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Can the Parish Plan be carried out with other projects?

Budleigh Salterton Seafront

The District Council welcomes the combination of Parish Plans and other community projects such as Village Appraisals or Village Design Statements. Combining several projects is often much more cost and time effective than undertaking them in isolation and the production of a single questionnaire rather than several avoids local residents suffering from 'consultation fatigue'. If a Parish Plan and Village Design Statement are to be undertaken at the same time, simply expand the questions to form a single survey and consider holding public meetings and consultation events which address both (related) subjects. One local parish took this concept a stage further recently and, as well as combining questions relating to a Parish Plan and Village Design Statement in a survey, a form was included so that residents could join various voluntary projects. As a result volunteer numbers more than doubled and now almost 15% of the village are involved in community projects.!

Asking a wide range of relevant questions has other benefits too- survey data can be used to support funding bids and, where a need for a particular facility or service can be proven, the planning system may be able to secure it, for instance affordable housing.

If you would like to take this approach further please contact Frank Woolston, Senior Planning Officer on 01395 516551 ext 2282 or email fwoolston@eastdevon.gov.uk to discuss it as innovative ideas are constantly being put forward and communities can benefit greatly from sharing such ideas.

Page last updated on 25 May 2012