CHOLSEY'S 2020 VISION -- developing our Parish Plan for the future Winter 05/06 - Article for The Forty

Reprinted with permission from The Forty magazine

On 26 September 2005 a public meeting was held to discuss a Parish Plan for Cholsey. Well over 100 people of all ages attended. Anton Nath from Oxford Rural Community Council (ORCC) facilitated the meeting. Anton talked about the Plan, its purpose and what it involved. He than got us to complete an exercise which involved three post-it notes on which we wrote what we liked about Cholsey, what we disliked and what we would like to see in the Parish Plan.

Eight broad headings from Transport to Education were placed around the hall and we were requested to place post-its where appropriate. The energy levels rose in the school hall and it was a very productive exercise.

The meeting closed with a request for people who wanted to be involved to attend a follow-on meeting. Thirty to forty people attended the follow-on meeting. It’s aim was to get a main group who would carry this project forward to the next stage, to propose a time scale and to agree terms of reference.

With no nominations for Chair or officer posts, I was nominated and elected as Chair. It was agreed that the officers would be elected from the 20+ people who volunteered to join the Steering Group as the project moved forward - a time scale of 12 months, with the aim to complete in September 06.

It was agreed that the Terms of Reference would be formally agreed at the next meeting on 8 November 05. The main discussion centred on the purpose of the plan, to whom it was aimed and what level of influence could it have. How will information be circulated and published? What other villages have completed their plan? Proportional representation was also discussed and how young people and children would have a voice in the consultation.

It was suggested that minutes from these meetings be published on the Parish Council website [Minutes of Steering Group Meetings are on our own website]. The Forty will also be used as a means of communicating our development. This is a year’s project: it will provide a positive and constructive vision for Cholsey's future. Its success depends on every single person in the parish!

You know it’s happening so when you have an opportunity please do ensure that your voice is heard. If you can offer some time and would like to be involved, then please contact me on 652910 or by email.

Geraldine Kelly
Cholsey Cholsey 1000 Plus

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