Scrooby Village Design Statement

1st September 2007

This is a copy of Scrooby Parish Council's Design Statement. As at 8 March 2008 the document is still in draft.

This is the third draft of the Scrooby Village Design Statement. It has been based on comments received in regard to the second draft and makes specific reference to the Planning Documentation.

This draft has been submitted informally to Bassetlaw Planning Department for their comment. The objective will be that the VDS will constitute a accepted component of the Supplementary Planning Guidance for Scrooby.

We have appreciated the help of Jonathan Dawson in drafting this version.

Parish Councillors are:

• Kirsty Blower Chairman
• Christine Bailey
• Dennis Brooke
• Mary Broom
• Heidi Robbins
• Dennis Marshall
• Ed Marshall

Parish Clerk is:

• Chris Cruddas

1 Scrooby Village Design Statement

1.1 Background to the Village Design Statement

Village Design Statements are written to raise everyone's awareness about what is special about the place in which they live.

This involves:

• The distinctive character of the village
• The village setting  its history and geography
• The built environment

It is these particular and special features which together make up the village’s uniqueness in its locality.

A view of Scrooby in a 19th Century Woodcut

The initiative that led to the production of the Village Design Statement stems from the Countryside Commission and Bassettlaw District Council. Each Parish Council has been invited to prepare a Village Design Statement. On behalf of Scrooby, the Parish Council accepted the challenge and have prepared this draft for consideration by the village as a whole.

It is intended that the Village Design Statement be used to influence 

• Our Parish Council and Bassettlaw District Council, when considering planning applications
• Villagers when planning development or changes to their own property
• Builders, designers and architects responsible for village building
• Owners of business enterprises or places of work in the village

Even in Winter, the Hedges and Trees provide a Frame for Historic Village Buildings

1.2 A Village Voice and a Framework for Change and Development

Any of these bodies or individuals may change the built environment whether it is alteration to an existing building, removal of hedges or a new construction.

Every change, however small, has a cumulative effect on the environment and changes the village character. The Village Design Statement provides a framework for guiding these changes to preserve village character.

That is why the Village Design Statement is important to everyone in the village and the whole village should be involved in its preparation.

1.3 The Village Survey

In order to gain a wider understanding of village views, attitudes and aspirations, a questionnaire was circulated to all village houses. Some 45 people responded. Although this is a relatively small sample, it is suspected that the views are representative. This is supported by the age range of respondents, shown in the following figure, which is probably a fair reflection of the whole village population.

The views and opinions gained in the survey are included in this statement.

Age Distribution of Respondents to the Village Questionnaire

1.4 Production of the Draft Village Design Statement

The Design Statement has been drafted by the Parish Council on behalf of everyone in the village. A first draft was commented on by a number of the villagers and it has been revised to take account of comments, and the questionnaire survey set out to all residents. It has also been influenced by a consideration of other accepted village design statements in Bassetlaw.

1.5 The Purpose of the Village Design Statement

• To raise awareness of visual and historical features within the village
• To enable local knowledge, ideas and attitudes to influence development within the village
• To examine all the individual style elements which make up the look and feel of the village
• To ensure that future changes enhance and do not detract from the village identity
• To inform and influence everyone involved in new construction or alterations to the existing buildings and environment.

1.6 Function of the Village Design Statement

This draft is to be made available to all Scrooby residents for their comments.

When finalised, it will be issued to Bassetlaw District council for their adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document.

It will be used as follows:

• By Bassetlaw Council when considering planning applications
• By Scrooby Parish Council when considering planning applications
• It will be subjected to regular amendments and additions.

1.7 Planning Policy

Where appropriate, the document makes reference to Bassetlaw District Council Planning Policy as stated in the Local Plan (1995).

1.8 Distribution

• It will be held by Scrooby Parish Council
• Copies will be available to all residents
• Copies will be issued to all new residents
• Copies will be issued to all Scrooby businesses
• Copies will be issued to all planning applicants.

1.9 The Scrooby Village Design Statement – An Overview

Scrooby today is the result of slow development over many centuries, followed by rather rapid growth in the last three decades. The long period of growth has created a heritage worthy of preservation. However, it is accepted that, if Scrooby is to continue to thrive, further development is inevitable. The purpose of this Village Design Statement to is ensure that future development blends in and is of a sympathetic nature. Change should enhance and complement the particular character of the village.

Aerial View of Scrooby in the 1990s

The Village Design Statement is set out in three parts

• Historic Scrooby
• Scrooby now
• Guidelines for future development

2 Historic Scrooby

2.1 Beginnings

Scrooby is an ancient village. The ending ‘-by’ points to Danish origins or influence. Certainly, a settlement already existed in 958 AD when King Edgar granted considerable land here to Oscytel, Archbishop of York. Thus began the long association with York which was finally severed only in the present century.

The Domesday Survey (1086) records Scrobi as a berewick or outlying portion of the manor of Sutton (cum Lound), the property of the Archbishop.

2.2 In the Middle Ages

Through the middle ages and until the late 18th century, the history and development of the village is closely bound up with its siting on the Great North Road. Scrooby was, and still is, a small community by the side of the old Great North Road. It occupied an important position in coaching times on the stage between Tuxford and Doncaster. Scrooby is also significant because the Archbishops of York had a manor house here. In the time of Henry VIII it was a large, comfortable residence with a deer park for hunting, convenient as a place to stay for Henry on his way to Yorkshire. Cardinal Wolsey stayed several times, including on his last journey north before his death. At that time it was described as ‘a great Manor House, standing within a Moat’.

2.3 The Pilgrim Fathers

Scrooby holds a pivotal place in the history of the USA, being the birthplace of William Brewster, elder of the Pilgrim Fathers.

In 1588 William Brewster Senior held the office of Bailiff of the Archbishop of York’s estate and Postmaster, and had been granted the lease of the Manor on favourable terms. His son William returned to Scrooby in 1587 and later took over the office of Postmaster from his father. He had already developed a strong inclination to Puritanism by this time. He was soon in trouble for irregular attendance at church and it is known that there was a strong Puritan congregation in the area which sometimes met at Brewster’s home at Scrooby Manor.

In 1608 William Brewster left England with some of his fellow Puritans for Holland where there was religious tolerance at that time. Later in 1620 Brewster boarded the Mayflower as the elder of the Separatist Church members; they later became known as the Pilgrim Fathers and were the founders of the Plymouth colony in New England. Brewster died in Plymouth in 1644 at the approximate age of 78.

A Map of Scrooby Drawn in 1675

2.4 Recent Times

In 1766 Scrooby became one of the first places to have a bypass made, when the turnpike road was constructed. The river Ryton used to flow through the mill in the village and vehicles travelling down Mill Lane had to cross a ford. The new turnpike road was raised on a causeway to cross the river and the flood plain.

The River Ryton

The London to Edinburgh railway line was built in 1849, placing Scrooby on another major north-south route. Scrooby had a railway station until it was closed in 1931.

A Map of Scrooby in 1904

3 Scrooby Today

3.1 The Village Population

The Village has approximately 400 inhabitants, with a wide demographic mix of age groups.

3.2 The Village Setting

Scrooby is situated one mile to the south of Bawtry, and two miles to the north of Ranskill, astride the Great North Road. The settlement measures approximately half a mile from north to south with the village church at its centre.

To the west of the village centre runs the A638 Great North Road. The village is bounded to the east by the East Coast railway line. To the north it is bounded by the river Ryton which is a tributary to the river Idle, which in turn runs into the river Trent.

The main through-route of the village is Low Road. It runs from the south to the north changing to Mill Lane as it exits past the Mill, the northern most building in the village.

3.3 The Village Development

The pattern of the village streets is based on the old roads of the old settlement with no new roads having been constructed with the exception of Mayflower Avenue and Holmefield Croft. Over the last thirty years any new housing has been accommodated within the existing village envelope. This is the area within which housing development may be applied for. Areas outside the envelope are considered as green sites and planning applications for new buildings are not usually allowed.

The village envelope (as shown on the following map) has been drawn tightly around existing development so allowing a feeling of open space which is greatly valued by residents.

The village envelope as currently defined is fully endorsed. Development, either immediately outside the village envelope or within it, should respect the special qualities and character that already exists.

Areas outside the envelope are considered countryside. In the Countryside planning permission is only granted for development which requires a countryside location.

Reference Policies 6/18 to 6/21.

3.4 Historic and Listed Buildings

The village is fortunate to have a number of buildings and remains to remind us of the village history. The church, the Old Vicarage and the Manor are obvious examples of buildings that William Brewster would recognise which are still used today. These are preserved as listed buildings.

3.5 The Conservation Area

A conservation area has been designated within the village (see the following map). All the buildings, boundaries and trees within the conservation area are controlled to ensure that they are not changed or demolished without prior consideration by the Planning Department.

3.6 Development in the Conservation Area

It is probably fair to say that the development within the conservation area has been mixed in terms of its general quality and its sympathy with the pre-existing structures. This has much to do with fashion and the general economy. It is also clear that actual constructions can sometimes deviate from the Planning Consent.

It is up to the Parish Council and the villagers to maintain vigilance, both on the developers and the proper implementation of planning consents.

Reference Policies 6/10 to 6/12.

A Plan Of Scrooby 2002 (the continuous line shows the Village Envelope, the dotted lines enclose the Conservation Area)

3.7 Old buildings in Scrooby

3.7.1 Buildings which originated before 1600

• Parts of the manor,
• The moat and fishpond embankments  Manor Road (Scheduled Ancient Monument, protected by law)
• The Old Vicarage  Church Lane (Listed)
• St Wilfrid’s Church  Church Lane (Listed)
• The Pinfold and Churchyard Wall  Church Lane (Listed)

3.7.2 Buildings which date from before 1800

• The Mill House – Low Road (listed)
• Chirnside – Low Road
• Manor Farm Cottages – Manor Road (Listed)
• Manor Farm Dovecote (Listed)
• Holmefield Farmhouse, Chapel Lane (Listed)
• Barn at Holmefield Farmhouse, Chapel Lane (Listed)
• The George and Dragon – Great North Road
• Palace Farm – Manor Road
• Low Farm – Manor Road (Listed)
• Monks Mill – Mill Lane (Listed)
• The Old Forge – Low Road
• Holmfield Cottage – Low Road
• The Pilgrim Fathers Public House
• Black Bull /Parish Cottage - check date. Not sure if pre-1800
• Cottages on corner of Low Road next to Milner’s bungalow are surprisingly old – check date

3.7.3 Buildings which date from before 1900

• Scrooby Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane (Listed)
• Low Farm Barns and Pigeoncote, Manor Road (Listed)
• Peartree Cottage – Chapel Lane
• Greenman Cottage, Dog Lane
• The Chapel – Chapel Lane
• Shepcote House – Great North Road
• Woffendon House – Chapel Lane
• Kirkby House – Vicarage Lane
• And many others actually, including two houses (don’t know names) and Holly Tree Cottage on Chapel Lane, Alpha House on Manor Rd, Greenfield House? Teasel Cottage? Barn next to Keeper’s Croft on Low Road, and possibly a couple of houses on Great North Road next to the garage. Northfield House built 1894 and possibly |The Sheiling? There may be others I haven’t thought of.

Would it be best just to list the pre-1800 houses individually as these will be listed and are architecturally significant, plus other interesting ones like the Parish cottages? The pre-1900 houses are numerous and you could just make a note that there are many of them and that they vary in style and materials.

3.8 Features of Interest

In addition to specific buildings, there are a number of features of interest throughout the village. These should be preserved and conserved. Here are examples, although a complete list should be prepared:

• The church on Church Lane
• The Scots pines on Mill Lane: These have been a landmark for travellers entering the village since the 18th century
• Triangular patterns known as ‘tumbling’ of the gable brickwork on Mill House, Low Road.
  
• The 19th century fire insurance plaque on Chirnside, Low Road.
• The remaining earthworks indicating the moat and fishponds of the Manor, Manor Road.
• The plaques placed by Pilgrim Father Societies from the various New England States on the Manor house, Manor Road.
• Ornate kneelers at Holmfield Farm, Manor Road.
  
• Old walls in Dog Lane and round the churchyard, Church Lane.
• Chamfering on the corner wall of Holmfield Cottage, Low Road, to permit the passage of wide horse drawn vehicles
• The traditional red telephone box on Chapel Lane
• Use of stone ‘recycled’ from Roche Abbey in the foundations of the Low Farm boundary walls on Low Road.
• The remains of the brick pillars supporting the timber-frame of the former Cross Keys pub can still be seen in the old wall along the boundary of Low Farm opposite Holmefield Cottage.
• Old milestones on the Great North Road can still be seen outside the drive of Northfield House and near Scrooby Top House.

3.9 Unsympathetic Features

Some features to be considered for re-development in the conservation area are:

• The proliferation of road signs
• The use of unsympathetic materials, notably pre-fabricated concrete in outbuildings and the use of plastic for window and door frames.
• The unsightly and non-matching street lamp standards
• Creeping ‘suburbanisation’ caused by use of materials such as panelled fences (instead of hedges), security gates etc.

3.10 The Village Landscape

The nucleus of the village is the church lying in the village centre, with five tentacles of growth spreading north, south, east and west namely Low road in both directions, Station Road (east), Church Lane (west) and Chapel Lane (north-west).

Hedges grow throughout the village settlement and the surrounding countryside and most are neither straight nor regimented. They provide good cover and habitats for bird life and small animals.

Trees are very important to the village landscape. For example there are magnificent mature trees on the Croft, in the churchyard and in gardens in the village centre. The Parish Council is currently seeking a preservation order on the group of Scots Pines situated at the north end of Mill Lane. These have been a noted landmark for the village since the 18th century

It would be desirable to retain existing trees and hedges and to encourage new ones. All trees are important. Where tree felling is necessary, consideration should be given to a suitable replacement.

Special consideration should be given to preserving existing hedges and ancient walls as they are an attractive village feature which provide a haven for wildlife.

Unless the tree is in a Conservation Area or is subject to a Tree Preservation Order, owners are permitted to do any works to trees (including their removal) that they wish.

Reference  Policies 6/7, 6/8 and 6/9.

Holmefield Farm, Scrooby

Manor Farm, Scrooby

Chapel Lane, Scrooby

Mill House, Scrooby

4 Rural Environment

4.1 Wildlife

Scrooby benefits from a combination of the environs of a small village with low intensive agriculture. This means there are lots of hedges, trees, mature gardens and old buildings, so there is abundant wildlife which exploits this environment.

Mammals to be seen around the village are hedgehogs, grey squirrels and occasional foxes. Cats will bring in the smaller rodents such as shrews, voles and harvest mice. Stoats and weasels, and sometimes roe deer can be encountered on walks in the fields around the village. Bats can be seen on summer evenings.

At least 150 bird species have been seen in the immediate neighbourhood over the last few years. We have a local flock of starlings, a thriving bunch of house sparrows and dozen or so collared doves all living in the village. We are lucky to have a permanent, but small, group of tree sparrows. You can hear skylarks in the fields, and there are small but vigorous flocks of lapwings. These three species are all considered to be endangered as their UK population is continuing to fall dramatically. We have lots of blackbirds, but sadly not many song thrushes. Scrooby gardens will often entertain the exotic-looking jay and both the green and greater spotted woodpecker. A feature of recent years is the squadrons of long-tailed tits flying through the gardens, together with green finches and goldfinches. In the summer, Scrooby offers nesting places to swallows, swifts and house martins and the spotted flycatcher. In the winter we are visited by large numbers of redwings and fieldfares. As to hunting birds, the sparrowhawk, kestrel and buzzard along with the tawny, barn and little owls are all frequent visitors (or residents?) in Scrooby.

Preserving these animals depends on maintaining their environment and discouraging any threat to it. This means keeping the hedges and trees and monitoring the state of the old buildings. Inevitably modern buildings do not provide the nooks and crannies used by nesting birds, but this can be compensated by the provision of nesting boxes.

4.2 Scrooby Open Areas

Scrooby has a number of open areas in and around the village which contribute considerably to the village landscape.

4.2.1 The Croft

The village green, where the village hall stands, is known as the Croft. This provides a recreation area and a children’s playground. The Croft is leased to the village at a peppercorn rent. The village has repeatedly applied to buy the land but the owner estate is adamant that they will not sell.

4.2.2 The Whinze

The Whinze comprises two areas of land owned by the parish. The first area on Mill Lane is maintained to a degree but requires more care and attention. The second area is overgrown and not much used. Both areas are often sites for fly tipping. Both could be developed for recreational pursuits and could be better conserved to encourage wildlife.

4.2.3 Local Footpaths

The village has a bridleway leading to Mattersey, the Millennium footpath which links up with Ranskill and Torworth and Green Lane which runs down to Serlby. All provide excellent views and the opportunity to experience the historical and agricultural feel of Scrooby and its environs.

5 Village Enterprises

5.1 Agriculture and Livestock

Scrooby has long had an association with agriculture, concentrated on arable crops and livestock husbandry in particular. Although neighbouring fields are let to farmers, there are no active farms left in the village. However, there is a livery yard, which means that horses are a welcome feature in the village. On the west side of the village is a racing stables and more horses.

Recently a horse-trading business began operating from a field within the village. This was established without any formal planning application or any consultation with villagers. Fortunately this business has now closed, but it has served as a warning of the way that the village can be exploited and its amenity degraded.

5.2 Business Enterprises

There are several small-scale industrial enterprises in and around the village. There is a fabricator of dog kennels, two catteries, a local landscaping business, a farm shop and a car sales garage. At the northern boundary, there is a complex which includes a garden centre and a fishing equipment outlet. A number of individuals carry out work from their homes. There is a local quarry and there are lakes for recreational fishing.

Development must take into account Planning Policies 6/2 and 6/3.

6 Amenities

The village has a public house, and two bed and breakfast establishments. There is a small farm shop. The travelling library visits regularly. Scrooby is a key contributor to the monthly ‘Star’ magazine/newsletter which is provided free to each house in the village.

6.1 Recreation

Recreational facilities are limited due to Scrooby’s size. The footpaths and bridleways, in particular the Millennium Footpath, shared with Ranskill and Torworth, provide wonderful walks for the young, the old and dogs.

The playground next to the Croft is a great feature for younger children. The Croft itself provides a good play area and a setting for village events.

6.2 The Village Hall

The village hall is well-used and provides a focus for village activities. The Harvest Supper and the old people’s party are regular events there. The kick-boxing club and the Scrooby gardening club meet regularly. Various social societies, such as the Mother’s Union and Take Thread, have meetings in the Chapel or in village houses.
Scrooby Village Hall

7 Guidelines for Future Development

7.1 Economic Development

Economic development should be encouraged and fostered as long as it is sympathetic to the general village environment and rural atmosphere. The following constraints should be applied:

• Any proposed business must take account of planning regulation before establishment
• Businesses which enhance the agricultural and rural nature of the village should be welcomed
• Small businesses should be encouraged if they provide local employment
• Small businesses which use existing under-used agricultural buildings whilst retaining their exterior appearance should be encouraged
• Industrial development which would degrade the visual and rural environment should not be permitted
• Quarrying should be limited to current consents
• Businesses which involve the regular passage of heavy goods vehicles through the conservation area should not be permitted
• There should be agreed restrictions on the access to the village by heavy goods vehicles

Businesses which require the parking of large of numbers of vehicles should not be permitted.

7.2 Building Development

7.2.1 The Conservation Area

There should be close monitoring by all villagers and the Parish Council of developments and change in the conservation area.

• The current village envelope should be maintained.
• The existing conservation area should be preserved.
• Any development should take account of Planning Policies 6/10, 6/11 and 6/12.

It should be noted that extra Development Controls exist within Conservation Areas. In addition to standard planning controls, the following works to dwelling houses always need planning permission in a Conservation Area:

1. Any extension to a house that, considered cumulatively with any previous extensions, would increase its original volume by more than 50 cubic metres, or 10%, whichever is the greater. (Note that any outbuilding with a cubic content greater than 10 cubic metres is treated as an extension for the purposes of cumulative volume)
2. The erection or alteration of any outbuilding or enclosure with a volume of more than 10 cubic metres.
3. Any enlargement of a house consisting of an addition or alteration to its roof.
4. The cladding of any part of the exterior with stone, artificial stone, timber, plastic or tiles.
5. The erection of a satellite dish either:
   1. on a chimney stack, or above the highest point of the roof,
   2. on a wall or roof slope which fronts a highway, or
   3. where the proposal itself is for more than one dish, or at least one dish already exists which is not going to be removed.
   4. where it would exceed 70 cm in width.

Additional planning consent is required in the case of demolition:

1. The demolition of any building over 115 cubic metres (external measurement).
2. The demolition of most boundary walls and walls over 2 metres in other areas
3. The felling of any tree.
4. Planning consents may be required in respect to solar panels or wind generators.

If there is in any doubt as to whether permission is required for intended works within the conservation, it is advisable to contact the planning department (Bassetlaw District Council, Queens Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, S80 2AH. Tel. 01909 533 533).

It is intended that all new residents in Scrooby will receive a copy of the Design Statement so they are aware of their responsibilities and know village concerns for any changes they may consider to their properties. Only in this way can we protect and conserve historic features. Once any hedge or tree is gone or plastic windows installed, it will be too late. These changes are usually irreversible.

Any development, alteration or repair, should:

• Take account of the physical proportion of neighbouring buildings
• Preserve red brickwork of traditional appearance
• Preserve clay pantiles for roofing
• Use timber for doors and window frames
• Preserve listed features
• Preserve mature trees
• Preserve hedges
• Preserve ancient boundaries.

The village should always ensure that proper planning consents are granted and the proper procedure is diligently followed in regard to any development within the conservation area. It is often up to village residents to monitor operations in order to make sure that conditions are obeyed.

7.2.2 Building Plots

Further building within the village envelope should be tightly controlled. The Planning Department, with some exceptions, is following a strict policy, but development activities need to be monitored and checked, particularly as the demand for building land increases. The conservation area itself is now fully developed. Any possible additional development should take account of Planning Policy 5/3.

• The majority of residents wish the existing village envelope should be maintained
• The majority of residents oppose any further in-fill developments
• New development should respect the scale and mass of surrounding buildings
• Extensions to buildings in the conservation area should be closely checked and the use of sympathetic materials encouraged.

7.3 Street Signs and Furniture

The use of road signage is of course important in regulating traffic in the village but it should not become obtrusive.

• A survey of street signs should be made and unnecessary signs should be removed
• A matching set of lamp standards should be considered for the street lighting, made of a more sympathetic materials.
• The lamps could be equipped with reflectors to avoid light pollution.
• Residents should all inspect their security lighting to ensure that it is neither dazzling or obtrusive.
• Consideration should be given to replacing existing road signage to be more in keeping with the village environment.

7.4 Transport, Highways, Streets and Footpaths

7.4.1 The A614

The A614 divides the village and runs alongside a number of residences.

• The village has successfully campaigned for a 40 mph speed restriction
• The 40mph restriction should be strictly enforced.

7.4.2 Village Streets

The existing layout of streets with their pattern of usage should be maintained and conserved:

• Maintain unobtrusive traffic calming measures
• Monitor any increase in on-street parking
• Carefully consider any proposed new entries and accesses
• There is interest in restricting through access on Mill Lane. A majority of villages would support closure of the northern entrance to Mill Lane.

7.4.3 Footpaths

• Access to the immediate countryside via the Millennium footpath, the bridleway to Mattersey and the bridle path to Serlby should be fostered and safeguarded.
• The village holdings of the Whinze and the area of Gibbet Lane should be protected and maintained
• Safe and controlled access should be maintained to the footpaths to the east of the main railway line.
• Any opportunities for new footpaths should be identified and followed up.

7.5 The Airport

The Doncaster Robin Hood Airport will make changes to Scrooby life; principally there will be more traffic on the A638 and the A614, and through Bawtry. The Parish Councils and inhabitants in all the local villages will probably have to petition before any additional roads are built. The village should:

• Monitor whether the flights themselves become a nuisance, particularly at night
• The village should seek to ensure that the disadvantages of additional traffic, aircraft noise and pollution are compensated by improved local flying opportunities and by benefits to the local economy in terms of increasing commerce and more jobs.

7.6 The Railway

An East Coast mainline upgrade is a potential development, but no finance or timetable has been finalised. If and when it does happen, there will inevitably be a threat to the access we enjoy through the footpath crossing at Station Road and the bridleway crossing at School Lane. A bridge is planned but the siting and size are not fixed in any detail.

• Any threat to the crossings should be vigorously opposed
• The Parish Council and villagers should maintain contact with Network Rail to ensure that our views are considered.

7.7 Village Amenities

7.7.1 Recreation

The village should seek to provide recreational opportunities for people in the village.

• The Village Hall should be maintained and enhanced
• The Croft should be preserved and protected.
• The playground is a valued resource for younger children and should be maintained.

The Parish Council and Village Hall Committee are pursuing a comprehensive and continuing programme of enhancements to the Village Hall and associated amenities. These proposals seek to exploit opportunities for grants which are available to support these initiatives.

7.7.2 Tourism

Scrooby should take account of visitors interested in the Pilgrim Fathers. It can be disappointing for visitors, who have often travelled many thousand of miles to see Scrooby, that the Manor with its historic connotations including the wall decorated with historic plaques from the New England colonies remains hidden from view. We should remember that it only takes a film or a TV programme and visiting Scrooby could suddenly be a fashionable and desirable tourist destination.

• The information on the Pilgrim Fathers should be extended.
• There should be improved access to the Church
• There needs to be an awareness of the potential impact of increased traffic, including tour buses on the centre of the village, if Scrooby became a popular tourist destination.
• There should be arrangments in place to permit limited access to the exterior of the Manor House. As there is no longer a dairy farm on the site, this should be feasible without affecting the privacy of residents.

Any proposals for development in respect of tourism should take note of Policy 2/15.

7.7.3 Wildlife

• The Whinze should be preserved and maintained
• Features of the village environment that help wildlife should be preserved, particularly trees and hedges within the village itself
• The village should plan to for the challenge of restoration and management of the quarry to the south-east of the village. The owner has offered this area to the village once quarrying is complete. This could provide a substantial recreational area plus a significant nature reserve.

Scrooby Manor House