Rural Voices Rural Choices

Rural Voices Rural Choices is a partnership that seeks ways to improve the quality of life of people living in rural parishes, both large and small, within the Lewes District. Its members are from local organisations, businesses and individuals that meet in a different rural venue alternate months. Business people in rural areas are most welcome to come along to the meetings.

Meeting notes relating to the activities of Rural Voices Rural Choices.

Rural Voices Rural Choices Priorities

Transport and Traffic | Communication networks | Market Towns Initiative | Children and Young People | Promotion of Local Food in relation to tourism/hospitality | Improve footpath provision between villages | Establish Housing/Development Trust | Audit memberships of partnerships

Transport and Traffic:

• Minibus directories distributed to 22 Parishes
• Developing a Lewes District Transport Group, that will address and resolve transport issues identified by young people and the Parishes
• Uckfield to Lewes train line?
• Worked with students of Chailey School to identify transport issues that young people confront in rural areas. Regularity, time, flexibility, destination, high costs, overcrowding and safety of buses, were some of the issues raised.
• Carried out Parish survey evidencing the transport and traffic issues. Developed an action plan to take steps to resolve the issues so that there is better access of transport facilities for local people.
• In order to have safer roads and slower traffic, Rural Voices Rural Choices have purchased a Speed Indicator Device which is being shared by the villages.

Communication networks:

• Rationalise all incoming consultation (for parishes via LDALPC)
• Roles of Parish Representatives on the RVRC partnership have now been clarified and updated, to ensure that communities are effectively engaged.
• A Rural Voices Rural Choices identity/logo has been created
• Local Strategic Partnership website has been improved
• Place good news/progress articles in the local media to raise profile of partnerships
• Clarify the link to other organisations such as POLO?

Market Towns Initiative:

• Lewes Town Partnership

Children & Young People:

• Worked with young people and Parish Councils to identify need for youth shelters. Between 55% and 60% of students living in Chailey, Kingston and Barcombe wanted a youth shelter established in their villages. Funding has been found to erect a youth shelter in Barcombe. Full participation of young people in consultation process.

• To map children and young peoples' activities that exist, or are being developed, in individual parishes, so that the gaps can be identified.

Promotion of Local Food in relation to tourism/hospitality:

• Healthy School meals

Improve footpath provision between villages

• Supported Westmeston Pathway Jubilee Trust with identifying funding sources for a footpath project between Westmeston and Ditchling.

Establish Housing/Development Trust

Audit membership of partnerships:

• Identify interests, non-users, potential partners

Rural Voices Rural Choices Structure

Rural Voices Rural Choices is supported by a project worker, Valerie Biggs who works two days a week for the partnership. Valerie can be contacted via email on lvlc@lewes.gov.uk or by calling 01273 483832 and is based at South Downs Council for Voluntary Services, 66 High Street, Lewes BN7 1XG.

Rural Voices Rural Choices Partnership

Action in rural Sussex www.ruralsussex.org.uk
Sussex Police www.sussex.police.uk
Lewes District Council www.lewes.gov.uk
East Sussex County Council www.eastsussex.gov.uk
Parish Councils & Meetings in Lewes District www.nalc.gov.uk
East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust www.esdw.nhs.uk/
Churches Together in Sussex www.churches-together.org.uk
South Downs Council for Voluntary Service www.southdownscvs.org.uk
RDH Services