Syleham Millennium Cross



Syleham Parish Plan

'A unique opportunity for a community to play an active part in determining its own future’ (Suffolk Acre). 

Syleham's Parish Plan was published in 2009 and the story of how it came about is given below - see History of the Parish Plan.  Not surprisingly, the main message was that most residents cherished the tranquillity of their parish and wanted to see it preserved; however, there were a few action points and, to promote these, the Steering Group arranged a drop-in coffee morning which was well attended: voluntary groups are taking forward some of the issues in which there was particular interest and the Parish Council is pursuing  others. 



                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
Action on the Plan

Early developments were that some Syleham residents became active members of the neighbouring Wingfield & District Gardening Club and others joined Wingfield History Club.  A Craft Group has formed in Syleham and meets at the Village Hall on the third Thursday of each month at 1.30pm (enquiries to Alison Thurlow 01379 668251).

There was considerable interest in a re-cycling facility; the obvious site is at the Village Hall and the Management Committee has now installed a bottle bank which they are happy for local residents to use, with care and consideration for local neighbours.    

For household waste - residents are urged to make use of the facility at Brome:  this has closed as a County Council site but is reopening on 5th September as Brome and Oakley Community Recycling Centre. Opening hours:  9am - 5pm Monday to Saturday, 10am - 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays.  There will be a charge for items going to landfill but  items accepted free of charge include green waste, household and car batteries, fridges/freezers, tetra pak cartons and electrical goods, wood and plastics.  However, please check these details www.boltonbros.co.uk or 01473 830948.

The feasibility of a group oil purchasing scheme was explored but the village is too small to support an independent scheme.  However, an existing local group, Wortwell & Mendham Bulk Buying Community Oil Group, is happy to accept enquiries from Syleham residents. Orders are placed monthly during winter months.  Tel 01986 788750 or contact   

A volunteer is also exploring the possibility of hydro-electricity from the mill weir: solar and wind energy might also be explored but, for any of these initiatives to succeed, an active local volunteer group would be needed.

Local residents have completed a survey of parish footpaths and a Parish Councillor has visited landowners where there were problems.    Our volunteers were able to report that dog fouling was not a noticeable problem.

Syleham participated in a County Council survey on a local mini-bus service and there was a good response; however, we do not know the outcome.

For information on any of the above, you can make an initial enquiry to the Parish Clerk contact (01379 669018)

History of the Parish Plan
       
Parish Plans, setting out how  villages might (or might not) wish to develop and the action to be taken to achieve the vision,  have proved to be influential in guiding not only parish councils but also district and county councils in the decisions they make. At a public meeting held jointly for residents of Wingfield and Syleham in April 2007 both communities decided to go ahead with a Parish Plan.  To save on cost, a joint steering committee was formed, including members from each parish, and much of the work was done together.

Two fun events held during the summer of 2007 provided an opportunity for residents of both parishes to indicate  issues of local importance and these formed the basis for the questionnaire which was sent to all households during  January and February 2008.  There was an excellent return rate.
 
A presentation of the findings was given at the Village Hall on the morning of Saturday 19th July 2008 and approximately 31 residents of Syleham visited the exhibition-style event.  People were impressed by the quality of the presentation and spent  time studying the display panels or browsing through the brochures over a cup of coffee.  The Steering Group worked together on this event, with the Wingfield display taking place in the afternoon, but then reached the stage where the Wingfield and Syleham members worked largely independently on producing their respective Parish Plans.

Wingfield and Syleham  both  produced their Plans,  Syleham's being distributed early in July 2009.  The  Steering Group hoped that residents found their Parish Plan an attractive and informative document and they were grateful to the people who assisted with the research.  


Black Horse Hill/Church Hill, Wingfield Road