Helmdon Parish Plan 1

The Helmdon Parish Plan - a footpath to Helmdon's future.

The Parish Plan group held a Future Needs Day on Saturday 2nd August from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the school hall. A Future Needs Day is a way in which people express their ideas, attitudes and opinions about the place in which they live and how they would like to see it develop in the future. It was the first community-wide consultation in the Parish Plan process and its aims were to:

• establish the likely needs of the community over the next five, ten, fifteen and twenty years as perceived by the members of that community.

• encourage all members of the community to express their views and opinions on the current and future needs of the community.

• raise awareness of the project among members of the community.

Helmdon is an active village with good community spirit so it was no surprise that 235 people turned out for the day, approximately 25% of the total population.

Villagers sharing their thoughts and views.

Villagers were also joined by County Councillor James Shepherd-Cross, District Councillor and Chairman of SNC, Robin Digby, Northants ACRE Senior Rural Officer Rachael Abbott, and Helmdon's two newest crimebusters, PCSOs Suzanne Bourne and Jemma Simkins.

Good weather helped the attendance figures, as did the lure of Bernie's Barbecue which served burgers and hot dogs throughout the day. A team of willing helpers served tea and orange juice to ensure that thirst or hunger didn't send anyone home too early!

Although the turnout was very pleasing, and was just reward for all the effort put in by the contributors, it is the quantity and quality of the feedback received that is the acid test of the day's success, and judging by the reaction of the Topic Group leaders after the event there was plenty! It will take many weeks to sift through all the comments and ideas received but the Steering Group hopes to provide a short report to the village at the Carnival on August 25th.

The next consultation step in the Parish Plan process will be a questionnaire, based on the findings of the Future Needs Day, that will be distributed to every household in the village in October/November.

The Steering Group would like to thank everyone who attended on Saturday for their interest and input and also thanks to all those that have helped, supported or encouraged those involved in the Parish Plan in any way.

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