A helping hand for Parish Plans
Winchester City Council, East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council joined forces recently to help communities in the two districts progress their parish plans.
A total of eight parishes sent representatives to a surgery event, where they met with officers of the three councils and partner organisations to take forward ideas and projects emerging from their parish plans. Issues discussed ranged from parking, speeding and bus routes to adult education; affordable housing to creation of a youth council; footpath maintenance to affordable housing.
All parishes felt that progress was made at the event, enjoying the opportunity to meet with the officers involved and also to network with others working on a plan of their own.
The event was the first of its type in the Winchester and East Hampshire districts and was a pilot to test the demand for this type of support. A further event of this type is now likely to take place in 2009.
This is one of a number of ways in which officers at Winchester City Council and its partner organisations can support parish plans. If you would like some help, or you are interested in starting a parish plan in your area, please contact the Community Planning Manager, Steve Lincoln, on 01962 848 110 or slincoln@winchester.gov.uk.