Melverley Parish Plan

2017

A vision for the next 5 years 2 Background

Melverley is a small from the original village school) where community in situated on annual community events are held the and the , throughout the year. The Parish has a near to the (Welsh) border. beautiful 13th century timber-framed At the time of the 2011 census the church. Unfortunately the Parish no population of the Parish was 156. longer has a Methodist Chapel or pub but the Royal Hill in Edgerley is the The Parish comprises Melverley and nearest of several pubs/restaurants not Melverley Green as village settlements far away, just over the Parish border. but it is overall a very rural setting. The surrounding countryside is a controlled The landscape is predominantly used flood area (water is allowed to flood for agriculture, but it also has a number the fields and naturally recedes when of tourism related businesses and two water levels in the rivers fall). Because wildlife areas. of this, scope for housing development The Parish has a close link to Kinnerley is minimal compared to other local in terms of provision for young people, areas. where the nearest primary school is In terms of facilities, there is a small but also located. The nearest doctor’s well equipped village hall (converted surgery is in Knockin.

3 Introduction

In May 2015 Melverley Parish Council which formed following the initial decided they would like to support community event, analysed the initial the production of a Parish Plan for the feedback and undertook a programme community and they embarked on of consultation to establish the views the process of initial fact finding and of local residents. This comprised a formation of a steering group to take resident’s questionnaire and a youth this further on their behalf. survey.

A Parish Plan is a document which The survey data was independently sets out a shared vision of how a analysed by staff from Shropshire Rural community wants their Parish to Communities Charity and a number of develop over the next five to ten years. issues were highlighted. A draft Action It will set out the aims and aspirations Plan was written and presented back of residents within the Parish and will to the community on 9th October 2016. identify strengths and weaknesses Following this event, and incorporating through community consultation. Parish further feedback, the final Action Plan Plans have been used both locally was written. This Action Plan has now in Shropshire, and by communities be adopted by the Parish Council countrywide to: who will take on the responsibility to facilitate and monitor (and report back ●● Highlight action which can be to the community) the actions to see taken that they are carried out, thus achieving ●● Pool knowledge, skills and the aspirations of the community. experience Thanks go to the residents of ●● Identify aspects of the community Melverley Parish who took the time which need to be preserved and to share their views and members improved of the steering group who gave up ●● Influence decisions by external their time to undertake the process. stakeholders Further thanks go to Shropshire Rural Communities Charity and Shropshire With help from a small grant from Council for their advice and guidance Shropshire Council, the steering group and financial support provided.

4 5 Action Plan

Issue Partners Date

Community Identity and Parish Plan Steering Group Summer 2017 * Family Life

Community Identity and Church and Village Hall committees, 2017 * Family Life Melverley PC

Community Identity and Shropshire Council, Melverley PC 2017 Family Life

Telescope Editorial Group, Melverley Communication 2017 * PC

Communication Melverley PC 2017 *

Roads and Transport Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017

Roads and Transport Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017

Appearance Melverley PC, Shropshire Council Autumn 2017 *

Appearance Volunteer led, Shropshire Council Autumn 2017

Appearance Melverley PC,Shropshire Council 2017 *

6 Issue Partners Date Action Outcome

Contact the residents who left their details Community Identity and Volunteers matched with suitable Parish Plan Steering Group Summer 2017 * and expressed the wish to get more involved Family Life projects. in the community.

Notify and Invite Committees for additional Additional Annual Community Event Community Identity and Church and Village Hall committees, 2017 * annual Parish event(s) possibly incorporating held. Joint fundraising activities Family Life Melverley PC some joint fund raising. achieved.

Community Identity and Lobby Shropshire Council on behalf of the Shropshire Council, Melverley PC 2017 Better broadband provision. Family Life residents.

Promote the Telescope to residents. Invite Telescope Editorial Group, Melverley A raised awareness of the Telescope Communication 2017 * Telescope to advertise themselves to PC among residents. residents, flyer and posters.

Communicate whereabouts of notice boards Communication Melverley PC 2017 * Improved noticeboard communication and advertise details of the PC.

Investigate and arrange for depth gauges to Roads and Transport Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017 Depth gauges on the Cilloe (Clewy). be installed on the Cilloe (Clewy).

Investigate and put in place new speed, Roads and Transport Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017 weight restrictions, narrow road and sharp Provision of road safety measures. bend signage.

Organise a litter picking and sign cleaning Community Litter Pick / Sign Cleaning Appearance Melverley PC, Shropshire Council Autumn 2017 * event. event held.

Research current schemes for tree planning Information regarding tree planting Appearance Volunteer led, Shropshire Council Autumn 2017 and inform residents. schemes made available.

Promote and improve the methods for An increase in the reporting and reporting fly tipping. Provide information Appearance Melverley PC,Shropshire Council 2017 * subsequent speedy removal of fly about how to report fly tipping to Shropshire tipping. Council.

* = Single action

7 Action Plan

Issue Partners Date

Community Safety and Melverley PC, Police and Community Spring 2017 * Security Safety Officer(s)

Community Safety and Melverley PC, Shropshire Council Spring 2017 Security

Community Safety and Melverley PC, Local Neighbourhood Spring 2017 * Security Watch group

Volunteer led, Local wildlife Environment Spring 2017 organisations

Volunteer led, Melverley PC, Spring / Summer Environment Shropshire Council 2017 *

Environment Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017 *

Local awareness of Melverley PC 2017 * Parish Council matters

Volunteer led group, Melverley PC Young people 2017 support

Heritage and History Volunteer led ongoing

Heritage and History Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017

8 Issue Partners Date Action Outcome Investigate a Community Safety event to allow Community Safety and Melverley PC, Police and Community Residents will know their Community Spring 2017 * residents to meet their Community Safety Security Safety Officer(s) Safety Officer(s). Officer(s).

Lobby Shropshire Council to install kissing Community Safety and Current stiles are a safety hazard in Melverley PC, Shropshire Council Spring 2017 gates instead of stiles between Melverley and Security flood situations Bontain

A raise in awareness amongst residents Community Safety and Melverley PC, Local Neighbourhood Publicise and promote the Neighbourhood Spring 2017 * of how to join the Neighbourhood Security Watch group Watch scheme. Watch scheme.

Contact and hold discussions with local wild Volunteer led, Local wildlife A raised knowledge of the Wildlife Environment Spring 2017 life groups on promotion of the local facilities/ organisations Reserves in the Parish. assets.

Contact and hold discussions with Shropshire Council Outdoor Team in order to ascertain Volunteer led, Melverley PC, Spring / Summer Improved Right of Way and access to Environment the viability of a Parish Paths Partnership Shropshire Council 2017 * the countryside. or other suitable mechanism to achieve improved access to the countryside.

Investigate and lobby Shropshire Council on Further recycling options available in the Environment Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017 * expansion of current recycling opportunities in Parish. the Parish.

Better information sharing on who is on the Residents familiar with members, Local awareness of Melverley PC 2017 * Parish Council, when and where they meet process and calendar of the Parish Parish Council matters and how residents can get involved. Council.

Further investigation of youth issues and appropriate action thereof. This should include Volunteer led group, Melverley PC Better youth provision for the young Young people 2017 feasibility of a play area at the village hall and support people of the Parish. a ‘regular’ event for young people be that an annual event or a regular youth club.

A collation of photographs and Recording and preserving the history and Heritage and History Volunteer led ongoing memories; a shared history project/ heritage of the parish. archive.

Lobby Shropshire for funds to preserve Parish Kitchen for Village hall and internal / Heritage and History Melverley PC, Shropshire Council 2017 Village Hall and Church for community use. external repairs to VH and Church

* = Single action

9 Survey Results

Community Consultation Community Identity & A total of 120 residents’ questionnaires Communication were sent out (every adult over 18 years There appears to be good interest in of age) with a Freepost reply envelope an annual Parish event. As there are and 80 were received back giving a already a number of these e.g the 66.7% response rate. A separate Young Summer BBQ, perhaps this needs People’s survey was distributed and 21 more investigation as to what residents were received back. would like to see. There was some interest in a newsletter Important issues just for Melverley but as Melverley All issues put forward in the survey has coverage in the wider ‘Telescope’ (‘transport and road safety’, ‘community publication, perhaps more can be made identity, history and heritage’, of this both in terms of utilisation and ‘appearance of the Parish’ and promotion. There appears to be scope ‘community safety’) are important to the for some improvements of the notice residents with housing being the topic board but knowledge about its location where opinion appears most divided. and use is good.

Improving quality of life Family life When asked what would improve The majority (74.7%) agree that speed quality of life in the Parish, not and weight restrictions on through surprisingly ‘access and egress traffic would improve road safety. during flooding’ was highlighted as an 65.3% of respondents would like to important issue. Also important is the see a regular event for young people. ‘general state of the roads and verges’. Broadband is an important issue and Opinion was a little more divided improvement is needed. Nearly 60% regarding traffic speeds but 87.2% of of respondents thought collaboration respondents agreed that depth gauges in fundraising activities between the on the Cilloe (Clewy) would be an church and the village hall was a good improvement. thing.

10 Appearance General Community Aspects All topics mentioned in the survey There was some interest in further get good support (‘improved signs (affordable) housing, commercial and signs cleaned more regularly’, development and tourism in the ‘reduction of litter’, ‘planting of trees, area. Whilst the Parish Council can plants and wild flowers’, reduction in fly be supportive, it is up to individual tipping’). The community clearly cares residents to take these aspects forward. about their area. Respondents showed some interest in history and heritage. Community Safety & Security Just a small minority don’t feel safe Local Awareness walking about the roads or are There is scope for better information concerned for their personal safety sharing on the membership of the and possessions. There is already is a Parish Council and when and where Neighbourhood Watch (NP) Scheme their meetings are. in the area and many respondents indicated that they would join this Young people scheme. Opinion is divided about It appears that the youngsters of the police presence but many would like Parish appreciate the peace and to meet their Community Safety Officer quiet of the area as much as the older (many don’t know who they are). residents do. The interests of those who responded lie in country pursuits Environment and they generally feel safe living in There was good interest in wildlife the Parish. However, they too indicated protection (77.2%) but quite a few that road safety is an issue. General respondents don’t know where the consensus was that there isn’t enough reserves are. There was also good to do and they would like more facilities interest (64.1%) in improvements to and activities for them. Only one of rights of way. Respondents appear them thinks they will move away when to be happy with the frequency of they become an adult, the rest would waste collection but have expressed in consider staying in the area if it was interest in further recycling options. possible.

11 Melverley Parish Plan

Further information about the Parish Plan can be obtained from the clerk to Melverley Parish Council:

Richard Gittins Chapel House, Melverley, Shropshire

Email: [email protected]