Congleton Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 16 Consultation

Proofreading comments: Typos and consistency
p35 point 3. Spelling: stiles not styles
p35 point 7. Semi colon needs removing
p80 28 High Town Works, Biddulph Rd – surely Hightown (or High Town) Workhouse not Works?
NB 28 Biddulph Rd is a terraced house.
P80 Old Grammer - missing a third word (school)? Is the spelling correct? Grammar surely?
P80 Mossley House – description - linear not liner?
P 81 – inconsistent address styles.
Suggest Crofters – no need for brackets, then address: 40 Cross Lane;
West Heath Mill, then address: Bryn Hall 40 Holmes Chapel Rd;
Stone House, 40 Leek Rd.
Similar on p82: Instead of the Music Box (this ex pub is unoccupied), just give the address 12 Mill St.

General comments – accessibility
Poor presentation – landscape format instead of portrait is a problem for digitial or print. For digital it means only those with a very wide screen can have an overall view. People with ordinary laptops and phones have to do a lot of scrolling to access this. For print it is an awkward document to handle.

Use of pale grey text – an accessibility no-no

Please do some accessibility training with the designers and in future only commission designers with accessibility awareness.

Thanks to all those involved especially all the volunteers who have put so much work into this despite being unpaid.

The document is a very thorough approach that will provide guidance to CEC, but there are some omissions, and also some language is vague (consider, encourage) and needs to be stronger (provide, must, will, should) to be sure that wishes translate into action.

Throughout:
Replace ‘walking and cycling’ with ‘walking, wheeling and cycling’; 'walking' with 'walking and wheeling' and 'cycling' with 'wheeling and cycling'. This to ensure that people with pushchairs are accommodated, and those using wheeled mobility aids.

Replace ‘dropped kerbs’ with ‘entry kerbs’. These enable walkers, wheelers and vehicles to access a driveway or crossing, but retain a level surface. More about this here: https://therantyhighwayman.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-british-entrance-kerb-exclusive.html

Each policy:
To remind CEC of its responsibilities, and ensure no-one is left out or left behind, it's really important to make explicit reference to the Equality Act 2010 when referring to new developments (whether residential, business, commercial, industrial and infrastructure). Also to all points made regarding accessibility generally and/or walking/wheeling/cycling. The Act and data on % with disabilities should go into the evidence base on each page where either or both are mentioned.

p8 point 5
Expand or incorporate with the following: All new developments, buildings and conversions to fully incorporate the latest standards of insulation, solar panels, heat pumps and other equipment to maximise sustainability.

p8 point 7
Expand by adding:
Secure [...] opportunities, aided by a supply of genuinely affordable or social housing or both to ensure individuals and young families can live here, and to ensure accommodation for employees living individually or within families.