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The following open letter explained the aim of a community plan

From the Kirkheaton Community Network
An open letter concerning the development of a Community Plan for Kirkheaton [July 2010]

The Kirkheaton Community Network has set in train the preparation of a Community Plan for the village of Kirkheaton.

A Community Plan is a way of involving as many people as possible in looking at the community we live in, the issues facing us, and the hopes we might have for it. Many communities around the country have produced such a plan. Locally, Farnley Tyas produced one a couple of years ago, Shelley just last month, and both communities have already seen definite benefits.
A Community Plan looks at issues such as Development and the Environment, Traffic and Transport, Crime and Community Safety, Housing, Sport and Leisure and what local facilities there are. It looks both at what already is happening and what people would like to see. Everyone who lives or works in Kirkheaton will be encouraged to take part in the research and development of the Plan, as will members of all the local clubs and organisations, Kirkheaton School, Ward and Parish Councillors, Public Transport bodies, Police & Fire Authorities – all those one might describe as ‘stakeholders’ in the community. Rural Action Yorkshire will be providing professional help and advice throughout the process, and we will be applying to various bodies to enable us to fund it.
It is a good time to be thinking about this. It’s very important that the two groups planning major developments (that is the Sports Clubs and Kirkheaton Parish church) get the maximum information from the community to guide their plans. Then there is the ongoing Kirklees Local Development Plan for housing, business and infrastructure, and more. Listening to what people in the community really want, what they need, will be very relevant for all sorts of future planning.
Communities have found all sorts of other benefits as a ‘spin off’ from such plans. Obviously the specifics vary from community to community but in both Shelley and Farnley Tyas the work to produce the Plan has itself had the benefit not only of gaining valuable information, but also of discovering people who are keen to get involved in community activities. Some new things have already happened – small scale but significant (such as a dog mess prevention schemes) and much useful background for such things as what sort of housing developments might be preferred have been obtained. Shelley produced a special ‘Young People’s Report’ as part of their Plan. I hope we too will do this, involving senior pupils from King James’ School, who live in the village, as well as children from Kirkheaton School and others.
The subjects mentioned earlier aren’t the limit of what a plan can do. The areas covered can be as wide as the people of the village decide; it’s very much a production of the community, by the community, for the community.
We need a good number of people to become members of working groups if we are going to make this happen. Do get in touch if you feel you can help in anyway (01484 532410).

Richard Steel    [ Chair Kirkheaton Community Network] July 2010