Quendon & Rickling Village Plan

Quendon & Rickling Village Plan

The introductory "brain-storming" workshop on the 18th of June 2011 was very successful, attracting many visitors who took the opportunity to express their views on what was good about our villages, what was not so good and what improvements could be made.
The sorts of topics that were brought to this initial Workshop included such diverse items as:

  • Improved 'bus services including free school buses to Newport
  • Unnecessary use of sirens by emergency vehicles
  • Improved policing of excessive traffic speed
  • Improved communication of crime events
  • Monitoring and protection of housing character and density
  • Poor reception of Film 4 from Sandy Heath TV transmitter
  • Poor broadband service
  • Poor mobile telepone service
  • Good pub in Rickling - what about Quendon?
  • Bonfires at unsociable times
  • Need of a children's playground
  • Parking problems
  • Too many crows and pigeons
  • Encourage prompt removal of litter
  • Good waste/recycling arrangements
  • Aircraft noise
  • Great access to the countryside
  • Amateur drama group

...and the list went on!

What is this Plan for?

Its value falls under at least three main headings.

  1. it provides a "snapshot" of the villages, and their residents
  2. it provides a forum
    1. to bring out features that are valuable and need to be preserved
    2. to identify features that are capable of improvement
    3. to identify features that are undesirable
    4. to identify features that we don't have but which would enhance our enjoyment of our villages
  3. it encourages us all to think of how these improvements and changes can be made, whether by personal involvment of residents themselves or by applying pressure on other agencies placed to make them.

What's happening?

A group of residents formed a committee to take forward the development of the plan and although there have been many meetings of this group since then, its members have largely been working on the documents individually, using a computer file sharing service.  Additional advice has been obtained thoughout from the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE).

The questionnare is now nearing completion.  A Flyer will be delivered to all households in Spring 2012 reminding them of the Village Plan Project and the Questionnaire will follow shortly afterwards giving everyone an opportunity to have their say.

After that, the responses to the Questionnaire will b analysed and the Quendon & Rickling Village Plan will emerge.  (Sounds easy?)

It is vital that as many residents as possible are involved in the Project.  Quendon and Rickling are our villages, our home.  This is everyone's opportunity to be involved in making them better, not only for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren.  The Village Plan Steering Group is still looking for volunteers to assist in the production of The Village Plan.

And after...?

The intention is that the final plan will provide lots of ideas to guide the future development of our villages and opportunities for their improvement.  Is that when the real work starts?

If you have an interest in any subject, however remote, that can be linked to the village please contact Brandon Chapman on 543518.  The intention is to form small groups that will look into any subject raised by those living in the village.