Government grant will help sustain Yapton community

The village’s neighbourhood planning group has been handed £20,000 from the Neighbourhood Planning Front Runners’ scheme.

The money will be used by the group, backed by Yapton Parish Council, to put together a neighbourhood plan, which will set out how community facilities and sustainability will be dealt with in the next 10 to 15 years.

Andy Faulkner, co-chairman of the Yapton Plan Group, says: “This is great news for Yapton as we develop this important plan for our future.

“This grant demonstrates a real commitment by Westminster to the Localism Act, and shows a genuine desire by the government to help communities to complete their plans.”

The application was submitted on behalf of the group, one of 108 across the UK to have been successful, by the parish council with the help of Arun District Council.

More Yapton residents were needed to get involved in the project, the first stage of which was a survey, added Mr Faulkner.

“We’ve had a fantastic response so far,” he said.

“We are really keen to hear the views of the younger element of Yapton, not just the teenagers but young couples with young families.

“Their thoughts on the future, especially on key issues like education and employment, are vital.”

To download a survey, go to www.ynp.org.uk or pick one up from the village’s Co-op store, Avisford Surgey or Bilsham stores.