In order to assist in the formulation of the Neighbourhood Plan the following Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats were identified by the CVNF, presented and agreed by the Carlton Community on 29th July 2018.
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Strengths
- Good access to M1 and M62 other major routes
- Within easy reach of Leeds and Wakefield but still rural village character
- Largely surrounded by green belt land, so should not be in immediate danger of being over-developed or absorbed into neighbouring towns
- Post office, farm shop and pubs within or very near to the Designated Area
- Community facilities: Social Club
- Very good primary school
- Active community organisations e.g. Carlton Village Residents Association
- Comprehensive range of footpaths across fields and rural surroundings of village (excludes pavements)
- Good number of skilled and experienced people willing to contribute to voluntary activities
- A defined heritage
- A quality location
- A desirable place to live
- Good allotment provision
- Village fetes e.g. rhubarb festival
- Village greens
- Playground facilities for children (Shayfield)
- Sports facilities eg Cricket and Football pitch
Weaknesses
- Viable public transport system
- Through Road traffic
- Heavy vehicles on narrow roads
- Village not large enough to support a wider range of leisure facilities
- Insufficient parking, particularly near the school
- Minimal employment opportunities in the village
- A high proportion of older residents
- Lack of school sports pitch provision
- Access to broadband not sufficiently enhanced
- Drainage system inadequate
- No NHS facilities eg doctor or dentist
- Roads poorly maintained
- No road crossings
- Poor visibility on current road network for crossing
- Narrow pavements and narrow roads
Opportunities
- Sensitive development could keep the village character and environment while ensuring it does not stagnate
- Developments within Carlton could provide funds to improve road infrastructure and footpaths
- Opportunities to increase social provision within the village, particularly if some further housing is introduced eg bungalow/one level houses
- Amelioration of traffic issues
- Creation of improved children’s sports facilities
- Protection of important areas e.g. natural environment and buildings
- Traffic flows – one way system Chapel Street/Queen Street
- Cycle Routes
- Integration / linking streets via footpaths eg Shayfield
Threats
- More houses in the area could make the village busier with increased through traffic
- Significant areas of green belt land could at some point in the future be released for building and change the character of the village. Need to avoid sprawl/spreading into neighbouring area and be distinct
- Continued congestion on the A61, and potential increase of its capacity, could impact on Carlton and particularly the potential for it to become a “rat run” for motorists
- Increasing house prices could change the demographics of the village and force young people with village connections to move away
- The lack of a ratified Leeds Site Allocation Plan could promote (and has already promoted) exploitation by developers to introduce inappropriate housing provision
- Closure of Community facilities due for example to limited “footfall”
- Apathy or lack of interest by local people
- Sale or use of farmland and open spaces for development
cvnf.org.uk 