Objectives of the Bishop's Stortford Civic Federation

Stansted Airport

Aim

To minimise the adverse environmental impacts of Stansted Airport and its operations on the town.

Actions

1. To resist expansion of the airport beyond its current capacity limit of 25 million passengers per annum (mppa).
2. To resist proposals for the development of a second runway.
3. To press for the maintenance and enforcement of legally binding limits on aircraft movements.
4. To comment on Government proposals for civil aviation policy nationally, and in the Southeast where they affect the town.
5. To monitor and react to secondary effects on the town, e.g. on-street car parking, transport issues and town planning matters.
   

Town Planning and Development Control

Aim

To ensure that the historic features of Bishop's Stortford are preserved, and that the town is a pleasant place in which to live and work, sustains a clean environment and is conducive to healthy economic activity.

Actions

1. To study and comment upon Regional Spatial Strategy and District Local Plan reviews within the required time limits.
2. To oppose vigorously all proposals that will result in unsustainable developments that will impact on the historic features of the town.
3. To inspect and make timely comment to the District Council on development proposals which may have a significant effect on the character or economic life of Bishop's Stortford.
4. To encourage the retention and conservation of land, buildings and features of beauty or historic interest in the town.
   

Transport  Top 

Aim

To sustain and enhance the amenity of the town centre by removing unnecessary traffic, encouraging sustainable transport policies, and supporting local trade.

Actions

1. To campaign for the development of a pedestrian only zone in Potter Street.
2. To request the relevant authorities to consider lowering the speed limit within the town including the installation of traffic calming measures.
3. To request the District Council to embrace a comprehensive policy towards car parking which takes account of all available on-street and off-street parking and gives preference to the needs of short stay shoppers and residents over those of commuters in the allocation of spaces and their pricing. The policy should include park and ride and residents' parking schemes as well as vigorous enforcement of parking restrictions.
4. To support vigorous enforcement of the HGV ban.
5. To campaign for the completion of the town's ring road by the provision of the South East quadrant.
6. To review the Transportation study for the town and campaign against proposals that could have serious adverse consequences on local communities and business. 
   

Housing  Top 

Aim

To ensure that future housing developments comply with sustainability principles, and in particular that the infrastructure amenities and capacities needed to support them are in place.

Actions

1. To resist housing development on the Areas of Special Restraint, and to campaign for their reclassification as Green Belt to prevent these areas being allocated for general housing development.
2. To oppose the release of any further land for airport-related housing.
3. To support development on the goods yard and other Brownfield sites.

Town Centre  Top 

Aim

To assist in its continued prosperity as the centre for trade and commerce, and to achieve the integration of the area from Northgate End to the southern end of the Goods Yard into town centre activity.

Actions

To comment on development proposals as they come forward, taking particular account of:

• Intended type of use, density and visual appearance
• Taking the opportunity to improve the amenity value of the river in the town centre
• The phasing of developments and the impact of their construction on traffic circulation throughout the town and on car parking
• The impact on the environment both during construction and on completion including the use of energy conservation systems
• To resist the relocation of existing schools to ASR or Green Belt land and to encourage the provision of any further school places which are needed on sites within the existing built up area of the town.

Open Spaces and Recreation  Top 

Aim

To retain and enhance all existing open amenity spaces in the town for the enjoyment and wellbeing of the townspeople in general.

Actions

1. To encourage sympathetic landscape management and development of all areas currently used for recreational purposes.
2. To oppose any urbanisation of these areas.
3. To encourage the relevant authorities to improve the standards of litter collection.
4. To encourage the formation and funding of additional proposals for sport and leisure facilities.
   

Safeguarding our Neighbourhoods  Top 

Aim

To work together with Crime and Disorder partnerships to ensure that the residents of Bishop's Stortford live, work and socialise in safe and peaceful communities without being subjected to crime and the fear of crime.

Actions

1. To work closely with Crime and Disorder partnerships to ensure that adequate Police resources are available to reduce crime and the fear of crime.
2. To encourage communities within the federation to set up local Neighbourhood Watch schemes in conjunction with the Police authorities.
3. To encourage local businesses and communities to proactively monitor anti social behaviour and report this to the Police so that police resources can be properly applied to hot spot areas.
4. To actively work with the authorities to set up neighbourhood facilities that encourages young people to participate.

The Currey Award  Link   Top 

Aim

To recognise high standards of design of buildings, landscape and the environment.

Actions

To continue the annual competition inviting nominations for developments completed within the town since the time of the previous award for consideration by a panel of judges.