WHY A PARISH PLAN ?

Having a Parish Plan gives a number of advantages:

- Any subsequent projects/grant applications which help address the Action Plan will be sympathetically viewed by organisations like the Countryside Agency.
- The plan will give a clear lead to the District, County and Regional government bodies of the views of Wolsingham inhabitants on the issues affecting them within the parish. Given expenditure constraints, this is probably the only way that such local views on local issues will be properly represented.
- The plan will “inform” the new district local planning framework, in respect of parish issues. The planning authority could adopt the Parish Plan as local policy for Wolsingham.


In summary therefore, if we develop a professional objective plan, with demonstrable community support, we will have a very powerful tool to help shape the future of the Parish to meet the wishes of its inhabitants.

The general methodology seems to be to set up a “management” group to drive the project along, consisting of some parish councillors plus other local organisations and individuals.

In concept, the group determines through a range of consultations (eg events, meetings, questionnaires, etc.) and involving as many interested local parties as possible, the main issues, problems and opportunities facing the community. It then develops an action plan and policies to address them.

Examples and case studies of Parish Plans are available on the net at:
http://www.countryside.gov.uk/vitalvillages/grants/parishplans.asp

The Countryside Agency will contribute up to 75 % of the cost of preparation (subject to a maximum £5000 cash), with the balance paid by the Parish. However, 4 fifths of that can be “in-kind”. Therefore if we budget to use the full £5000, the Council will have to find £333.33 cash and £1333.33 of in-kind contribution.