11. Economy
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19245
Received: 29/01/2009
Respondent: Park Holidays UK
Agent: Rural Solutions
It is essential the council recognise the importance of the holiday parks industry (and in particular the caravan sector) to the local economy and ensure that specific policies are sufficiently flexibly to encourage operators to upgrade and improve in line with market expectations, and regional and national guidance.
General support is given to the acknowledged significance of tourism to the local economy. Holiday parks in particular play an important part in providing accommodation and facilities for visitors to the area. Although there are 100 holiday parks registered in Rother District only 39 could be considered as being economically important (the remainder are single caravan sites), comprising some 4,700 static holiday caravan pitches and 642 touring caravan pitches. Based on national statistical evidence the holiday caravan parks market alone could be worth over £32m per annum in tourism revenues to the local economy, with the associated employment and spin-off benefits.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19509
Received: 30/01/2009
Respondent: Guestling Parish Council
The aim objective and strategy look good. However where these are not aligned with established trends change is slow and there is a tendency for unintended consequences. An example, the business parks on the outskirts of Hastings. Some of the units designed for industrial use are now used for retail and recreational use which has had a detrimental effect on the retail centre of Hastings. Retail/light industrial building on the outskirts of towns tend also to be a poor use of land as unlike the town centre they tend not to incorporate residential space above.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19523
Received: 25/02/2009
Respondent: Beulah Baptist Church
2. EMPLOYMENT - 30000 additional jobs
Infrastructure essential in growth programme
Grants for employment to come into the town and area. Colleges for language training & other skills. Light industry & cottage industries to receive assistance.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19524
Received: 25/02/2009
Respondent: Beulah Baptist Church
3. RETAIL SHOPS - more floor space to compete
Quality and full range of goods for local community
- more floor space to compete
Main Town Centre and shopping area update and encourage good shops to move in, is M&S, John Lewis, Debenhams. Have one area with affordable rents for smaller individual shops, cafes, boutiques, pedestrianised.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19526
Received: 25/02/2009
Respondent: Beulah Baptist Church
5. EDUCATION - new Bexhill High S- new Bexhill High School, new Vocational Skills Centre
Excellent - may it be the best educational facility in the country.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19532
Received: 25/02/2009
Respondent: Beulah Baptist Church
9. ECONOMY - Skills, Employment land and premises, Tourism.
Light industry. Training facilities for skills. Limited tourism so enjoyable environment can be maintained
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19549
Received: 25/02/2009
Respondent: Councillor Michael Ensor
The interaction between the growth of housing and the delivery of additional employment is critical. Rother has the handicap of poor transport communication links to the rest of the country, and this has an impact on the attractiveness of Rother as a destination for business. However Broadband technology in Bexhill has already had beneficial results. It will be necessary to upgrade the infrastructure to fibre cables to achieve up to 100Mbps connection speed. This would support businesses and high speed, high quality, data transfer rates are essential. The LDF should adopt this as a priority in support of the employment preferred strategy.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19596
Received: 02/03/2009
Respondent: Bodiam Parish Council
The Parish Council wishes to make a general comment about applications for B1 units in rural areas. It considers this usage to be beneficial in terms of production and employment, but emphasises the need for such applications to have carefully considered conditions attached in terms of lighting, hours of use, noise, screening, traffic movement, waste and storage, to suit local circumstances.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19642
Received: 02/03/2009
Respondent: Messrs. Chishick, Commotto and Terry
One important source of employment that is neglected is the growing need for a service sector to support an ageing population, eg carers, domestic services and craftsmen. There is a need to enhance the skills of these service sectors.
Object
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19643
Received: 02/03/2009
Respondent: Messrs. Chishick, Commotto and Terry
Although it is accepted that high-quality ICT could help mitigate the area's relative peripherality, technology is seen as some sort of deus ex machina. The document does not appear to see an active role for the LDF in providing or encouraging the necessary infrastructure, or the capability of residents to exploit that technology.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 19989
Received: 29/01/2009
Respondent: SEERA
The core strategy could usefully refer to the definition of Smart Growth as set out in Policy RE5 of the Proposed Changes to the draft South East Plan. This includes the six key principles: employment; enterprise; innovation and creativity; skills; competition; and investment in infrastructure, including transport and physical development. The Assembly is currently preparing an economy LDF guide which will provide further guidance on key South East Plan economy polices/ principles such as Smart Growth and how they can be effectively delivered through the LDF process. This Guide, at least in draft form will be available in March 2009. We will forward you a copy once drafted which we hope will be of further assistance.
Support
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 20193
Received: 21/01/2009
Respondent: The National Trust
The National Trust supports the Preferred Strategy for Tourism. In particular we support the proposal for the provision of the steam railway link from Bodiam to Robertsbridge.
Object
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 20334
Received: 30/01/2009
Respondent: Kember Loudon Williams Ltd
Object to the Council's approach on the economy as it does not include proposals that will delivery positive change to the economic and social conditions within the District.
The references to Rye take too much account of physical aspects of the town and not enough consideration of the economic and social needs of the community.
Comment
Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008
Representation ID: 20489
Received: 29/01/2009
Respondent: Robertsbridge Enterprise Group
We support the main aims here but would wish emphasis to be placed on the rebalancing the local economy against out-commuting, which is not really dealt with at all.