A number of projects have been completed or are ongoing in Harborough District. For further details please contact Samuel Howlett showlett@ruralcc.org.uk. 0116 2689 709

Tilton & Halstead

The Tilton on the Hill Parish Plan was launched to an audience of local residents, and service provider representatives on Tuesday 23rd September 2008. The Parish Plan was completed in just over 12 months and during that time the Tilton group achieved a great deal. Tennis coaching started free of charge for young people, play rangers from Harborough will be visiting the village to work with the young people;

The survey also outlined a need for more affordable housing to enable people to stay in the parish, Richard Windley the Rural Housing Enabler has offered his services to work with the community to help them to address this need.

As a result of the Parish Plan the group 'Tilton Green' was established to help tackle climate change issues. A film showing initiatives from a similar community was shown to indicate the potential projects that 'Tilton Green' would be considering in the future. Recently the group have successfully been awarded £7000 funding to help the community tackle climate change.

A full copy of Tilton and Halstead Parish Plan can be downloaded at the bottom of this page

Community Group win almost £7,000 to tackle climate change

Tilton Green a group formed by the residents of Tilton On The Hill to tackle climate change issues, have been successful in gaining £6,907 of a £10,000 grant fund. The one off CO2 fund was offered across the East Midlands by GOEM (Government Office East Midlands) to help communities to tackle climate change issues and make their communities Greener. Tilton Green applied following a need identified in their Parish Plan.

The fund was launched at 2 Climate Friendly Communities seminars held in Leicestershire in October and run by The Rural Community Council (Leicestershire & Rutland) working with ENABLE (Environmental Action for a Better Leicestershire).

The grant will enable Tilton Green to

o Prepare ‘Act on CO2’ resource packs which will be used in their own community and shared with other Local Parishes

o Circulate Tilton Green Newsletters in the community

o Prepare Act on CO2 resource packs for children which will be used with the school to encourage families to undertake Green initiatives.

o Hold a Homes and Gardens of the Future event.

o Carry out an energy performance survey/feasibility study and action plan for Tilton Village Hall to enable them to apply for suitable funding and make the building energy efficient

o Promote and increase uptake of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology at the household level

The group received practical help and support from The Rural Community Council in carrying out their Parish Plan, setting up the Tilton Green Group and submitting the application.

TILTON GREEN successfully applied to become a ‘starter’ ‘Climate Friendly Community’ with funding and support from ENABLE (Environmental Action for a Better Leicestershire) and Leicestershire Rural Partnership. They have already undertaken a number of initiatives, holding an energy efficiency day, staged a showing of the Al Gore film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and promoted recycling initiatives.

The Rural Community Council will be working closely with Tilton Green to encourage other Community Groups to make use of the resource packs and toolkits so that the project will benefit many other communities across Leicestershire and Rutland.

Miriam Stoate driving force behind the group said

‘This is great news and we are delighted to have scooped such an award, there are lots of things that the community want to do to make Tilton a ‘Greener’ community for the future and this will help us on our way, as well as enabling us to help other communities. We are keen to look at and promote renewable energy initiatives for the community as well.’

Environmental Action for A Better Leicestershire (ENABLE) is a countywide environmental partnership for the protection and enhancement of the environment.

For more information contact dcook@ruralcc.org.uk.0116 2689706

Mowsley

Mowsley is the most recent community in the district of Harborough to embark on the process of completing a Parish Plan. Since the initial open meeting held on 8th December 2008 the newly formed steering group have began to put together a draft questionnaire which is to be distributed throughout the community. The group are also liasing with the local Primary School with a view to consulting with the children and young people living in the Parish.

If you live in Mowsley and want to get involved with this project or would like further information please contact Community Development Officer Samuel Howlett - - showlett@ruralcc.org.uk. 0116 2689709

Ullesthorpe

Ullesthorpe began consulting with local people in 2007 and received a healthy response rate of 50% to its initial questionnaire. Inspired by this and wanting to explore the issues highlighted further, a highly successful open day was held on March 16th 2008 with over 200 people in attendance. The extremely pro-active steering group who are overseeing the project have now analysed the results of the public consultation and published a final report and action plan.

The official launch for the Parish Plan took place in February 2009 and was based around the theme of "We Love Ullesthorpe". The event was supported by all sections of the community and included a stage show involving local school pupils, members of the kids club and older residents talking about their memories of the village.

The community have now moved on to work with the parish council and other service providers to focus on the implementation of the action plan.

A full copy of 'A Plan for Ullesthorpe 2009 - 2014' can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Further information can be sought from Community Development Officer, Samuel Howlett - showlett@ruralcc.org.uk.

Scraptoft

Scraptoft's Parish Plan was completed in Early 2009 and the group have now published a final action plan and report which has been distributed throughout the parish. The steering group are now moving on to oversee the implementation of the action plan with many of the concerns raised already being tackled. A thriving Neighbourhood Watch scheme is now in full flow, hedges have been cut back around the Village Hall, volunteer litter picks have been held and the community have taken part in a Community Speed Watch Programme.

A full copy of the Scraptoft Parish Plan is available to download at the bottom of this page.

Further information can be sought from Community Development Officer, Samuel Howlett showlett@ruralcc.org.uk.

Dunton Bassett

Dunton Bassett is one of the more recent communities within the District of Harborough to undertake a Parish Plan. A large and vibrant steering group formed in October 2007 who are overseeing the project. In December 07, a ‘Christmas drinks and mince pie evening’ was held which was the first opportunity for local residents to voice their concerns. In May 2008, a separate adult and youth questionnaire was distributed to parishioners receiving a response rate of approximately 60%, as well as identifying over 100 new volunteers.

The group completed and published the Parish Plan report in January 2009 and held a successful launch event in Dunton Bassett Village Hall which was well attended by the local community.

The steering group have now split into 8 focus groups to oversee the implementation of specific actions identified within the Parish Plan process.

Further information can be sought from Community Development Officer, Samuel Howlett - showlett@ruralcc.org.uk.

Fleckney

Work began in March 2007 with an open meeting and the formation of a steering group . The group are dedicated to the project and meet regularly in the village library. In November 2008 an adult questionnaire was distributed throughout the Parish which received 351 responses.

One of the top priorities of the group was to consult children and young people in the Parish to which a specialised youth questionnaire was distributed in the autumn of 2008 and received 178 responses. To date, they have also organized an art competition in conjunction with Fleckney C of E Primary School. Children were asked to draw their likes and dislikes about living in Fleckney. The successful winner was Naran Darjas with a picture of his favourite place; the Village duck pond!

To find out more information please log onto the Fleckney Parish Plan link below or contact Community Development Officer, Samuel Howlett - showlett@ruralcc.org.uk..

Claybrooke Magna and Claybrooke Parva

Claybrooke Parva and Claybrooke Magna launched their report and action plan on Saturday 21st June.
Trevor Dawes, Chairman of the Parish Plan Group introduced the report and action plan, with an explanation of the value of Parish Plans from Hazel Fish from the Rural Community Council. Copies were available for all villagers and have been distributed to every household. Trevor invited villagers to sign up for many new activities, including an environmental, heritage and neighbourhood watch group at the champagne reception. At the launch, there was a slide show about the Village Plan which ran continuously for the 2 days of the Village Fete, with sign-up sheets as well as displays from the school and local artists. Cllr Rosita Page was in attendance and responses were displayed from both Leicestershire County Council and Harborough District Council.
Many of the actions have already been started and were shown in the displays, such as the increasing the use of the Village Hall and the provision of a revitalised play area.
Full details of the Plan can be viewed below.For information contact Hazel Fish Tel 01162689707 hfish@ruralcc.org.uk

Peatling Magna

Analysis of the results is underway in Peatling Magna. Watch this space! For information contact hfish@ruralcc.org.uk

Husbands Bosworth

Husbands Bosworth is one of the many parishes that completed a Parish Plan in 2006. Two years on, there has been a litany of achievements. The village playground was revamped with the assistance of a £10,000 Shires grant, a new dance group started in January of this year, a new youth shelter has been installed and a neighbourhood watch scheme has been established.
In keeping with current issues, a new plastic recycling centre has been provided and the parish council is considering commissioning a rural housing needs survey with a view of providing affordable housing in the parish.
These are just a few of the many benefits that can be drawn from a community led and driven exercise such as a Parish Plan.
For further information on Husbands Bosworth please contact Community Development Officer Hazel Fish hfish@ruralcc.org.uk .

Completed Parish Plans

You can download completed Parish Plans in Harborough below: