Sherburn working hard to shape its own future (From Gazette & Herald)

Sherburn working hard to shape its own future

11:25am Thursday 14th January 2010 in Village profiles By David Jeffels

YOUNGSTERS who helped to create a blueprint for the future of the ancient village of Sherburn have already seen one of their aspirations achieved – a youth club.

The newly-launched Sherburn Parish Plan has taken a team of residents 18 months to complete. But they have now drawn up an action plan to bring their ideas to reality.

A questionnaire was sent to every house asking people, and in particular youngsters, their views on a wide range of issues such as sport, leisure, housing, education, jobs, the environment, highways, community safety, road safety and green issues. And the results show that 91 per cent of resident say they are happy with life in Sherburn.

Pupils at Sherburn Church of England Primary School also took part, and the outcome there included “very strong support” for a youth club which is now being run in the village hall, and praise for the breakfast club provided at the school.

The children said: “We feel safe when out – everyone looks after you. We have lots of friends.”

As well as a youth club, the village is also hoping to provide tennis and dance classes for the youngsters, aerobics and gymnastics. They have also asked for speed cameras in the village and humps have just been completed to curb speeding motorists.

Adults requested local educational courses especially in computer skills, foreign languages and history. Support was also given for arts and crafts, gardening, local geology, car mechanics and DIY skills.

An improved bus service to Malton and Scarborough is also high on the residents’ wish list and one interesting feature requested is the creation of village green or duck pond to improve the village’s appearance.

The report says that 52 per cent of residents are in full-time employment, 17 per cent part time, and 12 per cent are self-employed. Sherburn is seen as a vibrant village which could attract more young and growing families to secure its future. And a housing needs survey has revealed that the need for social rented homes has more than doubled since 2002.

As a result, residents have asked the parish council to respond positively to planning applications for housing. They also want to ascertain the possibility of a gas pipeline serving the village.

Other items on the wish-list include:

* replacing the temporary classroom at the primary school with a brick building

* a monthly newsletter

* a butchers shop

* cash point facility

* bakery

* petrol station

* hairdressers

* takeaway food outlet

* a community noticeboard

A new clubhouse is on the drawing board for the playing field and it is planned to have a multi-games area for tennis, netball, basketball and five-a-side football.

Maggie Farey, of Rural Action Yorkshire, who played a key part in masterminding the plan, said: “There was an excellent response to the questionnaire with 70 per cent of the 360 households responding. The result is a first class document which is now being acted on and which will undoubtedly im prove the quality of life for everyone living in the village.”

Coun John Rayner, whose Ryedale District Council ward includes Sherburn, said the plan would be a big help in the council drawing up its blueprint for the district, the Local Development Framework.

He said: “Parish plans are invaluable in guiding planners and councillors on what communities want, and they can help influence planning decisions.”

He praised Sherburn residents for their work in bringing the plan to reality. “It is a splendid report and is already achieving success.”

Changing face of an English village

THE turning point in Sherburn’s fortunes was the establishing of the Wards structural engineering factory in 1949, where many local residents still work.

Until the 1920s, most of the cottages were “damp and unfit for habitation, causing frequent epidemic illnesses”.

Farmers and cottagers brewed their own beer until about 1820, when a brewing enterprise was set up at the former Pigeon Pie pub. Twenty years later, the East Riding Brewery was founded, and it became famous for its Sherburn Ales.

Until the late 1940s, Sherburn boasted grocers, butchers, bakers, tailors, dressmakers, cobblers, shoemakers, carpenters, blacksmiths, carriers and a cycle repair shop and then, as now, it had a fire station, and an imposing Norman church, named after St Hilda, Abbess of Whitby.

It got a school in 1774, and later had a boarding school. A brass band was well-known over a big area of the wolds.