Hpp update aug05

HELMDON PARISH PLAN UPDATE
PUBLISHED BY THE PARISH PLAN MONITORING GROUP AUGUST 2005
I n August 2003 the village held a “Future Needs Day” in order that residents be afforded the opportunity to have their say in the development of village facilities.
This lead to the formulation of a “Parish Plan”. Two years on, after much work behind the scenes, the Parish Plan Monitoring Group have put together this newsletter outlining some of the successful developments arising from the plan and in the interest of balance, some of the ideas that have come to nothing.
HAFWEG
W hen the Helmdon Village Plan Survey results were analysed there was clear evidence of a widespread interest in, and concern for, all aspects of our local environment, and so a meeting was organised to which all those who had expressed such an interest were invited. At the meeting it was agreed that a formal group should be set up to dis-
cuss and act upon the various issues which had been raised in response to the Survey. Those present agreed that it was important to have young people well-represented on the committee and there is now a substantial and very active student group.
It was agreed subsequently that the group should be called the Helmdon, Astwell and Falcutt Wildlife and Environment Group, or HAFWEG. The aim of HAFWEG is basically to promote work and activities which will serve to protect and enhance the environment of Helmdon and the adjacent areas.
To date activities have included:
… clearing / tidying the School Conservation Area
… a study of local grasses led by Dr Barry Meatyard of The University of Warwick
… a talk by John Clewes of the RSPB
… clearing / tidying the footpath alongside the allotments to the south of Jenners’ Piece. This activity was done in conjunction with the Parish
Paths Group.
Fund raising events have included:
… a Pub Quiz held in the Bell Inn
… a HAFWEG Event held in Helmdon School
HELMDON
PRESENTS…
H elmdon Presents… is a group that has been formed to coordinate what we hope will turn out to be a wide range of cultural activities.
We are hoping to arrange outings to theatres and concerts, hold exhibitions of arts and crafts in the village, and are discussing the feasibility of having a
fi lm society.
We have secured a touring theatre company to per-
form “Talking Heads” by Alan Bennett on Saturday
26th November at Helmdon church. Look out for further information around the village nearer the time.
Anyone who has any ideas or suggestions, or would like more information should contact Christine
Bridger on [phone number removed] or Morag Underwood on
[phone number removed].
WE’VE COME A
LONG WAY
O ther issues noted as giving rise for concern at the time of the original survey were:
Better public transport: We now enjoy vastly im-
proved bus services to Brackley & Banbury
More recycling: SNC has recently succesfully extended its recycling scheme to the village and surrounding area
All these events have been well supported and our fund-raising has been very successful, provid-
ing us with much needed funds for running costs, fees and / or expenses for speakers and the quite expensive insurance cover, which is essential for all our activities.
Broadband: Thanks to a spirited campaign it’s here!
Anyone interested is most welcome to join the group but non-group members are invited to attend any of our activities, including our group meetings. Our next activity is planned for the 30th August when we will be clearing another area of footpath. The details of this will be published nearer to the time. Our next meeting will be our AGM in October and the details of this will also be published later. Up-to-
date information will always be available from the village web-site, or from Niki Phillips, Chair of
HAFWEG, telephone [phone number removed] or email: ed.phillips
@ntlworld.com.
W
About the
P.P.M.G.
On Tuesday 9th August members of HAFWEG and the Parish Paths Group combined forces to hold a workparty to cut back the hedge adjacent to the footpath running through the allotments.
The Ones That
Got Away hilst serious consideration has been given to all the ideas arising from the survey conducted at the “Future Needs Day”, for a variety of reasons a number of suggestions have not come to fruition
(yet). Examples include proposals for a village bonfi re/fi rework display and a pancake race, both scuppered by insurance implications.
A further non-starter was a gardening club, this time due to lack of support. The possibility of joining forces with the neighbouring club at Sulgrave was investigated, but sadly this too has now folded due to lack of support. You can’t win them all!
Following publication of the Parish Plan, The Parish
Plan Monitoring Group was established with the aim of ensuring that the plan is implemented. Its role is not to undertake this work itself (the tasks identi-
fi ed will in some cases take much effort and many
PARISH PATHS
GROUP
A further positive outcome of the village “Future
Needs Day” held in August 2003 is the re-establish-
ment of a “Parish Paths Group” which, in conjunction with Ren Gittens, the parish council’s Parish Paths
Warden, will endeavour to maintain and improve the many paths in and around the village.
The Parish Paths Warden is appointed by and works in conjunction with the County Council, to monitor the condition of paths and bridleways on a local level. The establishment of a group of volunteers to support Ren in his work will enable us to spread the task of monitoring our wide network of routes. We are also hoping, with the support of the County Council and permission of the relevant landowners, to undertake occasional work par-
ties to repair and improve paths at problem locations.
To this end, we have already completed a survey of the paths in the centre of the village and identifi ed a number of problems, together with possible solutions. We are hoping to hold a number of work parties shortly.
Anyone wishing to lend a hand would be most welcome to join us. Please contact Ren Gittens on [phone number removed] or
Mike Barnes on [phone number removed].
years), but to encourage and assist the residents of
Helmdon to become involved in shaping the future of their village. To this end it has a small budget to provide seed-funding for suitable projects. For further information please contact Danny Moody on [phone number removed].