What's wrong with Parish Plans
Parish Plans were introduced in 2000 to enhance community participation in the planning process. ECDC agreed on 14 December 2006 that it would feed Parish Plans into its Local Development Framework. ECDC NOW HAD TO FIND SOME PARISH PLANS HOW DID IT DO THIS?
At the January 2007 Parish Council Meeting Hazel Williams and Allen Alderson both moved into action. Hazel in particular was very forthright in her demand that our PC should agree to a Parish Plan. There was mention that it was a requirement for Quality Status, that it would be a help in obtaining grants, that the PC cannot be sure of knowing the opinion of the village unless it has sent out a questionnaire, that there is a need to get the opinion of all those who never go to any event, never take part in anything, and who never read the magazine, and that the opinion of the village and PC will be ignored without a Parish Plan (PP).
What neither Hazel nor Allen mentioned was the December 2006 agreement made by ECDC, why they had made it, and whether there were any strings attached which made ECDC adopt such a hard sell. What pressure was being put on ECDC which made it begin to put such pressure on local parish councils? We still don't know. Meanwhile the PC kicked the PP into touch.
A year or so later John Jordan joined the PC and immediately raised the issue of PPs with Hazel, Allen, and David Almond supporting. It was discussed at the Annual Village Assembly (AVA) during which Allen again stressed that our views would be ignored if we failed to complete a PP. He did admit that our failure to have a Plan would not affect any application for grant money.
MEANWHILE our neighbours in Swaffham Bulbeck already had a PP but it has not been made available to Prior. When asking some active Bulbeckians about their PP they just give a bemused grin. One said that it had been shown to ECDC who told then to "buzz off"(or similar but stronger). Burwell also has a PP which according to Hazel was so labour and time intensive that she would never want to do it again. In his report of the AVA John Chalmers identified from the "helpful brochures"a "mere 49 bullet points for primary actions."What a recommendation! As far as I know no-one in Prior has seen the Burwell Plan. So we are being bludgeoned into having a PP without anyone daring to show us plans which would prove the value.
BUT, at the AVA, copies of the Haddenham and Aldreth Parish Plan were made available. Hazel at a PC meeting had considered this to be a model example of a PP so it is worth looking at in some detail.
The introductory remarks include the astonishing statement that "according to the 2001 Census the population was equally female and male"which means that in Haddenham exists the largest number of hermaphrodites ever collected in one place. Then we learn that only the "active citizens"participated with "about 54% of the Parish involved in the residents'survey." Why does Hazel find this acceptable for Haddenham and not for Prior?
Now to the Haddenham Plan itself. I will ignore in this lavish four coloured 24 page glossy production all the flim flam, coloured pictures, village background etc and just look at what proportion of the information could sensibly be incorporated into a Local Development Framework. I do not see anything. All are of local interest and importance, to be dealt with by an effective Parish Council which I am sure Haddenham has. The list of "Quick Wins"of which Hazel is so proud is:-
- Move bus stops 50-100 yards
- Create pedestrian crossing for Surgery
- Install bus shelters at some bus stops
- Install a seat (with backrest) on village green
- Improve area around telephone box into little garden
- Design and erect village sign for Aldreth.
It may be thought that I have been unfairly selective but this is the full list of Quick Wins and it is pretty representative of the whole Plan! I have photocopies of the four page detailed action plan for anyone who wishes to borrow one. After reading it please let me, or the Parish Council, or the Crier know if you can find anything which could influence any Local Development Framework, or Structure, or whatever it may be called tomorrow.
My apologies to Haddenham. I do not wish to be disrespectful, it is a great LOCAL PLAN, for local action, and that is all.