Hathern Parish Council Aspirations Page

Aspirations & Achievements:

Aspirations:

Strategic Plan 2007-2011
Pasture Lane Project

Achievements:

Community Bus Service
Hathern Village Sign
Parish Walks
Cemetery Approach Landscaping
Youth Soccer Pitch
Seat Around Jubilee Tree
Village Christmas Tree
Protecting the Round Bank
Neater Electricity Sub-Station
Securing the Grit Bins
Planting the replacement Silver Jubilee Tree
Hathern Park Development

Aspirations:

Hathern Parish Council Strategic Plan: 2007 – 2011

1. Cleaner neighbourhoods

Aim : Improve the cleanliness and tidiness of the parish. Lobby and work with responsible bodies where necessary. Proposals are:

a. Work to improve street cleaning and reduce litter

b. More effectively tackle dog fouling and other health hazards

c. With Hathern School resolve sewer overflow ditch issue.

2. Enhancing village street design

Aim : Create a sense of pride and identity in the village by enhancing the architectural unity of village streets and public spaces using decorative and functional street furniture together with planting schemes. Proposals are :

a. Improve visual impact of approaches to village

b. Replace and provide better signage, public seating, planting etc

c. Consider public donation schemes for above.

3. Improving HPC’s facilities in the village

Aim : Continue to improve and maintain our sites and their access. Develop the amenities provided for users, working in collaboration with others where appropriate. Ensure areas are safe and secure. Proposals are:

a. Establish a strategy to manage the natural environment of Park and sports ground.

b. Consider planting schemes for these areas

c. Implement a second improvement phase to the Park boundary

d. Develop and implement an improvement plan for the Cemetery

e. Extend and improve parking for sports ground (Hathern Band and Hathern FC)

f. Provide/improve facilities for the children of the village.

4. Making our village and roads safer

Aim : By working with other organisations make our village and roads safer for residents. Proposals are:

a. Work for a 2nd pedestrian crossing on A6

b. Work to reduce impact of increased traffic on A6

c. Tackle parking issues in the village

d. Continue close liaison with Police

e. Provide information to villagers on security and crime prevention.

5. Better ways of working

Aim: Improve how the Council works and takes decisions on behalf of the Community. Proposals are :

a. Consider achieving “Quality Parish Council” status

b. Review potential for carrying out a ‘Parish Plan’ process.

6. Miscellaneous

a. Plan for land off Golden Square (dependent on CBC).

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The Pasture Lane Project

After the Parish Council put on a public consultation exercise for residents, plans are now afoot to take the first steps. These will take the form of obtaining planning permission and then constructing a brick wall with iron palings inset along the southern boundary of the recreation area. Efforts have already been made to tidy up the area in general, but it has become clear that a more permanent and aesthetic solution is required. This picture shows the present state of the site prior to the commencement of the project.

Update:

This project is now almost completed and the result can be seen under "Hathern Park" on the Achievements page.

Achievements:

Community Bus Service

In March 2004 the Parish Council was awarded a grant from the Countryside Agency that has enabled a weekly mini-bus to operate between Hathern and Loughborough every Thursday. The service is aimed at those in our community who find it most difficult to use the public buses that operate from the bus stops on the A6, and is run by Shepshed Special Community Bus (SSCB).The service has proved so popular that the SSCB has been able to secure a National Lottery grant that will ensure its continued operation for at least another 3 years. Having initiated this successful service the Council is pleased that the management, operation and funding of this service has been now been handed over completely to the SSCB for the future. Call the SSCB on 01509 650531 for further details if you wish to use the community bus.

Parish Walks

Hathern Parish is fortunate in having numerous public footpaths and bridleways within its boundaries and the Council has worked closely with Leicestershire County Council (LCC) to encourage wider use. To this end the Council completed a condition survey of local rights of way enabling LCC to initiate a programme of improvement and maintenance to the various styles, footbridges, gates and finger posts. Coupled to this, and with the Council’s help, the LCC has published a completely revised “Guide to Parish Walks” for Hathern that details two different circular walks through the fine countryside in and around the village. This leaflet is free and is available at various outlets across the village including the Hathern Village Stores. Click here for more information.

Youth Soccer Pitch

To encourage wider and better use of the Recreation Ground in Pasture Lane an FA regulation size youth soccer pitch was instated in July 2005 and is now available for public use all year round. No more jumpers for goal posts ! To celebrate this new facility a penalty shoot out competition was organised and thanks to the contributions of Hathern Youth Club and Hathern FC it was a great success.

Village Christmas Tree - For Christmas 2006 we at last saw a communal Christmas Tree on display in the heart of the village. Together with the Church of St Peter & St Paul the Parish Council has been able to provide a permanent location for a village Christmas Tree on Church land at the junction of Church St and Wide Lane.

The groundwork and electrical installation for the decorative lights was finished in November and the first tree duly “lit up” at a well attended and thoughtful ceremony on the evening of 30 th November. Before this the village had no communal or public Christmas decoration and the completion of this project brought great pleasure to many in the community over the festive period. The Council will continue its involvement into the future by providing a cut tree for the next 3 years.

Neater Electricity Sub-Station

As part of the same programme, the much-corroded electricity sub-station is being replaced by a smaller fibreglass unit, which will in turn be surrounded on three sides by a neatly-trimmed beech hedge. The picture shows a cheerful employee installing an earthing pad around the installation to protect technicians engaged on doing the swap-over.

Replacing the Silver Jubilee Tree

March 2007 saw a replacement for the Silver Jubilee tree planted on Round Bank at the top of Wide Street. The original tree, a horse chestnut planted in 1977, unfortunately contracted a waterborne fungal disease and had to be felled in early 2005. The new tree, a native Oak, has been planted in the same position and should grow to become an important land mark for the village. A granite plaque is being engraved to provide provenance for the tree and will be sited close by.

Hathern Village Sign

The new Village Sign was unveiled by the Mayor of Charnwood, Mike Jones on September 10th 2004 in a ceremony attended by many in the community including children and staff from Hathern C of E School who helped in generating ideas. This Parish Council project was made possible by funding from Charnwood Borough Council’s Arts Development Grants scheme and the craftsmen and women from Hathern Forge who both designed and manufactured the sign to include images of Hathern’s medieval church, its historic “cross” monument, and the village’s Jubilee tree .

Cemetery Approach Landscaping

The award winning landscaping scheme to the Cemetery approach way was completed in June 2005 and now the whole community can enjoy the area as they take in the views across the Soar Valley - undoubtedly the best in Hathern. This scheme has brought to life a long neglected area in what is a sensitive and cherished part of the village. A variety of shrubs and flowering wild cherry and crab apple trees are included in the planting scheme together with hawthorn hedging. On the 17 th June 2005 the completion of the project was marked by a dedication ceremony led by Celia Harris in memory of Nell Wood and Robert Ashby whose memorial seats grace the site. The Vice Chair of Leicestershire County Council was also on hand to present a Shire Community Environmental Improvement award to the Parish Council for this scheme.

Seat around Jubilee Tree

April 2006 saw the completion of the splendid new circular seat around the Jubilee tree at the top of Wide Street. The original seat, installed as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in 1977, had fallen into disrepair and so the Parish Council agreed to take responsibility for providing a worthy replacement.

The new seat was designed and made for us by John Fitzpatrick from Hathern Forge and was installed by Steve Purvis and Chris Bond. We congratulate all those involved in this very successful project.

Protecting the Round bank

Protective posts installed by Brian Mee to protect the boundary of Wide Street Bank from encroachment by parked and turning vehicles. This work was put in hand by the Parish Council in a drive to enhance the appearance of the village. The grassed area will be one of several prestige area to benefit from annual rolling and weed-treating by Roma Landscapes, and there will be a designated turning area at the head of the cul-de-sac to further reduce the need for vehicles to drive on the grass.

Securing the Grit Bins

Several of the salted grit bins are in the process of being relocated on concrete bases and supported by twin metal posts to keep them upright. This is part of an initiative by the Parish Council to help villagers when there is ice on the roads, particularly at accident-prone junctions. The picture also shows one of the many supplementary litter bins provided by the Parish Council to encourage tidiness.

Hathern Park Development

Early in the Summer of 2007 saw the completion of the Parish Council’s biggest project yet – that to improve the sections of Hathern Park’s boundary and access points. The Park now has a fine new boundary wall with railings, and a new set of entrance gates.
It was a huge effort to get to this point. Once we had cleared all the paperwork and obtained the necessary Planning Permissions we were able to appoint a main contractor, Brian Mee Associates, who began work in mid March. The decorative ironwork (including two entrance gates and an archway) was designed and made by Hathern Forge. Hathern School kindly agreed to find a new home for the original pedestrian gate and that now takes pride of place in the School’s Wildlife Garden.
What has been achieved is of great credit to the village and will no doubt bring a sense of pride and pleasure to our community. A big thank you is due to those who have been involved along the way especially Richard Henson, for dealing with the planning application, and Stan Roden for managing the latter part of project on behalf of the Council.
The Council aims to continue to work to develop and maintain this amenity for the benefit of the community not forgetting, of course, to recognise and preserve its rural setting.

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