Kessingland Parish Plan Update November 2007

The Parish Plan was published in September 2004, it contained 21 issues that the Community wanted addressed so as to improve the facilities and much needed services within the village.

Unfortunately some of the issues have not been resolved, they are: -

o The James Paget Hospital Link
o First Aid Classes with a view of establishing a First Responder Unit.
o The lack of public conveniences within the village
o The setting up of a Youth Council to work with the Parish Council on Youth related matters.
o To improve bus services with particular attention to re-introducing the bus service to the Beach End of the Village, particularly during the holiday season.

The successes to date have been: -

The Gardening Club, which goes from strength to strength.
Communications and Information through the Parish Council newsletter and website, although Maureen Long is still looking for somebody to help with the Kessingland and Broadland Times.
Issues surrounding Crime and Disorder, we have a very active Crime and Disorder team and we also have the recent introduction of the Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams
Credit must go to the members of the Community that have worked hard at re-furbishing the facilities at St. Edmunds Church Centre.
Although a Sports Centre has not been provided, the installation of the Multi-Use Games Area at the Community Centre, which is due shortly to have floodlights installed, is a start towards providing new sporting facilities for the Community.

Housing and Play Areas/Open Spaces are always a highly motivated subject. Waveney District Council are beginning to take notice of the Communities stance on housing and future planning issues, this has been seen in recent planning applications where reference is made to the Parish Plan. The priority for this village still remains no further housing development except for housing specifically for young people and very sheltered housing for the elderly.

This brings me onto the new Library/Very Sheltered Housing/Community Scheme that is to be built on the field at the rear of Kessingland Primary School.

With the Scheme receiving Planning Consent on the 21^st November 2007 this means that a large number of issues raised by the Community that cover Education, Health, Social and Employment issues can now be advanced. The following is a list of those issues: -

Education and Social - to provide new Library/Resource premises in order that the existing library can be restored back to the school and the Community will have use of the Resource Centre.
Health - to provide a health service that meets the ever-increasing demand and requirements of the Community.
Social - to provide social services, counselling and pensions advice.
Adult Employment - to provide more employment and employment advice within Kessingland
Youth Employment - to provide careers advice and vocational training.
Education - to provide a place outside of school for private study and homework, to provide access to the Internet and use of Information Technology.
Information and Communication - Notice boards re events and employment vacancies.
Adult Education Classes to include Arts and Drama - to initiate those classes.

Those organisations/agencies that have indicated they would use the new complex are - CAB - Alzheimer's Carers Group - Meridian - WDC Housing Benefits - the Doctors in Field Lane for Pre-natal and Ante-natal Classes, Health Education Classes - Age Concern - Waveney Women's Health - Adult and Further Education linked to Lowestoft College and the University of East Anglia.

There is now a need, following on from the Parish Plan of 2004, to re-visit the needs and requirements of the Community. This is in light of future Government Plans to devolve more responsibility to Town and Parish Councils.

Community Strategies and Partnerships are being encouraged as a way forward and therefore Kessingland has to become involved. That means returning to the Community to get their views and thoughts on what they see as their requirements for the future.

It is hoped that this work will commence at the beginning of 2008.

Liam Martin

Chairman

Kessingland Parish Council