Aughton and Swallownest Ward Plan
Introduction
Providing vibrant, connected and safe neighbourhoods is a priority for Rotherham Council and communities are at the heart of everything we do. We were elected as your Holderness Ward Councillors to listen to your views and work with you to make a difference in the local community.
We know many of our residents are passionate about making their community a better place to live and we are here to work in partnership and make these improvements a reality. In order to develop this Ward plan we spoke to you to find out what matters the most. We did this through a number of events and just by speaking to you whilst out and about in the community.
The priorities laid out in this plan will contribute to three key outcomes which are set out in ‘Thriving Neighbourhoods’, our neighbourhood strategy for 2018- 2025:
- Neighbourhoods are safe and welcoming with good community spirit
- Residents are happy, healthy and love where they live
- Residents use their skills and assets to contribute to the outcomes that matter to them.
We’re now looking forward to working together to make these priorities come to life. The Ward plan will be updated regularly and placed on the Council website so everyone can see what’s being achieved in Holderness. If you haven’t yet been involved but want to have your say, it’s not too late. Our contact details are included on our ward page.
The Ward today
The Holderness Ward is in the south of the borough. It includes junction 31 of the M1 motorway and contains the villages of Aston and Aughton plus a part of Swallownest. Buildings of interest in the village include Aston Manor and an extensive 12th Century church.
The villages of Aston and Aughton were recorded in the Domesday Book as “Estone” and “Hacstone”, meaning the east farmstead and the oak-tree farmstead respectively. Swallownest took its name from the Swallow family who had a farm nearby. Coal mining was the major industry in this area and was largely responsible for its population growth. The nearby Brookhouse Colliery opened in the 19th Century, closing in 1985.
The Population of Holderness is 12,300 and has increased since 2011 at a similar rate to the Rotherham average. Deprivation is below average in Holderness, and in most of the ward it is below the national average. Generally, Holderness ward is much better than average for health and lifestyle indicators. The proportion of people claiming benefits of all types in Holderness is below the Rotherham average.
Ward priorities
For the municipal year 2020/21 your ward councillors have taken a look at refreshing the local priorities to help meet the needs of the community. After consulting with partners, internal colleagues and, most importantly, the community, the following priorities have been agreed
- To continue to support initiatives that address mental health issues, social isolation, loneliness and well -being particularly those residents and groups that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic
- Develop and support initiatives around crime and community safety
- Develop and support initiatives that will improve the environment and neighbourhood