Notes from the Parish Plan Open Forum

The purpose of the meeting was to:

• provide and update on progress to date
• give an opportunity for ideas and comments on the issues raised so far 
• seek advice on key questions for the village questionnaire
• encourage volunteers and support for the next phase - in particular assistance in setting the questions and distributing/collecting the completed questionnaires. 

For the Parish Plan to have maximum impact and credibility it is important that the right questions are asked and that we achieve a high number of returned questionnaires.

The meeting heard that the organisers of the Roade Parish Plan have told us of the real benefits to the community which have come from their project, for example increased community spirit and involvement and three new village clubs, including a youth club. Their Parish Plan, backed up by a high number of returned questionnaires, has an influence on what happens in the village and local councils respond well because the views of residents are already known. The Roade Parish Plan provided the platform for producing their ‘Roade Master Plan’ for future development in the village.

Initial feedback on the like/dislike mini-questionnaires distributed in the autumn had been put together into a list of improvement issues for the village. People at the meeting were asked to comment on this list and to contribute ideas for the questionnaire under seven headings:

• Community and community spirit
• Housing, development and local infrastructure
• Village facilities
• Facilities for children and young people
• Local environment
• Support for older people
• Anti-social behaviour and crime

Those attending were invited a choose a topic of particular interest, review the issues that had been raised and, more importantly, add any they felt had been missed. General feedback from those present was that most of the issues had been identified but some useful new ideas came out of the meeting.

The list of possible improvement issues has been updated since the meeting.  The revised list is below.

In summing up, the importance of getting the questionnaire right was again stressed as was the need for support and assistance in getting the questionnaire out and back and in writing the plan once the questionnaire results have been analysed

If you have a particular interest in one of the identified areas of concern and feel you would like to add your views, be involved in formulating the questionnaire or in any other way please contact the Parish Plan secretary, Derek Hawley (email: derekfhawley@btinternet.com) or ring 01604 863169.

Hartwell Parish Plan – What would you like to see improved in the future? – initial survey and January meeting

• Better communication between community groups - community involvement and community spirit - get community together – special village events
• Improved community centre
• Faster broadband
• Organised leisure groups
• Good quality roads and pavements - pot holes – speed of repairs -footpaths levelled renewed
• Public transport - better bus services
• Medical centre
• Pub to sell meals/food + more involved in village activities – improved generally
• Longer shop opening hours – new shops
• Parking on some roads 
• Improved play area and equipment 
• More activities for kids – clubs – holiday schemes
• Youth facilities/ structured activities for young people – facilities for children 0-16
• Crossing outside primary school
• No wind farm
• Continued housing development aesthetically in keeping with village
• Structured development – housing, including more affordable houses; small business facilities
• Affordable bungalows for older people to downsize
• Stop building houses
• Keep identity as village
• Village arrangements to support the elderly and promote good neighbourliness
• Litter
• Dog fouling
• More frequent black bin collection
• Speeding
• Community policing, more police presence to reduce anti-social behaviour
• Kissing gates instead of stiles on footpaths – elderly and disabled access - hedges cut back on public footpaths
• Safe, smooth footpath to Forest for wheelchairs, push chairs and mobility scooters
• Seats around the village