Draft Programme Proposal for Foster Mill Millpond Site

February 2010

1.0            INTRODUCTION

2.0            HISTORICAL CONSIDERATIONS

2.1            This area of land has been a significant visual landmark on the Hebden Bridge landscape for the last two centuries. The land represents the former Millpond and milldam for Foster mill. During the period of Hebden Bridge's industrial history Foster mill was an active fustian mill; the Windsor View and Windsor Road over and under dwellings were built by the mill owner to house mill workers. Perhaps a more unusual provision was the Delph with its green space and allotments, specifically designated for the recreational use of the mill workers and their families including hot houses complete with boilers and prize chrysanthemum growing. The millpond itself, was used not simply as a vital part of the mill's functioning to supply the mill steam engines with water, but also by locals for fishing and picnics. The particular approach of the mill owner, in this case, was to encourage the amenity use of the millpond. It also had a key role in the visual landscape. It separated the more industrial lower land and marked the beginning of the steep rising valley slopes with their particular over and under dwellings.

2.2            Of course, since the eventual electrification, and later closure of Foster Mill, the absence of an industrial use for the millpond has resulted in the site gradually changing in its appearance. It has become increasingly wooded and has evolved into a valued wet woodland with a rich habitat of it's own. It has continued to provide an important recreational space for local people, however it's visual impact has become ever more important. Not simply the impact gained from the presence of trees but that gained from the habitat provided by a wet woodland and the wildlife that attracts.

2.3            This site has no residual industrial buildings. It is considered under the auspices of recycling of urban land - a natural process of woodland reclaiming a millpond site to the benefit of the local, visiting and wildlife populations. It is part of a valued wildlife corridor which extends from the urban area into the open countryside.

3.0         PLANNING CONDITIONS

3.1            The land is subject to a previous planning condition 88/00438. When planning permission was granted for the houses on Spring Grove adjacent to the millpond site, it was subject to a condition specifically forbidding development on the Foster Mill Pond site..

3.2            This condition stated that the mill pond site was to remain for the amenity and recreational use of the local population. It had the added advantage of resisting the over-intensification of the area. Although various suggested landscaping measures were never undertaken the land continued moving naturally towards its current emergence as a wet woodland and was valued as such.

Spring Grove

3.3            The land is currently subject to tree preservation orders (TPO No C1234 2003P, now C1234 2004P, group order - confirmed status). The TPO was sought by the local community, a measure of the value they attach to this land. The Council's position was supportive of the retention of the trees and most significantly they state "The council have made the order because this area is characterised by scenic views of which woodlands form a part. It is considered by the Local planning Authority that this woodland makes an important contribution to the variety of the landscape and it is considered that the trees are retained and incorporated into any future redevelopment proposals for the land." (24/10/2003). This followed a visual inspection by council officers.

4.0            Calderdale's Development Plan.

4.1            In the newly adopted Unitary Development plan, this land is designated Green Belt, following the independent inspectors recommendations based on a strong case put forward by the community to amend the status from open amenity to greenbelt. In her report, the Inspector concludes that:

"the river banks" . . . . ."both appear to be part of the open countryside and relate well to the wider open area. As such they help fulfil the purposes of green belt in that they prevent settlements from merging by safeguarding the undeveloped areas from encroachment, and preserve the setting of Hebden Bridge."

4.2            The value of the site has been established repeatedly and the only people who failed to appreciate the value and nature of the site were the previous owners keen on housing development. The developers have had a devastating impact on the site in their determination to degrade it by cutting trees centrally out of the site. The re-planting of trees is a community priority.

Original footpath through Millpond

4.3             A recreational route existed and has done for decades, it is the subject of a footpath claim. Sadly, this was degraded by the previous owners who left felled trees across it. Since purchasing the land one of the first community actions was to re-open this footpath.

4.4            Small access improvements will enhance the open space value of the site to the benefit of the community of Hebden Bridge. The overwhelming majority of the local and wider community wanted the millpond to remain undeveloped as the petition of over 1000 signatories demonstrated, and improving access will enable many more of these people to directly access the site.

4.5            Local residents who have been not only the principle users but also the principle caretakers of the land regardless of who has owned it. The local community has a history of caretaking of land including the Delph & Dog Bottom which it owns under the trusteeship of the Steepfields residents association. Whilst it is impossible to stop everyone from inappropriate dumping or indeed persuade everyone to take their rubbish home with them, members of the local community commit themselves & their time to clearing away debris. Without this the woodland would have never emerged, it is exactly this 'light touch' approach combined with the way people enjoy the benefits of this land which has allowed nature to win a rare victory in a semi-urban environment.

5.1            Natural England, the new agency responsible for protecting and enhancing the natural environment in England, has a specific well-being focus. Alongside the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, the agency recognises the importance of access to green space to the well-being of people. Natural England brings together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service.

5.2            Hebden Bridge is a valley mill town, built into the hillside and dominated by under and over dwellings and back to backs. Many houses have no gardens and so in the context of a semi-rural town, green spaces therefore have much greater importance than might at first be assumed. The social and physical well-being of people here is dependant on maintaining a sense of space and openness with the natural not constructed environment resisting over intensification driven by the pure economics of an over-inflated housing market.

5.3            Government guidance states that sustainable communities should be:

• Active, inclusive and safe - Fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and other shared community activities.
• Well run - with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership.
• Environmentally sensitive - providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment.
• Well designed and built - featuring a quality built and natural environment.
• Well connected - with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services.
• Thriving - with a flourishing and diverse local economy.
• Well served - with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people's needs and accessible to all.
• Fair for everyone - including those in other communities, now and in the future

5.4             This is a great example of sustainable community in action, working positively to preserve and enhance the local environment in a grassroots inclusive manner

6.0            The Natural Environment

6.1            The visual amenity provided by the wooded nature of this area, is appreciated throughout the valley by locals & tourists. It represents an important entrance to the green corridor.

6.2            This is a specific feeding & breeding habitat for several important species. It represents a specific type of growth medium for the flora, which inhabit it. Of course this also dictates a different type of woodland where the trees individually are less impressive than those in a non-boggy area, but fulfil a different habitat function.
The wet woodland is a specific biodiversity priority within Calderdale.

Looking down on Millpond before trees felled

6.3            The millpond is an emerging wet woodland & has particular & special value as such. That value can be appreciated not just at local level but also in wider terms as part of Calderdale's biodiversity assets & plans. For example, a woodland survey conducted on 15/03/04 revealed "74 clumps of frogspawn which would indicate a breeding population of 350 - 400 frogs. These are a Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species as their breeding areas which are few in number particularly in the upper valley".

6.4            The site has held, & supported as a feeding ground, a rich variety of wildlife. The owls, bats & woodpeckers are particular examples of the wildlife appreciated by the members of the local neighbourhood not agile enough to regularly spring over the wall. A kingfisher has been regularly spotted on this stretch of the river.

7.0            Access Issues

Windsor View - proposed access to site

7.1.             Current access is over a rudimentary stile in the wall on Windsor View with a steep drop on the other side. This will need improvement if a wider range of people are to benefit from the site (i.e. the less agile!)
7.2.            The dam was breeched in the past and where this breech exists is difficult to negotiate with small children or less agile adventurers. A bridge at this point would be greatly beneficial.

8.0            Structural concerns

8.1.            Structurally the apex is the weakest part of the site and was subject to movement when the mill was demolished for the construction of Spring Grove houses. Houses at the end of Windsor Rd/View were underpinned and a concrete brace erected in one of the culverts. This will need checking and may need re-enforcing over the next few years.

8.2.            The walls have been long neglected by successive owners and are I need of essential maintanence work. Extensive monitoring is needed and re-pointing and repairs in places.

8.3.            The footpath since the tree felling has directly overlooked Spring Grove and is a major intrusion. The original footpath runs through the centre of the millpond and does not compromise the privacy of Spring Grove.

APPENDIX

Strategic Aim:-
To make a pro-active community contribution to the preservation and management of green spaces in the Hebden Bridge urban and semi-rural environment.

To rehabilitate, maintain, and preserve the emerging wet woodland on the former Foster millpond site as an important wildlife and botanical habitat and for the enjoyment and recreation of the local community and visitors.

Project Purposes:-

1. To rehabilitate the damaged natural physical environment and to enhance and maintain it as a biodiversity priority wet woodland.
2. To restore and enhance the wildlife habitats for bats, birds and frogs.
3. To improve access to and through the site and to provide better protection for flora and fauna peripherally by better footpaths.
4. To conduct essential and long neglected maintenance and repair of old millpond walls, riverbank and footpath walls and thereafter to continue an on-going programme of maintenance.

1. To rehabilitate the damaged natural physical environment and to enhance and maintain it as a biodiversity priority wet woodland.

Objectives

• To re-instate woodland planting in the area devastated by previous owners destructive felling, in a manner which will enhance the natural physical environment for wildlife and limit height growth and root structures to protect physical built structures and Windsor View light.
• To improve the quality of existing trees by thinning young saplings (below ?cm in circumference and thus outside of TPO group order) to prevent overcrowding.
• To monitor the health of existing trees and to take appropriate woodland management action as necessary
• To control invasive weeds - Ragwort, Himalayan Balsalm, by a continuous programme of hand-pulling, and the isolated clumps of Japanese knotweed by specific, localised non-residual herbicide treatment over the next two years.

2. To restore and enhance the wildlife habitats for bats, birds and frogs.

Objectives

• To install bat boxes in suitable locations throughout the site to encourage roosting in this active feeding ground.
• To install bird boxes of various sizes to encourage the nesting of the many and varied bird populations in and around the site and river.
• To encourage the continued presence of frogs and their breeding sites by maintaining boggy areas untouched and uncongested by excessive plant growth.

• To improve access to and through the site and to provide better protection for flora and fauna peripherally by better footpaths.

Objectives

• To provide a better stile access via the wall on Windsor View and steps down the steep incline
• To provide uninterrupted footpath access through the site along the riverbank all the way to the steps leading to Hardcastle Craggs by construction of a bridge across the old dam breech and wooden handrail along the steep drop close to the river bend where the path narrows to a sharp drop.
• To improve the footpath through the centre of the site and along the riverbank.
• To ensure protection of users by public liability insurance

• To conduct essential and long neglected maintenance and repair of old millpond walls, riverbank and footpath walls and thereafter to continue an on-going programme of maintenance.

Objectives

• To repair damaged areas of wall along Spring Grove and Windsor View millpond walls.
• To conduct an on-going programme of extensive monitoring of walls on Spring Grove, Windsor View, the riverbank and the wall leading up to Lee Mill Rd along Dog Bottom, and re-pointing and repair as necessary.
• To actively manage trees and new sapling growth close to the walls by coppicing and selective felling where root structures may affect walls.