10. SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES

10.1. Justification of Part 1 Policy

10.1.1. All viable communities need access to the required range, in type and location, of basic social and community facilities and services. As such, National Policy Guidance advises that the capacity of existing infrastructure and their siting requirements, need to be assessed to enable them to meet the demands that will be placed upon them, and also to consider the environmental effects of such additional uses.

10.1.2. It is important to safeguard existing facilities and secure new ones so that local needs are met. These services and facilities are largely provided by the public sector, but mostly by organisations beyond the control of Bridgend County Borough Council.

Part 2

10.2. Introduction

10.2.1. Basic social and community facilities and services include shops, arts/culture/entertainment, education, health, recreation, religious meeting places, health and social services, post office services, library facilities, burial grounds and fire and police services. They can be considered as a group, with many common features, for land-use planning purposes because there should be a strong orientation towards maximum accessibility for potential users. It is important, therefore, to ensure that social and community services are provided in locations that are readily accessible to the communities they serve and compatible with the local environment.

10.2.2. A wide range of public, private and voluntary sector agencies are involved in the provision of social and community facilities and services, many of which are beyond the control of the Council. The Council, however, is the main provider of education, leisure, social services and cemetery services. Health services are as a whole provided by local health authorities. The remaining services and facilities are provided by a mixture of public, private and voluntary sector bodies.

10.2.3. The Council will encourage direct investment by the various statutory and voluntary agencies concerned in providing services to improve the quality of life in the County Borough. Although the various organisations concerned with providing services have different time-horizons for their planned developments, the Council will expect, and encourage, the commencement of these schemes within the time span of the UDP.

10.2.4. The responsible agencies have indicated that the provision of social and community facilities within the County Borough are generally satisfactory with the possible exceptions of difficulties caused by the age and location of certain existing primary schools, together with the need to provide facilities for increased community care.

10.2.5. The UDP is concerned primarily with the land use and development implications of the provision of these various social and community facilities within the County Borough. Notwithstanding the importance of major functions such as education and health and social services, the influence of many of these facilities on land use planning is not great. However, UDP policies may affect the forward planning of such services by bringing about locational and demographic changes in the population. Conversely, social and community facilities are collectively important to the UDP, as they may influence the location of development and thereby affect the nature of certain policies. Furthermore, Government planning guidance requires planning authorities to have regard to social considerations in land use policies, and ensure land is provided for schools and higher education, places of worship, and other community facilities.

10.3. General Provision

10.3.1. Whilst there is a general presumption in favour of social and community facilities in both residential and non-residential areas, such provision is dependent upon the availability of sites and premises through new development sites coming forward, land becoming available for redevelopment, land or premises being declared surplus to requirements and through extensions and conversions to existing premises. Where the scale of new development is such as to require new facilities to be provided then it is considered appropriate that the development should contribute to their provision.

10.3.2. PROVISION OF SOCIAL & COMMUNITY FACILITIES

10.3.3. It is important to safeguard existing facilities and secure new ones so that local needs are met. Existing social and community facilities represent substantial investments. Unless they are clearly redundant or badly located it makes sense to make maximum use of them and to resist proposals which would undermine their viability.

10.3.4. PROTECTION OF EXISTING SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

POLICY SC2

DEVELOPMENT WHICH RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF AN EXISTING SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITY WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY WHERE:-

1. A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE LOCATION IS AVAILABLE AND A FACILITY OF EQUIVALENT COMMUNITY BENEFIT IS PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPER; OR

2. THE FACILITY CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT; OR

3. IN THE VIEW OF THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY THERE IS ALREADY AN EXCESS OF SUCH PROVISION IN THE AREA.

10.4. Social Services

10.4.1. The Council provides services in close collaboration with a number of statutory agencies including Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority and the Bridgend Association of Volunteer Organisations. Independent Agencies, including those from the private sector, play an important part in providing a range of services.

10.4.2. Changes in legislation have seen a shift from an emphasis upon institutionalised care to the provision of general community services and facilities on a more domiciliary basis. The Government’s commitment to “Care in the Community” was originally made clear in its White Paper, “Caring for People”, and led to the reforms brought in under the National Health Service and Community Care Act, 1990. More recently, ‘Building for the Future’ set out a vision for social services in Wales, encompassing best value and a new planning framework. The Children’s Act, 1989 has already provided for far reaching changes in the way children’s needs would be responded to by the Council and other agencies. The ‘Children First’ programme in Wales has developed a new safeguarding and performance management agenda for local authorities. The main land use implications of these changes has been the closure of large residential institutions freeing sites for other uses, coupled with the need for reprovision in the community, such as small group homes, and day care centres.

10.4.3. Concern has often been expressed regarding the rate of growth of the private residential care sector. It should be noted that unless they are managed, or provided by a body constituted by an Act of Parliament or incorporated by a Royal Charter, all private and voluntary homes, except those with three or less bedspaces, have to be registered with the Council or the Health Authority. From a planning viewpoint, however, the Council is mainly concerned with the impact a proposed institution or its loss will have on amenity and the environment; that is, land use planning issues.

10.5. Health Services

10.5.1. Health Services in the 1990’s have undergone changes in both management and organisation. Iechyd Morgannwg Health Authority commissions health services on behalf of the residents of Bridgend County Borough. The main local provider of health services is Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust. At present the services and facilities provided are generally considered to be satisfactory.

10.5.2. There have been significant changes in recent years in patterns of care, particularly for those who, in the view of the Health Authority, constitute national priority groups such as elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped. This has led to the emergence of new planning strategies in the Health Authority, e.g. emphasis in the care of the elderly has changed from a hospitalisation approach to one of active rehabilitation and a much greater emphasis on community care.

10.5.3. As with social services the major land use change experienced in recent years is the move towards care in the community, resulting in the release of hospital sites and the need for a network of Community Hospitals.

10.5.4. In the acute services, continuing developments in medical practice and techniques coupled with a greater use of technology, have resulted in reductions in the length of patient’s stay in hospital and more intensive use of facilities. Consequently, the requirement for the traditional ward type building has been reduced whilst the need for purpose built structures to accommodate the new facilities has increased. As many hospitals are located in areas where new development would not normally be permitted Policy SC3 has been included to support appropriate medical-related developments in these locations. The Council will closely assess development within existing hospital grounds. Proposals, which will benefit the provision of better medical care within hospital sites, will be supported.

10.5.5. PROVISION FOR MEDICAL RELATED DEVELOPMENTS

POLICY SC3

NEW MEDICAL- RELATED DEVELOPMENT WITHIN EXISTING HOSPITAL GROUNDS WILL BE PERMITTED, PROVIDED THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BRING BENEFIT TO HEALTH CARE.

10.5.6. Current national health policies stress the increasing role to be played by community health services both in the prevention of ill health and in the care to be offered to many ‘patient groups’ who presently occupy long stay needs in hospital. The main thrust of the NHS and Community Care Act is that patients should live in the community in ordinary houses with access to those health and personal social services available to the remainder of their community. To achieve adequate coverage of community care facilities throughout the County Borough, the Health Authority intend to provide Health Clinics at Bridgend and Ogmore Vale. However the exact land take and site boundaries have not yet been defined. To provide these facilities:-

10.5.7. PROVISION OF NEW HEALTH CLINICS

POLICY SC4

SITES WILL BE FOUND FOR NEW HEALTH CLINICS AT:-

SC4(1)   BRIDGEND, ADJACENT TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES HOSPITAL; (Link to Map 27 East)
SC4(2)   OGMORE VALE, PENLLWYNGWENT SOUTH (EXTENSION). (Link to Map 7)

10.6. Education Services

10.6.1. The responsibility for education in the County Borough rests with the Council as the Local Education Authority (LEA). The concern of the UDP therefore must be with the general provision of education in physical terms rather than with standards of attainment or administration of the system.

10.6.2. Schools need to be related to the communities they serve for two main reasons. In the first instance they have an important although subsidiary role to play as community buildings, and they also serve as practical and psychological foci for their communities. Secondly, as long travel distances to school are expensive, inconvenient and non-sustainable in that it encourages unnecessary car travel or ‘bussing’, there is an obvious case to locate educational facilities as close as possible to the communities they serve.

10.6.3. The educational requirements of any area are determined by the number of children of school age in that area. In the Valley areas a high proportion of schools were built in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

As a result of demographic changes, some schools are no longer well located in relation to their catchment areas and this, combined with their unsatisfactory physical condition, means some schools will need replacing. However, over the last few years the LEA’s Capital Building Programme allocation has been such that scope for the replacement of these schools has been very limited.

10.6.4. The Proposals Map indicatively shows the general location for educational facilities. The exact land take and site boundaries, however have not yet been specified. The general locations are as follows:-

10.6.5. GENERAL PROVISION OF EDUCATION FACILITIES

POLICY SC5

EDUCATION FACILITIES WILL BE PERMITTED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:-

SC5(1)    BLAENGARW; (Link to Map 6 Central)
SC5(2)    PENLLWYNGWENT, OGMORE VALE; (Link to Map 7)
SC5(3)    LAND ADJOINING PENLLWYNGWENT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, OGMORE VALE; (Link to Map 7)
SC5(4)    CAERAU; (Link to Map 1 Central)
SC5(5)    SPELTER, NANTYFFYLLON; (Link to Map 1)
SC5(6)    ST MARY’S CRESCENT, GARTH; (Link to Map 5)
SC5(7)    LAND ADJOINING CWMFELIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, CWMFELIN; (Link to Map 10 Central)
SC5(8)    LAND ADJOINING NEWTON PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEWTON, PORTHCAWL; (Link to Map 29 Central)
SC5(9)    LAND OFF GREENACRE DRIVE, PENCOED; (Link to Map 22)
SC5(10)  LAND EAST OF DISTRICT CENTRE, BRACKLA, BRIDGEND; (Link to Map 27 East)
SC5(11)  SOUTH WEST BRIDGEND; (Link to Map 27)
SC5(12)  NORTH EAST BRIDGEND; (Link to Map 21)
SC5(13)  LAND ADJOINING MAESTEG COMPREHENSIVE UPPER SCHOOL, PONT RHYD-Y-CYFF; (Link to Map 10)
SC5(14)  FORMER MAESTEG WASHERY, MAESTEG; (Link to Map 5)
SC5(15)  HEOL EGLWYS, PENYFAI. (Link to Map 21)

10.6.6. Recently the Council has increasingly recognised the potential for extending the use of schools beyond normal daytime educational purposes, especially where school buildings are the most suitable buildings for community and recreational uses. The need to achieve optimum use of available facilities is particularly pertinent at the present time when public expenditure restrictions reduces the opportunities for community and recreational facilities.

10.6.7. In relation to new schools or alterations to existing schools, the Council considers that possible community use of both buildings and playing fields should be investigated during the initial planning stages.

10.7. Community Centres

10.7.1. Although there appears to be an adequate supply of community centres in most areas of the County Borough i.e. 20 centres as at January 1997, various individual interests may be experiencing certain difficulties in securing the use of such facilities in particular settlements, especially where they are in private ownership. It may be necessary to provide new alternative Local Authority owned centres or dual-use of existing Local Authority buildings in such locations. Additional community centres may be required in other locations due to new development and/or a growing population. Broad locations for new centres have therefore been indicated on the Proposals Map, although the exact land takes and site boundaries have not yet been confirmed.

10.7.2 GENERAL PROVISION OF COMMUNITY CENTRES

POLICY SC6

COMMUNITY CENTRES WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE FOLLOWING SETTLEMENTS:-

SC6(1)    BLACKMILL (Link to Map 16 Central)
SC6(2)    NORTH EAST BRIDGEND (Link to Map 21)
SC6(3)    SOUTH WEST BRIDGEND (Link to Map 27)
SC6(4)    NEWTON (Link to Map 29 East)
SC6(5)    PENYFAI (Link to Map 15)
SC6(6)    OAKWOOD ESTATE, MAESTEG (Link to Map 5)
SC6(7)    PONT RHYD-Y-CYFF (Link to Map 21)
SC6(8)    PENDRE (Link to Map 22 East)

THE EXISTING FACILITIES AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS WILL BE EXTENDED:-

SC6(9)    COITY (Link to Map 21 East)
SC6(10)  SARN (Link to Map 21 Central)
SC6(11)  WILDMILL (Link to Map 21 Central)

10.7.3. It is important that each centre is the focal point of the community it serves, where all sections of the community have the opportunity to meet and (within the limits of the building) pursue a wide range of sporting, social, artistic, cultural, and creative activities. In addition it must be ensured that those communities most needing Local Authority expertise and finance receive priority attention, taking into account levels of affluence and social deprivation.

10.7.4. There is a certain amount of overlap between community and indoor recreation facilities because community centres can often be utilised for both social and recreational purposes. Coupled with this the community use of schools ensures that the County Borough area as a whole is fairly well provided for in terms of community centres within most villages and residential districts.

10.8. Library Services

10.8.1. This service, which is administered by the Council, is currently based on a number of branch libraries within the main urban settlements and a mobile library service to the villages, smaller settlements and housebound individuals. The location of facilities is guided by two national standards.

1. Static libraries should be provided for all communities of over 3,000 population;
2. No resident should live more than 20 minutes travelling time, by foot or public transport, or a combination of both, from a library facility.

10.8.2. The present provision of branch libraries meets national standards in terms of location but not in terms of the facilities provided. Bridgend, Porthcawl and Maesteg are each less than one third the size, in terms of floor area, stock etc., required by current standards. Replacements for these libraries on town centre sites are the main priorities for the service. There will also be a requirement for improved library facilities for the Garw Valley at Pontycymer.

10.8.3. Dual use facilities incorporating libraries with other Council services have considerable potential for enhancing the service whilst reducing operating costs. It has already been identified that libraries at Pyle, Maesteg, Pencoed, Aberkenfig and Nantymoel will also serve as Central Information Points.

10.9. Police Services

10.9.1. The police service is administered from the Bridgend District Principal Police Station based at the South Wales Constabulary Headquarters at Bridgend. The whole of the County Borough is adequately served by police stations.

10.10. Post Office Services

10.10.1. The Post Office considers that the future provision of the postal service in the County Borough is unlikely to be significantly different from the service currently provided. The Post Office has no proposals for additional post offices.

10.11. Fire Services

10.11.1. The Fire Service is administered from the Western Division Headquarters of the South Wales Fire Service based at Celtic Court in Bridgend. The County Borough is adequately served by fire stations at Pontycymmer, Nantyffyllon, Ogmore Vale, Kenfig Hill, Pencoed, Porthcawl and Bridgend. At present it is not envisaged that there will be any fire service projects or policy changes which would affect this cover in the County Borough in the foreseeable future. However, the standard of cover is constantly being appraised taking account specifically of major development proposals.

10.12. Burial Grounds

10.12.1. Since the 1960s the use of cremation as a means of disposing of the dead has increased substantially, and now accounts for 70% of all disposals. This trend has resulted in the original life expectancy of some cemeteries being extended.

10.12.2. It is expected that the cemeteries at Maesteg and Bridgend, however, will run out of space for new graves in the early part of the UDP period. In the case of Maesteg Cemetery, the Council already owns land adjacent to the cemetery, which could be suitable for enlarging the cemetery subject to ground condition investigations, and biodiversity assessments. Favourable consideration will be given to this use. However, this is not the case at Bridgend cemetery, where no such suitable overflow area exists. The Council will assist in the identification of additional land when necessary and as such:-

10.12.3. PROVISION FOR CEMETERIES

POLICY SC8

EXTENSIONS TO EXISTING CEMETERIES WILL BE PERMITTED, PROVIDED THAT:-

1. USE OF THE SITE IS COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES;

2. THE SITE ALLOWS VISITOR ACCESS TO GRIEVE AND PAY RESPECT IN PEACE AND WITHOUT INTERRUPTION CAUSED BY NEAR-BY LAND USES; AND

3. ADEQUATE PARKING PROVISION CAN BE ACHIEVED.

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