Beech Parish Plan

The inaugural meeting of the Beech Parish Plan Group will take place on Monday 22nd March in the Lounge area (Bar) of the Village Hall. Contact Peter May on 562950 or by e-mail for more details.

The objectives of this meeting will be to:

  • Introduce all meeting attendees
  • Understand the format and objectives of a 2010 Village plan
    Linda Munday – Community Planning Co-ordinator Community & Democratic Services for EHDC will provide a briefing on
    - recommended 9 step process to produce a community plan
    - purpose and contents of a community planning toolkit
    - processes and resources available and dependant requirements
  • Appoint or elect a Chairperson, Deputy, Treasurer and Secretary
  • Agree a process to define a constitution
  • Agree timescales for the objectives and associated processes
  • Determine the date for the next meeting

For more information please contact Peter May on 562950 or by e-mail

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.