Gloucestershire Parish & Community-Led Plan Case Study

Highnam, completed 2007

What is a Parish and Introduction Community-led plan? The parish of Highnam is in Tewkesbury A Parish & Community-Led Borough. With a population of just over Plan is a document which sets out a vision for a 2000, it is definitely rural, surrounded by community’s future based farmland and woods but adjacent to the on sound local research, City of , The Parish includes Over, Lassington and Linton and has a e looking at social, r environmental and strong heritage as well as local i h

economic life. employment opportunities, although s Church of the Holy Innocents, Highnam r

many residents work in the town. e

t It celebrates positive On one side, Highnam Woods is an important remnant of ancient s features and activities, e highlights community woodland where the RSPB are working to maintain its character and c needs and contains a attractiveness to birds such as lesser spotted woodpecker and u o detailed action plan to help nightingales. was built in 1658 after the original house l G the community meet those was seriously damaged in the Civil War, one of few built at the time. In needs. Parish & 1838 it was bought by Thomas Gambier Parry, an accomplished artist, , Community-Led Plans are m

musician and art collector, who built the Church of Holy Innocents, and a produced by and for painted its frescoes. The gardens have been restored by the present n communities, based on a owner, and are opened for specific events. Much of the village was built h g detailed survey and in the last half of the twentieth century, fitting into the landscape between i consultation process which H Highnam Court, the woods, Lassington and the A40. involves the whole – community, prompts action and influences others. Highnam village has a school, shop, church, nursery and GP surgery as y well as three well-used halls in its community centre. Nearby is the d u Good Parish & Business Park, and then at Over the pub, farm shop, and restaurant by t S Community-Led Plans use the canal, with restored lock gates. e

the Parish & Community- s

Led Planning Toolkit a

The Process C framework, are supported by external facilitators and Highnam Parish Council introduced the parish plan concept in 2006 and n a can demonstrate a robust an initial group was set up to investigate the potential. With the help of a l P evaluation process that local resident who had experience in market research, the interest was ensures their quality. confirmed and the Plan started. Organisations and clubs in the village d e

were approached, and many people offered their help in different ways L -

from becoming part of the representative steering group to designing y t

leaflets to publicise meetings. From the issues raised by the community, i a questionnaire was delivered to every household. Another questionnaire n was designed for young people, and for businesses. Residents delivered u and collected the questionnaires, and gained 71% response rate from m m

778 households. Interestingly, as collectors were working round, and o

talking to people, it became clear that some people in Over did not realise C

their Parish was Highnam, and the Plan meant they started to become d

more involved. n a

Tewkesbury Borough Council and the Parish Council awarded some h s i

funding to help with the process. The steering group monitored the r

budget as well as leading the strong volunteer network to get the work a done and keep people informed through “The Link”. The results of the P . questionnaire were analysed, and formed the basis for the action plan.

The steering group brought all the findings together into the full Parish Plan. A summary.was delivered to all households. A celebration launch in Above: Highnam’s 3 community halls: Gambier May 2007 at the Gambier Parry Hall was enjoyed by all, and volunteers Parry Hall, Parish Rooms, came forward for the 6 Action Groups to work on the projects. Old School

Case study produced by Rural Community Council (GRCC) July 2010.

Our achievements

• Worked with the PCSOs to • Committees set up to work identify and address instances of vandalism. Improved in all 6 Acton Groups

communications within the community with PCSOs. • Welcome pack produced for all people moving into the

• Promoted and support Parish. Distribution system set up. Neighbourhood Watch

• Churches and community Community benefits • Worked with others to preserve open spaces. integrating more

The Parish website • Provided allotments for • Installed more dog bins works well – it won an community. Plot size allows for • Working with Sustrans to award in 2008 for the more people to rent, and e

r best new website.(see encourages people to share provide safer cycle route i JR) expertise and community spirit. into Gloucester and next h s Now have a waiting list! Parish r e

Some benefits were t • Community Centre is s achieved in the short • Volunteers have adopted a e term, like the FunDay, footpath, and help to keep it tidy improving its carbon c

u but some took longer. footprint by……. o The new Play Area • Worked with Tewkesbury l

G was launched in May • Parish Council leading on Borough Council who now , 2010, and younger speed and weight limits with

collect plastics and cardboard m children love it. The for recycling County Highways a Action Group there n h used the Plan as • New visual and hearing • Football Club have obtained g evidence to gain planning consent for i equipment installed in Gambier H

£75,000 funding. Parry Hall to improve facilities changing rooms, but still -

need to find funding. y for local people, and for hire. We started with 34 d u projects, 14 are • Pub in the village not t • Youth café developed further S complete, 17 are and operating successfully feasible, but Golf Club continuing and 4 were admits non- members e s abandoned for definite • Website set up by volunteer, a reasons. People in the C used by local people for • Links with local community were focal information and to contact businesses/amenities have n a to achieving all this l Parish Council who host and been strengthened and will P update it. continue d e

• Installed new Play Area for • Tree planting and L - younger children. Launched conservation is ongoing y t May 2010. i n u

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“There is such a reservoir of goodwill and skills in h s i the community if only you tap into it and get r a

P people interested. People will volunteer to help

on something specific – you need to get the

project clear in the first place.”

Daffodils at Maidenhall

Case study produced by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) July 2010.

Working with partners

The District Council and Parish Council were involved right from the start of the process. Tewkesbury Borough helped with funding and the way forward. The Parish Council continue to monitor the Plan regularly, and lead on many projects. The Action Groups have enabled funding to be applied for, and allow volunteers to get involved in the way they want to. It’s important to keep in contact with partners, like GRCC: they often know who else can help.

Key advice for Highnam Post Office and Stores “The evidence was others so useful, to prove the need for “Do one easy funding, and to thing quickly. show partners that

We’ve shown e

was what the r by a few high i community really h profile s wanted.” r achievements e t

that this is not s e

just another c u

o PR exercise.” l G

“We’ve achieved Future projects , m

so much from this a

n Parish Plan • The second phase of the Play Area, h g already, that we to provide activities for older children i H

are now embarking - • The use of a “planning for real” style on a “Review and y exercise to help Review and Refresh d u

Refresh” to ask if the Parish Plan. That way we will t

find out what current priorities are. S there are different e needs 3 years on, s a

which we can C

address. n a

l P

d e L - y t i n

GRCC is the lead provider of support for parish and u With thanks to community-led plans in Gloucestershire and can offer m

Highnam Parish m

support to communities dependent on the location of the o Council members C and clerk for their parish. If you would like further information please contact d

contributions to GRCC n a this case study

h s

Gloucestershire Rural i Community Council r a

15 College Green P Gloucester GL1 2LZ Tel: 01452 528491 Fax: 01452 528493 [email protected]

Case study produced by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) July 2010.