Beech Parish Plan

Turnout at Beech Paris Plan meetings has been falling rapidly, with several early attendees deciding that they did not at this stage wish to be involved in the preparation of a Parish Plan for Beech. As a result, although a Chairman and Treasurer have now been appointed, along with a few Steering Group members, the Group is actively seeking new members. It also urgently needs volunteers willing to participate as Vice Chair and Secretary.

Details of the next meeting will be published shortly. Meanwhile, if you would like to find out more, please contact Saman on 89884 or by email.

Background to proposals to set up a Parish Plan for Beech

Following a Parish council meeting in November relating to a Parish Plan process, interested residents of Beech were invited to attend an inaugural meeting to review the need for, the objectives and process of creating a 2010 Parish Plan.

Meeting conclusions

  1. The Parish of Beech Village Design Statement published 7 years ago contains much of the information which would be included in a new Parish Plan. Many issues raised in the Design Statement have been addressed:
    a. New Village Hall
    b. Beech Newsletter
    c. Neighbourhood Watch
    d. Proactive Parish Council
    e. Cemetery
    f. Village website
    g. New Resident Welcome pack

Roads and drainage remain issues that could be addressed.

However, there are new questions and requirements which can be explored further as part of the Parish Planning process.

  1. Parish Plans can augment the local design statements addressing wider issues beyond architecture, building and environment.
  2. New local and central Government guidelines recommend review of the views of communities, these are ideally reviewed as evidence of community opinion and consultation when reviewing strategy, funding, sustainability, planning and developments for the community.
  3. The Parish Planning process is about community consultation. After seven years there are new questions which Beech residents may wish to review and address, such topics as:
    a. Removals, creations and improvements within the community?
    b. Requirements for the young, disabled, elderly?
    c. Transport needs, traffic calming, footpaths, bridleways?
    d. Communications, Internet, satellite, fibre optics for the village?
    e. Retirement homes, social housing, pressures to grow housing?
    f. Strategic gap around Beech, open space planning?
    g. South Downs National park implications to Beech?
    h. Cemetery?
    i. Sports activities, Public Amenities?
    j. Sustainability, biodiversity, recycling ideas?
  4. Linda Munday of East Hampshire District Council supports 39 Hampshire Parish Councils and will support the Beech Group through the Parish Plan process.
  5. A Parish Planning Toolkit will be sent to the Beech Parish Planning Steering group as soon as it is available.
  6. Local villages of Medstead, Buriton and many other surrounding villages have already embarked on this process (more details).
  7. Beech is perceived as a proactive community based on past success. New consultation, if managed carefully, could ensure full community consultation. Consideration may be given to the 10 likes and dislikes campaign for South Downs Planners. Beech residents may use these to create ideas for the Parish plan.
  8. The group should be known as the “Parish Plan Steering Group”.
  9. The Parish Council and other interested groups should be represented as contributing members to the plan. An independent “leadership team” will minimise the potential for conflict of interest with any other Beech interest group.
  10. The Group present agreed to constitute a second meeting on10th March 2010 at 19:30. The Intention is to get full attendance for all interested parties to:
    a. Faciliate the election of a leadership team: Chairperson and a Deputy, Treasurer and Secretary
    b. Agree a process to define a constitution (more details)
    c. Agree participants, objectives, timescales and associated processes (more details)
  11. Beech Parish Plan Steering Group has been awarded a £750 grant by Hampshire County Council towards Administration costs associated with the construction of Beech Parish Plan. The money will be held by Beech Parish council until the Group has a nominated bank account and processes to use the money.

For more information on Parish Plans and links to Plans prepared by other villages, click here.

Why do we need a Parish Plan?

It is now nearly 10 years since the first village appraisal was completed in 2001. Along with the subsequent Beech Village Design Statement this provided a representative view as to the residents preferred future appearance and development pattern of the village and Parish of Beech. However we now need to ascertain how should Beech move forward not only as a place but also as a community.

Should Beech:-

  • Be involved in nurturing or restricting the community spirit of Beech to be found within the village?
  • Reintegrate with Alton or form links with other surrounding communities?
  • Encourage or deter existing or new organisations/societies/associations serving the village?
  • Encourage more and higher density of development within the village?
  • Consider sites for the temporary or permanent housing of gypsies/ travellers?
  • Review the speed limits of its roads and measures to enforce them?
  • Promote new public footpaths and rights of way
  • Recatogorise any of the footpaths/ bridleways within the Parish as Byways open to all traffic (BOATS) to encourage their use by 4wd leisure drivers?
  • Encourage HCC to alter their maintenance programme of the highways serving Beech on the basis that the natural deterioration in the road surface would reduce traffic speed?
  • Provide public lavatories at the recreation ground?
  • Have more or less street lighting?
  • Retain the public telephone box on Wellhouse Road (following removal of apparatus) and convert the same into an art gallery or other use or landmark?
  • Convert any open space within the village for use as allotments?
  • Canvass for improved public transport to serve Beech and the surrounding area?

If you care about the above or any other matters affecting Beech then we need your help to prepare a Parish Plan as a community driven means of ascertaining the objectives and desires of the village. In line with government policy the production of a Parish Plan together with its Action Plan will have the benefit of:

  • Providing clear evidence of community needs and priorities
  • Influencing those authorities that determine the future development of our village by canvassing and demonstrating the consensus of opinion of its community.
  • Stimulating interest in community affairs
  • Highlighting those features and projects that require involvement from other agencies especially where funding is concerned.
  • Providing confirmation of local public opinion which is essential to access developer’s funds and other grants.

Without a Parish Plan the views and opinions of the villagers of Beech will carry less weight and funds for projects to benefit the community harder to obtain. In order to prepare a Parish Plan the Parish Council are looking to set up a subcommittee of volunteers. The production of a Beech Parish Plan was launched at the start of the Parish Council meeting on Monday 16 November with a brief presentation from EHDC and a call for volunteers for this important process. If you were unable to attend the meeting but still wish to help then please Peter May on 562950 or by e-mail.

If you care about your village please volunteer to help prepare a Parish Plan for Beech.