Annual Nordelph Parish Assembly

March 21st 2007

In small communities such as ours we should perhaps not be too surprised that residents are not overly concerned with the mechanics of self-government, and do not rush to attend meetings -- such as the 2007 Parish Assembly. Nevertheless, it was somewhat disappointing to find just one single member of the village in attendance!

This is not however a contemporary phenomenon: as the newspaper cutting from a March 1947 copy of the Wisbech Standard shown alongside reports, low attendance is somehow endemic! If you wish, you can read the full story by clicking. You may need to zoom in to read the text.

As promised at the last Parish Council meeting, the matter of a Village Plan was put to the assembly. With the vast majority of those attending having already discussed this, the decision not to proceed wasn't long in coming. A fairly clinching argument was put by Vivienne Spikings, our Borough Councillor, who was asked point-blank if the existence of a Village Plan would make any difference to Nordelph. 'No' was the simple reply. She also expanded on the position of Nordelph in respect of the intended build of thousands of new homes in this area. Nordelph will not be asked (told) to take any of these. The Borough Council planners are not going to build homes in a community that is so lacking in amenities -- no doctor, no pub, no retail. So we should perhaps reflect that being small can be an advantage! Meanwhile, Downham Market will grow.

There was a report on the progress of the gifting of the Village Hall to the community, and an indication that a change of use application in respect of te new playing field would be presented within the next couple of months.

The assembly concluded, and the one villager left while the meeting continued as a parish council meeting.

This report does not claim to be a full record of all matters discussed. The official minutes will be avilable through the website when they are approved at the next Assembly meeting.