Argyll and Bute Proposed Local Development Plan Representation ...

which was based on a wide-ranging community consultation, involving a household survey sent all adults in the Trustarea, a young people's survey, a community groups’ survey, a business survey and very well attended projectprioritisation events open to all members of the local community. As the improvements in the Community Action Plandrawn up by the Trust and its 400+ members to meet identified local needs, very closely match this Local DevelopmentPlan list, the Trust welcomes the intention to steer significant new developments to particular areas, including the localKey Rural Settlements (1.6.2).It is also encouraging to read Key Objective C, and its stated intention that the Council will be seeking ‘to work inpartnership with local communities in a way that recognises their particular needs to deliver successful and sustainablelocal regeneration;’ Following its creation in 2010, the main work of the Trust was to establish community need anddevelop proposals to respond to that need through community involvement in surveys and interactive events, and it isgood to anticipate positive partnership working with the Council and other statutory bodies in finding ways to implementthe Community Action Plan, which brought together information about the improvements required locally to respond tothe needs identified.Within the context of the positive nature of the Policy Themes and Key Objectives, the Community Development Trustis disappointed that the sections of the Local Development Plan dealing with Helensburgh and Lomond (2.3) focuslargely on Helensburgh and its adjacent communities. Whilst those communities may be ‘subject to differentdevelopment pressures from the rest of Argyll & Bute’ (2.3.1), the communities of the Rosneath Peninsula share thepressures experienced by smaller communities across the Council area.Distance and relative inaccessibility from main population centres have contributed to features of decline on theRosneath Peninsula in recent years, including: derelict public amenities; weak and costly transport links; very limitedfacilities for young people; an absence of local job opportunities; lack of affordable housing; lack of special needshousing for older people; closure of the Council library; the sale of former community centre and church hall; andenvironmental degradation.It is therefore unfortunate that the section on Helensburgh and Lomond only refers to ‘taking into account ....... the needsof the Rosneath Peninsula’ in the most general terms, and that the only other relevant general references are to improvedferry services and community led renewable energy projects. Whilst Cove and Kilcreggan and separately Rosneath aredesignated Key Rural Settlements and are also both Areas for Action, the only actions identified for Kilcreggan areenvironmental enhancements and an enhanced passenger ferry terminal, and the only actions identified for Rosneath arefor medium scale housing development, Camsail Wood forest restoration and management and a broad reference tovillage centre development and environmental improvement.5bPlease indicate the changes that would be required for you to remove your objectionThe Community Development Trust understands that the detailed housing proposals made in the draft LocalDevelopment Plan reflect the terms of the Argyll and Bute Housing Needs and Demand Assessment (HNDA). Howeverthe Trust is aware of a very widely expressed need on the Rosneath Peninsula for both affordable housing for youngerpeople and families, and for special needs accommodation for older people and people other age groups with particularneeds. These housing developments are needed on the Rosneath Peninsula to address the population decline in childrenand families, which is a strategic and local issue recognised in many parts of the Local Development Plan. Housing isalso required to address the needs of older people, who have no local access to special needs accommodation.Recognising the terms of the current HNDA, the Trust would want to see a commitment within the Local DevelopmentPlan to the Council working with the Trust on a new form of rural housing needs and demand assessment, which wouldassess the housing needs in of the Key Rural Settlements on the Rosneath peninsula. Potential sites have been identifiedbeyond the top of Church Road in Cove for affordable housing, and on Shore Road or Fort Road for special needshousing.Whilst the CAP was completed for the Peninsula West area, the comments made by people in Rosneath and Clynder,within the Cove Windfarm planning application process, suggest that the needs expressed and developments proposed inthe Community Action Plan fairly reflect the views and ambitions of people across the whole of the Rosneath Peninsula.The Community Development Trust recognises that it is not possible to include very detailed local area analysis andproject planning within a Local Development Plan for Argyll & Bute. However, within the section concerningHelensburgh and Lomond, the Trust would want to see recognition of the key importance of the Rosneath PeninsulaWest Community Action Plan, with its assessment of local needs, and its detailed project proposals to meet those needs,including: youth and recreation facilities; arts and culture events and festivals; employment, business and tourism