p01 cover.qxd - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Get involved in yourWhat do you love about where you live –and what would make it an even better place to live?You know best what your area needs andwhat it doesn’t and that’s why the council iskeen to involve residents in setting up theirown activities, running their own facilities andlaying out their own plans for the future of theplace where they live.Neighboursare doing it forthemselvesA newneighbourhoodagreement hasbeen drawn upby residents in anarea ofRooksdown tobring theircommunitycloser together.The agreement sets out ground rules forneighbours after the local community gottogether at a barbecue in July. Thecommunity discussed ideas on topicsincluding local traffic problems anddeveloping activities for young people todo. Rooksdown Community Association,local patroller Sarah Ratcliff andcommunity development officer LucyMackmin organised the barbeque forresidents in the Moth Grace and CrondallTerrace areas.North Waltham was the first parish in theborough to complete a community plan in2005, which has been reviewed to reflect thecurrent situation. Kingsclere, St Mary Bourneand East Woodhay have all completed plans.Others like Bramley and Buckskin are juststarting work on theirs, using communityevents to talk to people about what thingsthey value about their area and what needsimproving or changing. Burghclere, Dummer,East Woodhay, Headley and Ashford Hill,Highclere, Newnham, Oakley, Overton,Silchester and Tadley are working closely withthe council to produce plans. And there aresix Basingstoke town areas that have beenidentified to develop community plans:Popley, Buckskin, South Ham, Norden,Brighton Hill and Winklebury.It is important that as many residents aspossible get involved in their communityplans as it gives them the chance, in a singledocument, to outline a vision for theircommunity and how that can be achieved.Community plans will be used to shape andinfluence key decisions for the local area, forexample what services are needed, what newhomes and facilities should be built or whatdevelopers’ contributions should be spent on.The council’s team of community developmentofficers is working with residents and existingorganisations in their areas to set up residents’groups, where they don’t already exist anddevelop initiatives, such as youth clubs, lunchclubs for older residents or exercise sessionsto promote healthier lifestyles.For more information aboutcommunity planning contactCarole Ruse on 01256 845485 or emailcarole.ruse@basingstoke.gov.ukBreathing new lifeinto the Popley PartnershipThe Popley Partnership, which has been active for more than a decade, is changing. It isnow called the Popley Resident Action Partnership and in the future will provide a strongervoice for local residents. In each area around Popley existing or newly formed communityor resident associations will each have representatives on the partnership. If you live in oneof the new communities in Popley, such as Merton Rise and Marnel Park, please look outover the next few months for information about how you can get involved and make adifference in your local community.One of the new residents’ associations has been set up in the Popley Poets area. Settingup a community café and arranging fun events to raise funds for local activities to make thearea a better place to live are high on the agenda for the newly-formed ShakespeareCommunity Residents’ Association.24 Basingstoke & Deane Today