Aim

To encourage rural economic growth and employment, through support of business expansion and development which is appropriate and in keeping with the Parish’s intrinsic character and environment.

 

Introduction

Located between the triangle of three large towns, (Stevenage, Letchworth and Hitchin), Wymondley Parish provides a unique and idyllic setting for numerous residential and commercial businesses.  It combines easy access to and from arterial routes with the benefits of working in a rural village setting.

 

Business diversity

The Parish is populated with businesses which are diverse in nature.  Similarly, the proportion of those people who are economically active and work from home covers a varied cross-section of skill sets, with approximately 40 businesses active within the Parish.

 

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that, in the 2011 Census, of the recorded 975 residents in our neighbourhood catchment area, 133 people were self-employed.  That equates to 13.6% of the total residents.

 

Whilst resident businesses provide employment in areas such as those set out below, they rarely employ large numbers of local residents and we seek to encourage this where we can:

• Farming
• Landscaping
• Arboriculture
• National grid
• Petro chemical
• Leisure and hospitality
• Nursing home
• Used car sales
• Wedding venues (including churches)
• Equestrian

 

A harmonious balance presently exists between achieving economic prosperity for our resident businesses and preserving the rural character of our villages, and it is imperative to the community that this is maintained. The impact of any physical expansion of business premises is therefore a key factor in our consideration of any development proposals.

 

The hub of our community

Wymondley Parish has several public houses providing food, local ales and a meeting point for customers from near and far.  Little Wymondley has the benefit of the newly opened Needham House Hotel, a facility which provides fine dining, accommodation and a new conference centre - to name but a few of its services.  Similar facilities can also be found elsewhere, for example at Redcoats Farmhouse Hotel and Wymondley Priory Barn.

 

In more rural areas, when stand-alone post offices and village shops have become unviable, local pubs have often diversified to offer those additional services to the community.  Many years ago, in recognition of this and other benefits of wider involvement with the local community, Adnam’s Brewery coined the phrase “The Pub is the Hub”. As the pub industry started to decline in popularity, the idea was that public houses became the “Hub” of the community – acting as a meeting place where people of all ages and abilities could enjoy a variety of refreshments, engage in recreational activities and share their experiences. This informal social and business networking has a positive impact not only on the publican’s business, but also generates business (and other) opportunities for local tradesmen and residents, and is beneficial to the community’s general well-being and socio-economic health.

 

We are fortunate that our parish hostelries play an active part in community life, not only as described above, but through charitable fund raising and practical support of village Fun Days etc.  (Recent fund-raising examples are the acquisition of a defibrillator, (currently kept at the Plume of Feathers in Little Wymondley), and a CPR training pack for Wymondley JMI School.)  We do indeed view our public houses as the hub of our community, and regard their continued existence as an important influence on the quality of life in a rural parish – from both a social and economic perspective.

 

Keeping Businesses local

In recent years, consumers have increasingly been encouraged to move away from large, impersonal “big-box” retailers, to support smaller and more local businesses in their own towns and villages. Such businesses include local farmers, craftsmen, mobile grocers, fish mongers and other product providers, with items made and produced locally and sold on a small scale.

 

By supporting our local businesses, both within the Parish and in neighbouring towns, we enjoy a number of direct and indirect benefits such as greater confidence in the origins and quality of the products; smaller carbon footprint; and an improved local economy, leading to increased local investment and better facilities.  There are also other tangible benefits to be gained.  Aside from convenience, availability of unique products unavailable in larger chain-stores, and the satisfaction of indirectly helping to make our communities better places in which to live, we can benefit from:

• Improved health: through access to fresh, locally-sourced, organic and free-range produce.  (Such produce also benefits the environment, live-stock and natural flora and fauna);
• Improved local economy: as significantly more locally-spent money stays in the community. Local business owners often have incentive to support other local businesses, for both business and personal reasons, whereas chains tend to have corporate suppliers and less opportunity (or interest) in buying locally.
• Familiarity breeding content, (as opposed to contempt): as local business owners and staff are generally part of the community and therefore often keener to provide a better, more personalised service and quickly resolve any issues.  Personally knowing who you are dealing with creates connections and personal investment, resulting in supplier and consumer being prepared to go that extra mile (literally) to keep their customers satisfied or support a particular business;
• Sustaining the unique character of our community: because local businesses help give a community its individual flavour and contribute to its character.  Most towns across the UK have similar chain restaurants, grocery and department stores and are suffering an identity crisis.  By supporting our unique local businesses instead of national chains we help to ensure that the individuality of our community’s character is sustained.
• Use it or lose it: for the reasons given above, the community genuinely cares when a local business does well, and mourns its loss; and such businesses often contribute to the life of the community through donations, sponsorship and involvement.  In more rural areas, local businesses can be a vital part of life, but they need to be supported to survive.
  
  

As well as the types of resident businesses mentioned at paragraph 14.4 above, a good network of self-employed tradesmen exists within the Parish; and we are fortunate that neighbouring towns such as Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Stevenage provide us with a wide range of local shops and businesses, as well as national chain stores. Hitchin Market, for example, is well known throughout the county and well supported locally - as are the regular Farmers/Food Markets and local butchers and fishmongers, (including mobile businesses serving our Parish).

 

Employment in our parish

Wymondley Parish, as reported by the 2011 Census, provides statistical data regarding the type of employment held within our community .  (See graph below.)

 

Economic activity in your neighbourhood, March 2011