Introduction

The purpose of this plan is to identify the concerns and ambitions of Parish residents and, based on those, to formulate policies which can link into the plans of other organisations, provide a focus for future Council business and define the manner in which it is carried out.

The plan has been taken through its necessary stages by a steering group of the Parish Council who assessed the local support for a Parish plan, prepared bids for funding from the Countryside Agency and Neighbourhood Forum, produced and circulated a Local Questionnaire, gathered it in, arranged for data collation and analysis, liaised with external organisations, held discussions within the community, formulated policies on the basis of the findings, and presented the plan for endorsement by the Council as a whole.

In producing the plan members of the steering group have attended discussions, presentations and consultations with: Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council, West Cumbria Partnership, West Cumbria Primary Care Trust, Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria and Copeland Neighbourhood Development Officer, Copeland Community Safety Officer, the Police and the Countryside Agency all of whom have afforded good advice or background information which has been invaluable, and some of whom have provided essential funding.

Finally, my thanks go out to the parishioners of Waberthwaite and Corney for their support in responding to the questionnaire, to the school for canvassing opinions from its pupils, and to the individuals who offered suggestions and issues not covered by the Questionnaire. This is their plan, without their input the plan could not exist.

NORMAN SOUTHWARD

Chairman

Waberthwaite and Corney Parish Council