Introduction

The Myndtown Combined Parish extends to some 6,000 hectares immediately west of the
Long Mynd, Shropshire and comprises the parishes of Myndtown, Norbury, Ratlinghope and
Wentnor the combined population of which is about 600 including some 480 adults. The area
is very rural and hilly. Much is within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty and so is popular with tourists and especially walkers. There is a Youth Hostel at
Ratlinghope and a primary school at Norbury. Also at Norbury is a village hall which serves
the four parishes as does the only shop (with Post Office) that opened in 2002 in Wentnor.
There is a pub at Norbury, one at Ratlinghope and two at Wentnor. Each parish has its own C
of E church in addition to which there is a Methodist chapel in Wentnor parish. Public
transport is virtually non-existent.

Parish Plans were announced in the 2000 "Rural White Paper" which set out the Government's
plans for the countryside. Parish Plans are part of the "Vital Villages" initiative of the
Countryside Agency which has provided funds towards the cost of producing Parish Plans.

The Parish Plan process provides an opportunity for everyone in the parishes of Myndtown,
Norbury, Ratlinghope and Wentnor to express their views on local matters affecting them.

Parish Plans are local, action-based plans addressing a range of problems and opportunities
affecting rural communities. They can include social, economic and environmental issues.

The Myndtown Combined Parish Council (the PC) will 'own' the Parish Plan (the Plan) and
take the lead responsibility for it. The Plan will provide the PC with a framework for its
decisions and actions during the next five years and beyond. It will also help the PC to
influence local authorities and other service providers.

Already working for the protection of the Parish's environment are various project groups
including, for example, the Norbury Walls Group and the Upper Onny Wildlife Group. The
recently published handbook, The Upper Onny Valley, whilst covering a wider area than just
that of the Parish is a most useful guide to many aspects of the Parish's environment. It is not
intended that the Plan should over-ride the work of these or other on-going activities but that it
should be supportive of them.

Implementation of the range of actions within the Plan will involve the participation of
various Shropshire organisations and authorities and of interested volunteers and voluntary
groups.

The Steering Group which has drafted the Plan thanks all those within the Parish who have
found the time to attend meetings, to complete the Questionnaire and tq contribute their views
on the various local issues. Thanks are also due to Mrs Caroline Oakes of the Community
Council of Shropshire and to Miss Jill Ming, our professional consultant advisor, for their
patience and helpful advice. As chairman of the Steering Group I thank the seven individual
members of the Group for the considerable time and effort that they have each put in to the
task of preparing the Plan.

Keith R Mansell
Chairman,
Myndtown Combined Parish