News release - July 2011
BURSLEDON PARISH PLAN UPDATE
Work has begun in earnest on preparing the Parish Plan Questionnaire.
This will give all Bursledon residents the opportunity to express their
views on Bursledon’s burning issues and priorities. The
first section on Transport and Accessibility was piloted and given the
seal of approval by the Steering Group in early July.
The Pilands Wood Summer Fair in June offered a stall to the Parish Plan
and a competition was designed to test people’s knowledge of local
landmarks, using the leaflet, “Exploring Bursledon”. Five people
shared the prize.
Donna Brewer, a Youth Worker, organised a residential weekend in June
for some Bursledon young people with special needs at the Queen
Elizabeth 2 Activities Centre in Manor Farm Country Park. This provided
the opportunity to get their views for the Parish Plan. The cost was
covered by a grant from Community Action Hampshire.
The Steering Group has said goodbye to Rev. James Ogley, who has taken a
parish in Luton. As Bursledon Parish’s representative on the Steeering
Group, he made an excellent contribution and he will be much
missed.
There is now a link on the Parish Plan website
(www.bursledon.org/parishplan/ called Bursledon Forum, thanks to Andrew
Chesshire. This allows responses to be made online to the initial
Parish Plan survey questions. We urge everyone to contribute their
opinions and ideas.
Preparing the Parish Plan in the current economic climate is proving
more challenging than we anticipated. Cuts are being
introduced by Hampshire County Council, which threaten the viability and
effectiveness of current community services and facilities:
Bursledon Windmill, the Youth Service, subsidised buses, the Windmill
Sure Start Centre. However, the good news is that Eastleigh
Borough Council and our Parish Council are working in partnership to
retain some youth services and they are proposing a new scheme in
Lowford, which will enhance community facilities. Watch this
space.
Diane Andrewes
Hon. Secretary