Towns and parishes in Suffolk Coastal can now get additional help with the complicated but important task of planning for the future of their communities, thanks to funding from the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).
 
Sunila Osborne has taken up the new post of Town and Parish Plan Co-ordinator and is being hosted by Suffolk ACRE. The LSP recognises that parish planning is extremely important in giving people a stronger voice in the delivery of their local services.
 
“The LSP has set Sunila the tough target of helping 60 per cent of the 100 plus town and parish councils develop their own plans for the future of their areas by 2008,” said Cllr Ray Herring, Chairman of the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership.
 
"She will be able to make it easier for them, offering guidance and support to all those towns and parishes that want to put in place their own parish plan which will identify the future needs and desires of their community.
 
"Having a parish plan makes it far easier for towns and parishes to attract funding, as well as giving a clear and accurate snapshot of an area and how its community agrees it needs to change," added Cllr Herring.
 
The goal is that by 2010 every town and parish in the district will have their own parish plan, which will help plan the delivery of services and development across Suffolk Coastal.
 
Suffolk ACRE has now written to every town and parish clerk informing them about the post and the help it can provide.
 
"Parish plans are an excellent initiative but they do require a good deal of work which is where this new post will prove so important. It is vital to involve as much of the local community as possible to make the final documents truly reflective of the needs and views of the people in the area covered," added Cllr Herring.
 
Any town or parish that would like more information about this latest LSP initiative can contact Sunila at Suffolk ACRE on 01473 242544 or can contact her by  email