What is a Parish Plan?
In 2000, the Government published a white paper entitled "Our Countryside, the Future" in which they proposed that all rural communities should develop town, village or parish plans to enable the need of the community to be identified. The Countryside Agency summarises Parish Plans as:
- Parish Plans are local action-based plans, which address a range of problems and opportunities affecting rural communities.
- They can include social, economic and environmental issues.
- The whole community should be involved in producing the Parish Plan, with the parish council taking lead responsibility.
- The Parish Plan must be consistent with related policies set out in the local authority's planning documents and local strategic partnerships.
- The plan should be based on information provided through survey, research, consultation and community participation.
- Parish Plans identify actions, which can be taken forward by the parish council, by other individuals and groups within the community or by other service providers and statutory bodies.
Development of our Parish Plan.
Following a public meeting on 27th May 2004, a committee of volunteers was set up to develop the Costessey Parish Plan. This committee has obtained grants from Awards for All, South Norfolk Small Grants Fund and South Norfolk Council and has held events to fund the Plan development. To gather residents’ views and ideas about how Costessey could be improved for the future:
- Open days were held in Breckland Hall on 24th September 2005 at the Parish Room on 15th October which were attended by about 340 residents who gave more than 520 comments.
- These and other comments have been incorporated in a questionnaire that is being delivered to all Costessey households.
Once the completed questionnaires have been analysed a Parish Plan will be produced and made available to all residents of Costessey. This Plan will identify actions that are needed to improve life in Costessey.
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The Parish Plan was first considered in 2004 and finally published in 2006. It is reprinted here in full. Please note that much has changed since its publication. However, it remains a valuable consultation document.