Response from Ms Rose Freeman, The Theatres Trust
1. Ms Rose Freeman, The Theatres Trust : 9 Jul 2008 11:45:00
To which part of the Report does your representation relate?
Paragraph or Section
3.127 - 3.133 PO6 - Town Centres And Retail Strategy - You Told us that & Introduction
Please write your comment or explain your reasons for supporting or opposing this part of the Report. You may also wish to refer to the tests of soundess in the glossary of the Preferred Options document before making your comments.
Thank you for your email of 17 April consulting The Theatres Trust on the preferred options for the Core Strategy Development Plan Document.
The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres. The Town & Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995, Article 10, Para (v) requires the Trust to be consulted on planning applications which include ‘development involving any land on which there is a theatre.’ It was established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976 'to promote the better protection of theatres'. This applies to all theatre buildings, old and new, in current use, in other uses, or disused. It also includes buildings or structures that have been converted to theatre, circus buildings and performing art centres. Our main objective is to safeguard theatre use, or the potential for such use, but we also provide expert advice on design, conservation, property and planning matters to theatre operators, local authorities and official bodies.
Due to the specific nature of the Trust’s remit we are concerned with the protection and promotion of theatres and therefore anticipate policies relating to cultural facilities.
PO5 Sustainable Economy
We are pleased to see the bullet point on page 76 to Support and develop cultural and creative industries …….and would like to see this wording incorporated within the actual Policy Option. As this is the only mention of your cultural and creative industries we are surprised your Cultural Strategy has not been included within the Policy Context
To quote from the Foreward of your Cultural Strategy The Strategy demonstrates how culture is key to delivering the main themes of the Community Strategy and how it makes a fundamental contribution to the identities of the people of South Lakeland and to the enrichment of their lives.
We would therefore expect to see the cultural and creative industries as a specific item within PO5.
There is a typo on page 86 under item 11 of PO5 – Exiting presumably should read Existing.
PO6 Town Centres and Retail Strategy
Although shops are the main composition, town centres are about more than just retailing. They are the heart of communities and an expression of their culture and identity. They should provide a suitable range of functions such as leisure, recreation and culture centred on restaurants, pubs, clubs, theatres, cinemas, concert halls and museums. As such all these elements should play an active role in creating vibrant town centres and a stimulating night time economy.
Policy PO6 does not mention any other element to support the vibrancy of town centres. Community facilities are mentioned but there is no explanation of this term. With regard to the term ‘Vitality and Viability’; PPG6 'Town Centres and Retail Developments' states that the vitality and viability of town centres depends on four factors including, retaining and developing a wide range of attractions and amenities, creating and maintaining an attractive environment, ensuring good accessibility to and within the centre and attracting continuing investment in development or refurbishment of existing buildings.
We therefore request that other town centre uses are included within PO6.
PO10 Developer Contributions
The term ‘community facilities’ is used again in this policy but with no description. For clarity and to avoid any misunderstanding a description of ‘community facilities’ should be included either in the text or in the Glossary and we recommend community facilities provide for the health, welfare, social, educational, leisure and cultural needs of the community.
We support a policy in the Core Strategy for a general approach to Planning Obligations with appropriate references to strategic sites and clear links to the details set out in a supplementary planning document. However it is important that the need for developer contributions for the future development of infrastructure for cultural activities is identified within this policy in the Core Strategy and request that the wording in item 4 in the policy be amended to ‘Community and Cultural facilities’.
PO22 Community Wellbeing
The term ‘community facilities’ is used again in this policy but with no suitable description. As requested for PO10, please include a description of this term in the accompanying text or in the Glossary for clarity.
We look forward to being consulted on the Submission Core Strategy, Planning Obligations and any further town centre Area Action Plans