Parish Plan

The Parish Plan

A proposal was put forward at the February Parish Forum to produce a Parish Plan. This was discussed at the March Parish Council meeting and agreed it would be worthwhile to produce such a document.

There are a number of ways of collating the necessary information to achieve this which is open for discussion.

The easiest is to start with a Parish Appraisal, thereby building up a certain amount of varying information, creating a base for the Parish Plan.

Listed below are some of the items for consideration by the steering committee that is prepared to take on this role.

Setting up this working party is paramount to achieving the objectives that will be required to produce the document.

Areas of build up

	Parish Appraisal
	Parish Plan
	Parish Design Statement

Parish Appraisal

	Use as start up information re Great Notley Parish Plan
	To achieve funding

Content

	Overview of parish - Geographical & Historical
	Traffic and Transport problems
	Protection and care of green areas and open spaces
	Progress re building of church
	Footpaths / lights
	Flooding
	Policing / anti social behaviour
	Local amenities
	Population
	Demographics / Locations / Photographs
	General activities

Volunteers

	Steering group 8 - 12 people
	Sub groups 3-4 people to suit requirement
	Other helpers

Constitution - Principle on which a Parish Plan is set up

How to obtain this information:

	Questionnaire
	Village fete contact with residents
	Flip charts
	Village concerns
	Verbal communication
	Issues and activities
	Conservation
	Colour coded problems
	What are the problems
	Improvements

Parish Plan

	Discuss information gathered from village appraisal
	Transfer relevant data to plan

Content

	Introduction
	Type of parish
	History
	Geography
	Benefits / disadvantages
	Green areas / parks
	New additions - church, shops etc
	Consultative groups
	Local views
	Local concerns
	New developments
	Stansted Airport / New roads / Race course etc.
	Neighbour Watch Scheme
	Speed limits / traffic management
	Car parking
	Good Neighbourhood scheme
	Drainage / Flooding systems
	Education facilities / size
	Vandalism / Anti Social Behaviour
	Recreational facilities (for all ages)
	Home security
	Personal security
	Area map
	Parish Council contact
	District Council contact
	County Council contact
	Parish Plan to district planning policy

Publicity:

Great Notley TIMES

Notice boards

Website

Flyers

Newspapers

Radio / TV interviews

	Time / effort afforded by volunteers re meeting, workshops, questionnaires etc.
	Social elements
	Economic elements
	Environmental elements
	Health elements

This list is not exhaustive but gives a good indication of the scope and variety of topics to be covered. No doubt the list will be added to by the steering group.

This is long term project requiring time and effort from interested residents.

When completed it may be decided to produce a follow on Parish Design Statement.

Conclusion

To produce a Parish Plan is very time consuming, and according to information available, it could require 8 - 10 people of varying experience to produce it.

This will need to be a team effort by a number of volunteers, keen and enthusiastic to produce a document, which will be used by Great Notley residents and the Parish Council for promoting all the hamlets of the parish in which we live, work and play.

The Parish Council will do all it can to help to get the project off the ground, and there would be funding available at the appropriate times.

I must emphasize that this is a project that is to be carried out by a steering group of residents, with input from every household should they wish to contribute. It is not a Parish Council run project.

The annual Great Notley fete would be a good place to get ideas and volunteers to start the project, and the Parish Council is to set up a stall there.

Anyone interested in this unique and challenging project should contact the Parish Clerk for information relating to how to volunteer.

Angela Balcombe, Clerk to the Great Notley Parish Council, Tel: 01376 528081 E-mail Clerk@greatnotley.gov.uk