Introduction

As part of a nationwide programme to stimulate greater local participation in community matters, South Creake Parish Council was encouraged by the Norfolk Rural Community Council (NRCC) to produce a Parish Plan to sit within the West Norfolk Development Plan. A public meeting was held in the Ostrich Barn, attended by some fifty people, and volunteers were recruited to form a steering group.

A successful grant application to NRCC provided funding, in addition to money from the Parish Council, to enable the survey to go ahead. A questionnaire was produced and distributed to every household in the parish, the community currently comprising some 490 people. The form was based on others that were made available to the steering group, and included a comprehensive list of categories and questions that would give a good indication of how the local community felt about a wide range of issues.

In August 2007, 216 completed questionnaires were collected, representing returns from just over 65% of the households – a good result in national terms. All statistics in the final plan therefore are based on the 65% return. Two further open public meetings were subsequently held in November 2007, at the Ostrich Barn and St Mary’s Parish Church, attended by 25 and 22 people respectively, to give an opportunity for parishioners to view the results of the questionnaire and to meet members of the steering group.

Whilst the sheer volume of text has precluded publication of every individual comment received as part of the survey, a balanced selection has been included to reflect as many views as possible. An action plan has been devised that takes into account majority views on a considerable number of issues, and it remains for the Parish Council and other interested parties to address these issues and to take them forward in the years ahead if practical.

The completed Parish Plan was published in March 2008.

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Field under blue skies