Parish Plans are a tried and tested way for rural communities to make their voices heard and get things done locally. It is written evidence of local needs and aspirations that can be used to help solve issues and help communities to access funding. Parish Plans were first proposed in the government’s White Paper ‘Our Countryside: the future’; The Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was charged with taking things forward and commissioned the Rural Community Councils to support the process. The process of preparing our Plan has been promoted, funded and actively supported by the Yorkshire Rural Community Council (YRCC). Although having no statutory standing, Parish Plans are recognised by the Parish Councils and Ryedale District Council as reflecting the views of the community and as a contribution to policy formulation, planning and service. Many feel that change is something that is done to them, like it or not. This Plan is a means whereby the community can give direction and priority to change, to enhance their own economic, social and environmental well-being, as they see it. The Plan is therefore directed to several different audiences:
• Our own community, as a clear expression of our joint thinking, providinga framework for action by the community on its own behalf and for seeking contributions from others;
• Our elected representatives from parish to county level and beyond, as a guide to their thinking on policy and decision-making in matters that may affect our community;
• Other agencies that may provide advice, service or funding, as evidence of our communal views, needs and aspirations.
Sceptics might say “They never listen and there is never any money to do anything anyway!” – then read on. The European Community has established its rural development policy for the period 2007 to 2013, focused on three themes. These are:
• improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector;
• improving the environment and the countryside;
• improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of the rural economy.
Funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is spread between all three of these themes; some of the funding must support projects based on the “LEADER approach” to rural development whereby highly individual projects designed and executed by local partnerships address specific local problems. LEADER+ is the current European Community Initiative for assisting
rural communities in improving the quality of life and economic prosperity in their local area, focusing primarily on basic services for rural communities, rural culture and heritage, village development and renewal. Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency responsible for delivering LEADER in the region as part of the UK government’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). Yorkshire Forward has announced that the “Coast, Wolds, Wetlands & Waterways” local action group has been invited to progress to stage two of the process. LEADER+ funding assists these local action groups in a ‘bottom-up’ approach to encourage and support the development of small-scale, innovative projects that meet the evidenced needs of rural people and communities in a sustainable way. The Parish Plan is a key part of this ‘bottom-up’ approach to voicing our evidence aspirations and preparing bids for public funding.
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