrian areas, so helping to reduce rubbish dumping and nuisance, and maintaining the quiet serenity of the rural landscape.
5.0 5.0 SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
The Management Plan sets out traditional restoration regimes, which will ensure the continuance and Improvement of the present landscape and its features, whilst also providing for greater future access for recreation, and educational purposes.
6.0 BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY
The off-road byways and footpaths of this area offer a unique potential for development as a communication network, linking housing, schools, college, shops, health centres, bus routes and the nearby Nature & Geological Reserves.
They could also provide safe, off-road walking and cycling links for over 1,000 pupils on their way each day to 3 local schools, and also facilitate local journeys and recreational walking for the residents of many hundreds of nearby homes.
In addition to normal rural restoration, nature trails and field study areas could be created in conjunction with local schools, and better arrangements could be made for the protection and off-road exercising of the many horses, which are kept in the meadows.
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PROPOSED WORKS WITH COST ESTIMATES
Paved footpaths, Installation and restoration of a network comprising about 2,300 metres of paved footpaths,
Formed from a 2.2 metre wide stone base, a 2 metre wide
base tarmac, finished with 14 mm uncoated limestone chippings
Ground works, drainage & levels @ £30 Sq metre = £ 69000
New Footpath/Bridleway along
Provision of additional hedge/fencing = £ 5000
Security Gates & adjoining fencing
11 in number, of robust steel construction allowing vehicular,
pedestrian and disabled access but excluding motorbikes. @ £5250 each =£57000
Alteration to Access to Parkes Pool
1 off Replace flight of steps with Low gradient ramp = £ 8000
Wetlands
1 off Form wetland area from existing watercourse = £5000
Biodiversity
Provide tree planting, reinstatement and improvement
of hedgerows. Implement the capital elements of the
Recommendations of the Management plan. = £25000
Signs and Fingerposts
10 in number. From Timber, steel and cast iron
including Area maps at access points @ £ 200 each = £2000
Total costs of works £171,000
Project Manager -------
Project Manager Fees @ 12% of the capital tender cost says £20,000,
To cover the following:
Feasibility Study
Layout plan
Detailed plans
Specifications
Tender document
Advice on receipt of tender
Obtain statutory approvals, pay all statutory fees
Engage and discuss with all landowners
Present plans to two public meetings
Engage with funding providers and advise
Supervise site works
Deal with interim and final accounts
Provide certificates of completion.
Liaise with and update T.H.S.V.R.A. on a monthly basis
For convenience, the area may be divided into several projects.
NOTES
Certain land in the ownership of A.J. Mucklow is the subject of a planning agreement, and is therefore not eligible under the, Landfill Tax Regulations, for funding from Landfill Operators.
The land owned by Severn Trent Water at Turls Hill falls under the same regulations, in that the landowners are not allowed to benefit from any funding.
The position in respect of Lottery Funding is not clear. However, funding by the landowners for the design and site works on their own land, may be available to pump-prime funding from other sources as referred to above.
The Project Managers Fees should form the first tranche of funding, to enable the Association to obtain the benefit of all the expertise available from the appointed consultants, and to so refine the design and cost of the site works involved.
The Association may be required to become a Member of ‘Entrust’ (at a cost of £100) in order to apply for Grants from any of the Landfill Tax providing Companies. However a project should be given the green light by the landfill operator that they would make funds available before registering a project with Entrust, or indeed enrolling with Entrust
STRUCTURES AND ORGANISATION OF THE PROJECT
The Plan would be phased over 5 years and require funding in two stages. The first stage would be for surveying, planning, design and costing, and would quantify the funding requirement for the second stage, which would be the implementation of the approved works. It is envisaged that the appropriate departments of Dudley College of Technology,
Students would gain valuable experience and training, whilst working on the initial brief, and also on the subsequent implementation stages of such a real life project. The land tax funds are not available for design work.
Year 1, obtain stage 1 funding, and appoint a Project Manager to carry out the initial survey to approve a working brief.
Year 2/3 Project Manager to produce detailed design work, obtain all appropriate and statutory approvals, and help to obtain stage 2 funding.
Years 3 to 5 implementation of the approved works.
Stage 1
The Project Manager initial work would include: studying the area, preparing general layout plans, engaging in talks with the Local Authority, local schools, major land owners, and this association. This would enable the Brief to be refined and expanded, to obtain the maximum future benefits for the community.
The Project Manager would then present the preliminary plan to a public meeting, to secure the approval of the community, the Local Authority and this Association.
After receiving approval for their Plan, the Project Manager would prepare detailed working drawings of:
The existing network of statutory and informal footpaths and byways.
Detail specification for surfaces to paths, drainage, signposting, new and improved footpath interconnections, security barriers and gates.
Design and recommendations for the use of suitable wetland, streams and adjacent land, for educational purposes.
Recommendations for the restoration and improvement of the woodland area.
Investigation of possible new footpath links, to improve future off-road circulation around the area.
The Stage 1 Project Manager would prepare a detailed budget showing the cost of implementing the approved plans. This would be used initially to raise funding for its implementation (stage 2).
The cost of a full time Clerk of works or Surveyor must be included in the stage 2 funding. It is also suggested that, for the long term, the warden service at the nearby wren’s nest Nature Reserve should be extended, to supervise the area, in accordance with the Management Plan. Funding arrangements will be required for this latter.
Background papers and documents to which reference can be made:
The T.H.S.V.R.A. management plan.
‘The Turls Hill project’ booklet.
‘The Turls Hill project’ on video or DVD.
The Association’s Constitution.
Revised 17/03/05
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Website By Patrick Blakey