ParishPlan

The Parish Plan for "Bramham in Times Future"

A few years ago, a number of villagers got together and produced a book entitled “Bramham – The Village in Times Past” illustrating how the village had developed over the last 100 years. Many people found it fascinating and surplus from its sales gave the village new staging blocks for the village hall, a new path through the churchyard, hymn books for the Methodists plus charitable donations to the Macmillan appear, Marin House and the Candlelighters. More money still remains to be invested when the last few remaining copies are sold – but now it’s time to move on!

A new group of parishioners has formed a Steering Committee to produce a plan for the development of the village in the future. They are:

Cllr Bob Gibson (Chairman)

Sue Craven

Keith Robinson (Vice Chairman) Iain Kimberley

Lee Blanchard

Cllr Paul Topping

Juliet Binns

Ian Watson (Secretary)

This Bramham Parish Plan aims to set out a vision of the village and guide its future development. The intention is that everyone shall have the opportunity to participate in its preparation and in how we see our village life moving forward over the next few years. It will:

· Reflect the views of all sections of the community

· Identify which features and local characteristics people value

· Identify local problems and opportunities

· Spell out how residents want Bramham to develop in the future

· Prepare a plan of action to achieve this vision

A questionnaire will be delivered in September asking what are the three most important things your household (all members, young and old) would like to see introduced or improved. With a population of over 1750, there will be a lot of varying views but this preliminary survey should highlight the main wishes of villagers.

Then the Committee will set to work on a second questionnaire to get the opinions of the whole village on the ideas mentioned by most people. If for example 100 people want motorcycle races on Clifford Road every Sunday afternoon, the other 1650 residents might have other ideas.

Following that, Working Parties will be formed from groups in the village with the most knowledge of the area concerned to work out detailed action plans. These will be shown at an exhibition in the village hall to give residents yet another chance to have their say on the way things are going. The last step will be publication of the plan with a copy for every household with a target date of August 2005. So we’ve got to get moving and we do need everyone’s input. It’s your village, so do get involved and make the most of it.

Colin Pool