The Oakham Neighbourhood Plan team are coming to a street near you!

The Oakham Neighbourhood Plan team are coming to a street near you!  Well, certainly if you live in Oakham or Barleythorpe.


With the Task and Finish Group, set up by Rutland County Council, getting into its stride focussing on work to rejuvenate Oakham town centre the Oakham Neighbourhood Plan team are moving to the next, and exciting, phase of their project.  Some of you may be wondering how the work of the Task and Finish Group differs from that of the Oakham neighbourhood planning team?

Well, both pieces of work involve gathering ideas from those who live, work and visit Oakham on the future development of Oakham. The difference is the Task and Finish Group work will focus on the town centre and take a short term view, 2018 / 2019.  The work of the Oakham Neighbourhood Plan will concentrate on the whole Oakham / Barleythorpe area with a more long term, strategic view, 2030 / 2035. 

Neighbourhood planning gives local residents a greater say in the way their community develops and the power to produce a shared vision for their neighbourhood.  In short, to shape the development and growth of their local area over the next 10, 15 and 20 years.  To do this they put in place actions or policies to deliver these developments

To make this a reality, the Oakham’s Neighbourhood Plan group are looking for volunteers to participate in ‘Walkabouts’ / Neighbourhood Profiles in a number of areas across Oakham.  Recent events have shown that residents do care about the future of their town so this could be an opportunity for you to make a real difference to the area in which you live. 

So, what are Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbourhood profiling? 

The Neighbourhood Profile process allows members of the local community and the Neighbourhood Plan group to develop a greater understanding of their ‘place’. This is done by gaining knowledge of the area’s history, how it operates today what is valued by local people and what makes Oakham a great place to live or work.

Neighbourhood Profiles also help to define the character of an area and act as guidelines to the future for both residents and developers.

We already have a huge amount of evidence gained through the various consultation meetings and the Big Survey carried out last year.  About 1,500 questionnaires were submitted and we will be using all the information received to help gain an understanding of peoples hopes and wishes and testing this out in conversations with local people. 

If you are one of those who do care then please get in touch via the ‘contact us’ button on the ONP website to join one of our walkabout groups.  We have divided Oakham and Barleythorpe into six ‘walkabout areas’ and these are Oakham north east, Oakham south east, Oakham south west, Oakham Heights, the Industrial Area and Oakham School and the town centre/conservation area.

We are also looking for support in writing the objectives and policies for the plan and if you are interested in assisting then please select a theme area and express your preference, again, via the website.  The seven theme areas are businesses, community services, heritage and open spaces, housing, sports and leisure, town centre and transport. 

If you are able to join us we want you to have a rewarding experience of working with the team on the Oakham and Barleythorpe Neighbourhood Plan so full training will be given to help this happen.

See http://www.oakhamnp.org.uk for further details and contact information.