Unfinished work

editors (JC)

In 2004 the parish council held a survey, asking more questions than the ten-yearly national Census. Two thirds of all households, and two thirds of parishioners aged 11 and over, took part in the Village Survey, an exceptional response.

Two years later a brochure was published, analysing the results of that survey, the 2006 Parish Plan. A little later an Action Plan was drawn up, principally by Alison Norman, one of the main organisers of the Village Survey and subsequent publications.

This is the 2009 update.

ACTION PLAN 2006

Where we are now (2009)

The full detail of the Action Plan further identifies: people and organisations responsible; resources needed; who should monitor progress; and how to judge our success.

We have deliberately chosen a limited number of targets and, hopefully, realistic deadlines for their completion.

1. THE ENVIRONMENT (IN PROGRESS)

As a parish we expressed strong concern in the survey about wildlife conservation, maintenance of footpaths, etc. Our first target is to “discuss and consult on use and management of parish-owned and -rented land”.

The Parish Council is taking a lead and setting an example[1]. It owns several plots of land – the Saw Pit (aka Village Green), the Clumps, the Stone Pit and Kell’s Heath. It rents and maintains others (Sports Field [today, Green Project]), on behalf of parishioners. It keeps an eye on the maintenance of footpaths within the Parish: Norfolk County Council and the Broads Authority do the cutting and clearing.

The following five actions/tasks have been selected. Estimated month of completion follows in brackets:

  1. Draw up a management file for each piece of land. Include agreed amenity use for each area; include any health & safety and insurance issues (September 2007).
  2. Take professional advice regarding active conservation regimes for each area (September 2007).
  3. Each file to include an appropriate maintenance regime (Sept 2007).
  4. Complete process of adding Snakes/Sandy Lane to Rights of Way map (pending): DONE
  5. Start a parish footpath group to help to maintain footpaths etc: DONE Continue good relationship with Broads Authority.

2. PRESERVING & IMPROVING VILLAGE AMENITIES

The Village (Memorial) Hall is owned and managed by the Parish as a whole. It is a key asset in an excellent location. Our second target is “to support the Hall committee in its plans to refurbish and make full use of the Memorial Hall”.

The following three actions/tasks have been selected: DONE

  1. Continue to give grant aid from the precept, Parish Council’s annual share of council tax (January 2006/7, 2007/8).
  2. Apply for planning permission from South Norfolk Council for future refurbishments as directed by the management committee.
  3. Use 2004 Village Survey results to support the hall committee in grant applications as directed by management committee.

Completion of 2-3 according to hall management committee’s time-scale.

Annual Parish Council contribution to Hall development fund; one-off Parish Council grant (Jan 2008) towards repairing and painting of windows, etc.

[See Village Hall website for its present range of activities]

Note Children’s Playground above Kells Estate now repaired and maintained [See Geldeston Village Park page on Facebook for the current state of the area created there for the recreation of all age groups.]

3. ROAD MAINTENANCE AND CLEANLINESS

Our third target is “to press for higher standards of road and path maintenance, cleanliness and safety (litter, dog-fouling, road maintenance, care of verges)”.

The following five actions/tasks have been selected:

  1. Review effect of our first dog-bin (Locks Lane) on path cleanliness. If deemed effective, budget for additional bins : DONE (two purchased: one installed, West End footpath; other to go opposite Village Hall)
  2. Review parish regarding litter issues and add appropriate action to this plan : DONE (Spring Litter Pick 2008).
  3. Continue to contact Norfolk County Council (NCC) over any maintenance needed on parish roads (ongoing).
  4. Continue to instigate a site meeting with NCC reps to review roads in the parish every 2 years or more frequently if needed (June 2006).
  5. Take advice about good conservation practice re the cutting of roadside verges. Press for NCC cutting regimes to follow this ‘best practice’ (April).

4. IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY

Adults and children, we drive and walk along the roads in the parish, ride bicycles or horses. It is important that locals and visitors feel safe and that all road users can enjoy their rights in safety. Our fourth target is “to devise measures to reduce the hazard of speeding traffic”.

The following five actions/tasks have been selected:

  1. Continue to press for a speed limit in Station Road. Collect evidence to strengthen the case for this improvement : DONE (2007), 30 mph extended from before Run Dyke to after Allotments.
  2. Request horse warning or pedestrian signs for the old main road at the top of West End (February 2006).
  3. Request use of a speed gun in the parish by the police in 2006 (April 06).
  4. Agree a date for the pedestrian survey along Station Road (July/August).
  5. Encourage individuals to report dangerous driving to the Police (ongoing).

5. COMPLETING & DISTRIBUTING PLAN DOCUMENTS

In October 2002 the parish heard a presentation about the Parish Plan scheme. We decided to go ahead; this document is the outcome. It has been suggested that we gather basic information and establish guidelines to deal with emergencies. Our fifth target is “to finalise and distribute the Parish, Flood and Emergency Plan details”.

The following two actions/tasks have been selected:

  1. Print Parish Plan. Distribute to all households in the Parish. Send in final grant forms. Send copies to all other interested parties : DONE (July 2006)
  2. Finish writing Flood and Emergency Plan. Print and distribute to all households in the Parish (August 2006).

6. POLICY ON DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING ISSUES

One of the Parish Council’s jobs is to examine planning applications before they go for a decision to South Norfolk Council or the Broads Authority. Opinion on such matters in the Village Survey was unmistakable and so our sixth and final target is to apply “a clear policy based on the survey results”.

The following three actions/tasks have been selected : ONGOING.

  1. In considering planning applications, respond to overwhelming public opinion: housing, commercial and holiday development should be sympathetic, small-scale infill only : DONE.
  2. In the LDF consultation process convey the strong feeling that the village housing stock should not increase by more than a few infill houses : DONE.
  3. Ensure that the parish retains its rural character, mindful of the features that respondents identified in the Survey.

Timescale for completion, ongoing with review in November 2007.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

We asked you what you thought and wanted (2004 “Village Survey”). Then we summarised and interpreted your opinions (2006 “Parish Plan” report). Having done that, we tried to select a first list of things to be done and by whom (“Action Plan”).

Some matters are, and remain, the responsibility of other organisations (see Contact List). In that case, thanks to the survey, we can tell those bodies more clearly and with more confidence what the inhabitants of our parish want and need.

[Several agencies are still to receive copies of Parish Plan] Other things the Parish Council can, and should, do.

IF THE ACTION PLAN IS LEFT UP TO THE SEVEN VOLUNTEER COUNCILLORS AND THE PART-TIME CLERK OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, IT’S UNLIKELY WE SHALL GET VERY FAR.

There’s plenty of room for other parish organisations and for individual residents to get involved. It need not take up much time or become a long-term commitment. And if you already have something you are doing or want to do that is not “on the list”, let us know: one excellent example of such initiative is the Parish or Community Composting Scheme [2006-2021].

THE FUNDING AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK

The Parish Plan process was jointly sponsored by the Countryside Agency and the Parish of Geldeston. The Agency provided 66% in the form of funds. Most of the rest was provided in volunteer hours by parishioners, parish councillors and the clerk to the parish council.

The parish gave its approval to the final Parish Plan report and the first Action Plan in spring 2006. Countryside Agency comments are pending. Thereafter the report findings and Action Plan targets and tasks must be consulted by the District Council, County Council and Broads Authority in their policies towards our parish.

NOTE

We’re still here, as a village and a parish council. In 2006, after seven years of existence, the functions of the Countryside Agency quango were divided up between Natural England and the Commission for Rural Communities (abolished in 2013).

[1] In 2007 the parish appointed its first Tree Warden, Mr Gascoyne, and work began restoring the Conservation Area established in the Churchyard by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust over twenty years ago.