Summary
Charmouth Parish
Council at its meeting of March 2009 commissioned a Parish Plan for the village.
The concept of Parish Plans was launched with the publication of the Rural White
Paper “Our Countryside the Future” in November 2000. The Council aims for the
Plan were to:-
·
Consult as widely as
possible with the members of the Charmouth Community in order to identify their
current local concerns on a range of subjects;
·
Give them the
opportunity to have a say about their aspirations for the future of the village;
·
From this
consultation prepare the Parish Plan and an appropriate Action Plan.
FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RESULTS OF THE
SURVEY OR
CONTINUE WITH THE INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF THE CHARMOUTH
PARISH.
Introduction
Any Parish Plan must identify the
matters of importance to the residents of the Parish so that they can have a
voice in how the village should develop. This Plan reflects these views and
seeks to preserve, enhance and develop our Parish so as to maintain our
prosperity, well being and quality of life. It will also
be an essential tool to advise our Parish, District and County Councils about
our social, economic and environmental concerns, so that local and area plans
and decisions take our needs into account.
It is based on information gathered
from meaningful consultation and community involvement, and identifies which
parts of their way of life people value. It also highlights some local problems
and ways to solve them and reflects the direction in which people want the
community to develop in the future.
The plan will be used by the Parish
Council to implement the recommendations: as a reference document for the Local
Area Plans for the neighbouring towns of Bridport and Lyme Regis and the
Community Plan for West Dorset. It will also be of value to service providers to
ensure that the needs of local people are recognised through direct action or
through changes in policy.
Charmouth Parish
The village of
Charmouth is situated on the West Dorset Coast in southwest England.
The name Charmouth
derives from the ancient Cernemude - the mouth of the (river) Cerne.
The name of the
village was first given in the Doomsday Book 1086. It is probable that the name
represented a far wider area at the time. The river is now to narrow for
navigation but there might have been a small harbour at its mouth. The primary
activity at the time concerned the production of salt. The Street, the main road
through the village, is of pre- Roman origin, an ancient route, runs from the
east to Axmouth, the southern end of the Fosse Way.
The Street rises
steeply from the river to the west, with linear settlement along its length.
From the centre of the village modern development follows a road running south
to the coast. From the centre westward, the historic developments continue to an
ancient major junction with roads both to Axminster and Lyme Regis. The Street
is defined as a conservation area because of the mixed historical structures
ranging from the early 16th to late 19th century.
The village is unique
in that it was a planned medieval community with the 13th century
boundaries defined by a wall to the north and formerly an earth bank at the
southern limit. This containment was divided into burgage plots that still form
property boundaries to this day. In recent times, the shops have developed in
the centre: the building consisting of 1930 structures that house a basic range
of services to the community.
In recent years the
village has grown; the demands for development within South West Dorset
Development Plan have had an impact upon the character of the village. Much of
the construction has answered the needs for second homes and retirement
property. The effect of these demands has caused such an increase in house
prices that the younger generation and existing residents cannot compete in the
local housing market.
Charmouth is situated
in an area defined as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To the west
and east of the village is ringed by hills, pastures and woodlands. To the south
within 300m, there are amenity beaches on a coast now designated as a World
Heritage Site. It is a world famous geological coastline, rich in fossils of the
Lower Jurassic for which Charmouth is renowned. There are also a number of
conservational designations for flora, fauna and marine life in the immediate
area.
The current
population of the village is 1320 but expands considerably in the summer months
with the holiday makers. There is a wide range of facilities that cater for the
visitors including caravan and camping areas within the village and the
immediate area.
.jpg)
