Brantham 2034 - 10 year vision

Following its initial consultation and review of the feedback received, Brantham Parish Council have been working on drawing up a Strategic Plan document that will drive the activities of the Council over the coming years and will inform the action plan that is currently under development.

Brantham 2034: Strategic Plan (PDF)

Brantham 2034: Strategic Plan Update with detail (PDF)

The Council would welcome feedback on this document as we progress towards our objectives. You can give us your views by email or by phone. See how to Contact the Council.

As part of Brantham Parish Council's ongoing commitment to developing and sustaining a vibrant and responsive community, at the end of last year we embarked on a detailed engagement plan to better understand the aspirations and concerns of our fellow residents. Our aim was to capture the heartbeat of Brantham, to understand your views and to gather insights that would guide us in shaping a future that reflects our collective values and priorities.

Led by Cllr Lancaster, we reached out through various channels, connecting with many of you face-to-face and online. We are grateful for the enthusiastic participation in these events and for those residents who shared their thoughts with us. Your input is invaluable, and it is with great pleasure that we are able to present a summary of our findings.

This summary not only highlights what you cherish about our community but also sheds light on the changes you wish to see. It is apparent that there is a collective desire to build on the strong community spirit we enjoy within the village whilst also improving services and infrastructure to serve local residents, now and into the future.

Engagement Plan Summary:

Total Engagement: 217 residents participated, with 160 face-to-face interactions and 57 online survey responses.

Initial Questions: Residents were asked about their likes and desired changes for Brantham, followed by prioritising issues and adding comments.

Engagement Events:

Number of Events: 7 face-to-face events, including a test event.

Locations: Village Hall, The Bull, Choles Café, and Brantham Leisure Centre.

Nature of Events: Two events at the Village Hall were dedicated to the Parish Plan, while others were integrated into existing activities to engage a broader audience.

Demographics:

Age Range: Under 18 to over 70 years old, with significant participation from those over 60.

Residency Duration: Participants had lived in Brantham for 2 to 30 years, with half residing for over 20 years.

Residence Location: Engagement from across the village, though the new estate was under-represented. 10% of participants were non-residents, some were former villagers.

Engagement Results:

Top Five Likes:

  1. Access to Countryside
  2. Community Spirit
  3. Location and access to major roads (A12 & A14)
  4. The People
  5. The River and Brantham Leisure Centre

Top Five Desired Changes:

  1. Traffic, speeding, and HGV issues
  2. Healthcare access, including GP and dental services
  3. Retail options, especially the Post Office
  4. Enhanced public transport
  5. Activities for teenagers

Key Issues Highlighted:

  • Housing development concerns
  • Traffic and speeding
  • Healthcare services
  • Youth engagement
  • Retail variety and Post Office reinstatement
  • Transport links
  • Road maintenance and potholes
  • Parking solutions
  • Traffic calming and pedestrian crossings
  • Village hall improvements
  • Allotment availability
  • Foot and cycle path improvements
  • Dining options, including a Dementia Café
  • Drain and verge maintenance

Safety Concerns:

General Safety: Majority feel safe, but concerns include traffic, speeding, illegal parking, nighttime safety, antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, and vandalism.

Next Steps

Following the feedback, we are excited to announce that we will be launching a long-term plan ‘Brantham 2034’ - an ambitious plan that addresses the needs of the local community and enhances the well-being of our residents in the next decade. The topics outlined in the summary will be addressed within the Brantham 2034 plan and will focus our efforts for sustainable development, infrastructure improvement, and community well-being. The plan will reflect the Parish Council’s ongoing commitment to serving the local population effectively whilst ensuring we allocate resources efficiently, balancing immediate needs with future investments.

We plan to conduct a series of further events and information gathering exercises to delve deeper into the issues, ideas, and concerns raised that will feed into the Brantham 2034 plan. This will ensure that we better understand each area and will help us put in place a series of measure and activities that truly reflects the needs of our residents.

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts. Keep an eye out for more news from us as our plan progresses. You are always welcome to attend our Parish Council meetings to find out more. We would welcome help and support from residents who would like to have a greater impact on the community and assist us in making Brantham 2034 a reality. If you would like to be further involved and find out more, please do contact our Parish Clerk.