Longparish has approximately 300 households within the parish and a population of about 700 people. We estimate that around 500 people, of all ages, have been actively involved in giving their views.
An initial exhibition in December 2002 started to gather information and to explore the enthusiasm within the community for developing a Parish Plan. Following the setting up of the Steering Group, there were similar events held at the school in March 2003 and at North Acre in September 2003. These events gave the Steering Group a great deal of information about what people think is good about life in the village and therefore needs protecting, as well as areas that would benefit from improvement.
Building on the information we'd gathered from the exhibitions, we invited people to attend discussion groups to explore various issues in more depth. At this stage we actively involved special interest groups and discussed specific issues in more depth. Those who took part had the chance to start contributing their thoughts on how we could address different issues. Many of these sessions were considered enjoyable as well as constructive!
Based on the issues we had identified earlier in the consultation, a questionnaire was designed and delivered by volunteers to every household in the village. The results gave us quantifiable data to add to the qualitative information from other parts of the process.
Estimates of numbers involved in the different stages of consultation are as follows, but please note that some people will have been involved at several different stages so the numbers cannot simply be added up. The responses to the questionnaire can be analysed statistically as all responses come from different individuals.
| Consultation event | Details | Approx. numbers involved/responding |
| Questionnaire | Delivered to every household in the village | 170 households, 420 individuals (about 60% of the population) |
| Exhibitions | Village Hall, School, North Acre | 175 |
| Discussion groups and events for special interest groups | School and Playgroup, Parent and Toddlers, Teenagers RATS Activity Day, Young Adults, Older People, Old and New Villagers, Education, Leisure and Social, Sports, Work | 200 |
| Individual meetings | Key landowners or owners of key village facilities | 8 |