Parish Plan Meeting

Nocton Community Planning

There was a super turnout with over 40 people attending the inaugural Village Plan meeting on 20th April 2011. 

Initial Findings

What we like about our village

• Nocton is appreciated as an attractive, peaceful, safe and tranquil village.
• People enjoy being able to walk on good paths, ride their bikes and jog if they wish.
• Being in a rural village we hear wonderful sounds and fresh smells of the countryside and yet still have access to a major city.
• Some people feel there is a reasonable bus service.
• Some thought that local communication through the Nocton in Lincolnshire 'blogspot' is helpful.
• Latterly the community has come together more through the recent protest and it is being part of community that many residents enjoy.

What we dislike

• Many residents had real concerns about the number of lorries and the speeding traffic through Nocton which brings with it noise and a sense of danger.
• Frustration is also expressed over the run down and derelict nature of Nocton Hall and the hospital grounds which was once such an asset to this village.
• Sowerby Developers have left their site unfinished and therefore it detracts from the potential within the estate.
• There is a sense that the community is divided between the newer parts (Nocton Park) and the old part of the village perhaps because of there being no common ground.
• Finally a number commented about the dog mess for which we now have a dog warden and hopefully this should make a difference.

The improvements residents want to see

• Predominantly people requested a village shop and cafe that might serve as a place to buy fresh produce grown locally by residents as well as everyday emergency groceries.
• Also residents want to make use of the fenced field opposite the Village Hall and have recreational facilities for all. The facilities must include something for tiny tots to bigger totterers such as a trim track, play equipment as well as space for games.

Suggestions

• Improving the Village Hall to make it physically more welcoming so that more groups will make use of it for their activities.
• Changing utilitarian lighting and signage for more attractive vintage items.
• Enhancing the overall appearance of the village with flowers and reinstating the old red telephone box and painting the railway bridge

Communications

• There is a lack of communication and ways to inform villagers of what is happening and how to get more involved with the social activities.
• Currently we have the Parish Magazine, Nocton Blogspot and Village Notice Boards. Regardless of these facilities leaflet drops seem to be the only guaranteed method of informing every household.
• There is no substitute for word of mouth and opportunities for more village gossip that travels through social places such as a shop, a pub or the playing fields.
• From this initial meeting it would seem that having more of these amenities would enable Nocton to be a more inclusive and vibrant community.

What next?

We will be looking for more ways to engage with as many village people as we can so do.  You can post your suggestions/ideas in the boxes in the Village Hall or the Post Office.

The next step towards creating our Village Plan is to form a small steering committee and begin driving these ideas forward.

It is encouraging to note that eight people have already expressed an interest in this Steering Committee.
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