AIMS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND VILLAGE ENHANCEMENT
Clyro Community and Village Design Statement
There are many things in life that will catch your eye, But only a few will catch your heart, pursue those.
- Found in the diary of a twenty three year old village lad who was involved in a fatal accident near the village in June 2001
Aims
The aims are to try and ensure that future developments are tastefully executed, and are in keeping with the general character and feel of the village. We should also try to undo and improve that which has already been badly executed. The entrance to the village is critical in this respect.
Village enhancement
Rapidity of modern changes has affected the quality of life of residents. Any overall plan for Clyro needs a recognition of village enhancement. A village car park is urgently needed for day to day living apart from weddings, funerals and celebrations. The economics of Clyro, a place visited by people from all over the world, also requires this. The entrances to the village from east and west must not be marred by unsightly buildings, traffic signs, or paraphernalia, since the gateway to a place indicates its quality. Clyro is a country village, not a suburb. Wild plants and hedgerows require respect. Untimely and radical cutting here is destructive. A recognition of the historic and literary fame of Clyro needs to be given. Suitable visual signs or monuments are required. A clutter of road signs must be avoided. Judgment must be made as to the detriment to the picturesque nature of the Wye Valley. Electricity posts, cables and transformers, organised well, can avoid this. It is the responsibility of the village to ensure its identity and the responsibility of local government to help it in this. Consultation in the long run saves time.
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Recommendationsv Before submitting planning applications, developers should speak with local organisations such as the Community Council and/or the Clyro Forum to get an idea of the feelings and concerns of the community, about the proposed development, and to decide what needs to be done to best integrate it into the village.
v Buildings should be finished in stone, or rendered and painted.
v Red brick should be used when building near to similar housing.
v Roofs should be pitched and clad with slate or a suitably coloured tile.
v Windows should be casement style with smaller panes.
v There should be a chimney stack, if only for appearance sake.
v Windows, doors, bargeboards etc should ideally be timber, painted or stained.
v Modern innovative design for individual houses, or larger developments, should not be ruled out
v if these general recommendations are followed.
v Developments should use a mix of house types if possible
v Single houses used as infill are a preferred option.
v All developments should have sufficient off road parking.
v Houses on estates should be well spaced, and natural hedges and trees should be encouraged for use as boundaries.
v Existing trees and hedgerows should be left in place if at all possible. If removed for safety or other reasons, similar trees and hedgerows should be replanted .
v Developers and planning applicants should be aware of legislation regarding nesting birds and wildlife habitat, before starting any work.
v Hedges, trees etc should not be removed without proper checks being made by approved officers, and appropriate licences obtained
v Environmental and conservation options should play a part in any new development.
v Electricity and telephone cables should be routed underground wherever possible.
v Whenever possible, the placement and type of signs and lighting, should be discussed with the community before implementation.
v Affordable local housing should be given serious consideration.
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