Hilton Parish Plan

FOREWORD

"They are digging up the road again".
"They have spent hundreds of pounds on traffic calming measures that clearly don't work".
"They don't realise that all the youngsters are leaving because there's nothing for them to do here in the evenings".
"Why can't they provide footpaths and cycle-ways to neighbouring villages?"

But …

Who are 'they'?  The United Nations?  The European Commission? The Government?  The County, District or Parish Council?

Often we don't know.  They seem to be remote people who evidently have the power to determine what happens to Hilton, while taking little account of the views of those who live in the village.

In reality, they are just you or I in a different job.  They are not usually deaf to the local view.  But they can only be expected to respond if that local view is made known to them.

That is what this 'Parish Plan' aims to do.

The Turf Maze and Sparrow's Monument

MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

“We welcome this opportunity to support the Hilton Parish Plan, taking it forward, through the Parish Council, into the years to come.  It was good to see such a high response from Villagers for the Plan, showing what a social and vibrant place Hilton remains, and a happy Village in which to live.  Congratulations to all those organisations and individuals who collected, collated and distributed the Plan which is laid out before us to-day.

We are confident that the Plan will form a vital and challenging agenda for local residents, working along with the Parish Council, to move forward over the years to come, ensuring the care and vibrancy continues in the village community.”

Jonathan Djanogly
Member of Parliament for Huntingdon

Ian Bates
County and District Councillor

Christopher Stephens
District Councillor

January 2005

INTRODUCTION

Background

1. The way local government operates in the United Kingdom has evolved over a long period of time. Most recently there has been a move for greater delegation of decision making to the minor authorities, such as parish councils.  This has happened at a time when the number of people putting themselves forward for council membership has actually declined.  Parish councils and the communities they serve are, however, looked upon by central government as essential elements of the nation, since villages represent approximately ten percent of the UK population. 

2. Recognising the importance of rural communities and in order to encourage greater participation in their development, the Government published a white paper in November 2000 entitled ‘Our Countryside The Future’.  This launched the concept of Parish and Town Plans and led the Secretary of State for the Environment to announce the ‘Vital Villages Initiative’ in July 2001. 

3. The aim of the Vital Villages Initiative is to help rural communities:

• assess themselves;
• identify what is needed to revitalise/regenerate a community;
• identify where new projects need to be established;
• make their own decisions;
• implement improvements themselves and
• ensure local people have a voice in their future.
  

The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene

What is a Parish Plan?

4. A Parish Plan is significantly different from but complementary to a Village Design Statement (VDS).  A VDS assesses the current fabric, the physical character, of the village and shows how the people of that village wish the built environment to evolve.  By comparison a Parish Plan looks at the community and says how the residents of that community would like it to develop.  It is therefore more wide-ranging than a VDS.

5. Hilton already has a Village Design Statement that was adopted by Huntingdonshire District Council as supplementary planning guidance in early 2000.   The District Council has similarly been invited to consider adopting Hilton's Parish Plan as supplementary planning guidance.