St Peter’s launched its community plan in 2023 and St Martin’s is close to completing one.
St Sampson’s is next to suggest the idea to parishioners, with parish officials keen to take the initiative on development and planning issues relating to housing sites, which is a hugely significant issue in the parish.
But first, it needs residents to give feedback on whether it should go ahead.
‘Development and planning are always high on the douzaine’s agenda as we try to read, research, reflect and respond to the multitude of planning permissions and development frameworks,’ said douzenier Jennifer Merrett.
‘There is also real concern as how and when the housing allocated areas within the parish may be developed, what that might look like and how our roads will cope.
‘We can either continue to do this on a piecemeal approach, or we can seek our parishioners’ appetite for supporting a community plan for all or part of the parish.’
She said that the community plan could help influence development in the parish by identifying needs, aspirations, guiding improvement to the parish led by parishioners and can cover any aspect of community lift.
A flyer has been sent to residents along with their parish rates to explain the benefits and potential detriments of a community plan to the parish.
It says it aims to give the community a voice when it comes to planning decisions.
The budget for the project has been indicated at £33,000 if it was decided to include the whole parish as the geographical area.
The douzaine has suggested that should the plan go ahead, funding would be sourced from savings accrued from other projects, alternative funding streams or a hybrid, but not by raising additional rates.
Douzenier Paul Watts clarified that a community plan would not be created by the douzaine but requires parishioners to form a community plan committee.
‘This committee would take ownership for engaging with parishioners and drafting the community plan, with professional assistance if required.
‘Funding for engaging with the community, surveys and presentations, along with any professional support, could be from the douzaine or the community plan committee could decide to use a hybrid of financial options.’
The douzaine said it was conscious that there were parts of the parish that strong inter-relationships with the Vale, and if the plan and committee is set up, would hope to work closely with Vale and its residents to gain input into those areas of the plan.
Parishioners are asked to email any views to communityplan@stsampson.gg or call 244130 by 1 June.
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