What is it all about?

Some time ago I was asked by the Parish Council to set up a Steering Committee to collect the views and ideas of everyone in our parish as the first stage in developing a document called 'THE PARISH PLAN'.

The purpose of this document, which will be presented to East Devon District Council, is to provide a blueprint for how we see the parish developing over the next 20 years. It is particularly important to do this work given the impending arrival the Cranbrook new community on the other side of the old A30 and will enable the Parish Council to respond to planning issues from a sound basis of knowing what people actually want and need.

On the 3rd Of March a group of 10 met at Rockbeare Vicarage to discuss how to take this work forward.

Roles were agreed as follows :

  • Ivan Randall - Chair
  • David Hooper - Treasurer
  • Dave Miller - Secretary
  • Shaun Forsyth - Website

We decided to take advantage of the new magazine which aims to reach all homes in the parish.

Our aim is to listen and take on board your constructive ideas, views, thoughts and concerns for the future of our parish. Working together we can build a better community which will benefit our lives and those of the next generation.

Ivan Randall

The Background to Parish Plans

The Government's November 2000 Rural White Paper stated that Parish Plans should "identify key facilities and services, set out the problems that need to be tackled and demonstrate how distinctive character and features can be preserved". They should set out a vision for the community in the future and identify the action needed to tackle issues of concern in addition to including everything that is relevant to the people who live and work in the community, from employment needs to playgrounds. The Parish Plan should consult everyone and give them a chance to say what they think about the social, economic and environmental issues affecting them and how they’d like to see their community improved during the next 5, 10 or even 15 years. The whole community has to be involved, not just those who come along to Parish Council meetings.

source http://www.devonrcc.org.uk