parish planning -Rose's 20 ideas

click here for powerpoint presentation on parish planning from the Community Council of Devon.

Here are 20 ideas from resident Rose Hitchens to encourage thinking on what actions might result from a parish plan.

1          Tidy up the various cottages in Bridgerule.
2          Get Broadband better.
3          HAVE A SPANKING BRAND NEW HALL - with lots of parking  (the future is - that this place will expand in time - further distance to travel to the hall as the village expands - parking space is vital)
4          Do all we can to help keep - our school - keep our  church building in good repair - and our chapel.
5          Get the children's play area finished - then kept  free of litter and dog mess!
6          NOT allow all fields near the centre to be built on - future generations will want space for village events to be held on. A field (given ?) for village use - for EVER would be wonderful.
7          Make lay-bys (parking areas) so that cars can stop with ease to use our busy little shop. (if there is space !?!)
8          Treasure and preserve our telephone box and ALL old sign posts.
9          Keep our roads mended - a lot of cyclists go through the village - pot holes are dangerous. Nice to keep it looking well cared for.
10        Consider our teenage population and do something to keep them occupied - do they want a skate boarding area etc. ? Lets ask them what THEY would like.
11        Are bus shelters be possible ? (if they are wanted)
12        Get a sign to say who gives way at the bridge.
13        Get a list of volunteer car drivers - for our elderly etc. (in an emergency) - doctors appointments - medicine collection etc. We're all popping about in our cars without a thought for those who haven't got cars/can't drive/ are too ill to cope.
14        Do all we can to encourage our Football Club. A thriving football club keeps young people occupied. Is there a 'Junior' section for 7 - 11 year olds ? If not, we need one - girls included !!!!
15        Work up some enthusiasm for using the hall for regular events. An 'Entertainment' committee ?
16        Would further litter bins in the village be a help or an invitation for mess ?
17        Encourage Bridgerule folk to use our fantastic village store ... and NOT drive past it. They are doing a great job in trying to please everyone with new refrigeration, new counter and an amazing amount of stock - they've even got their own van. They deserve all the help they can get.
18        Have a monthly village magazine about Parish  matters, various meetings, football, how the skittle teams are doing. Lets  shout about what is good about the village in the magazine. - eg. - Rosie and Alan Beat entertaining schools, teaching wool dying, bread making, growing vegetables etc. The Glebe and its Holiday Cottages. The Farms still thriving and producing milk, meat, cereals ????  Nice to be kept informed as to the problems they keep coming up against. The badger situation, foxes, T.B. etc. etc. (explain it to those of us that don't know about farming).
What Bridgerule school is up to. Bude DIY. Short and Abbott. etc advertise in it. The Bridge Inn and the events they put on, our Open Gardens event. Revel Week. Flower Festivals. Church and Chapel news/lunches/events. Try and get monthly reports from ALL sections. A bit of regular sponsorship may help to fund it !?! (Pyworthy have a great little magazine).
19        Could we get a team of volunteers together to paint the houses of our elderly folk? Some of the houses look in an awful condition and the folk living in them possibly can't afford to have them maintained. Fund-raising events to cover the cost - the home-owners to pay a certain amount (can the Parish Council help with costs ?). The owners must be worried to see the weather boards and gutters in such an awful condition - roofs too !!!! How can we help our elderly ?
20        Promote a 'HISTORY DAY' in the hall. A collection of peoples photos and artefacts.  An opportunity also to encourage people to record what is going on in the village today - make up photo albums and collect news reports etc.