A councillor whose pioneering work thrust a Norfolk Broads village into the planning limelight has died aged 77.

Alison Peart served as chairwoman of Strumpshaw Parish Council, a role that saw her volunteer to take the village into the fold of the 2011 Localism Act.

The legislation allowed for the creation of a neighbourhood plan to allow the community to shape its own future.

In Strumpshaw that meant addressing the growing need for a new village hall and allotments.

Although there was suitable land in the parish, it lay outside the permitted building zone.

But the new act allowed the overturning of rules if the resulting action could be proven to benefit the community. 

Planning minister, Nick Boles, left, at Strumpshaw as he looks at the village's proposed Neighbourhood Development Plan. With him are, from left, Raymond Smith and his brother John, landowners; and Alison Peart, chair of the Strumpshaw Parish Council (Image: Denise Bradley)

Strumpshaw village hallStrumpshaw village hall (Image: Submitted)

Mrs Peart was able to talk the landowner into donating part of the site for allotments while erecting the shell of a new community hall, in return for being allowed to build a few sought-after houses.

District planning officers and Mrs Peart's selected steering committee, along with the MP for Broadland, held several meetings and thrashed out a scheme.  

By April 2013, the proposal attracted the attention of Parliament and Nick Boles, the then planning minister, travelled to Norfolk to compliment Mrs Peart on her plan.  

Planning minister, Nick Boles, at Strumpshaw as he looks at the village's proposed Neighbourhood Development Plan with Alison Peart, chair of the Strumpshaw Parish Council  (Image: Newsquest)

A referendum followed, sealing the whole deal and her vision became a reality. Strumpshaw emerged as the smallest parish to take up the baton of producing a Neighbourhood Plan.  

Mrs Peart was the daughter of Norfolk farmer, Bertie Brand of Weston Longville, and it was at his insistence that she was educated at Lonsdale School for Girls, in Norwich.

He had wanted her to become a barrister, but she eventually found fulfilment in insurance brokering for the disadvantaged.  

Mrs Peart, who later moved to New Costessey, died at home from cancer on July 26.

She leaves behind her husband, Stephen, daughters Celia and Stephanie, and grandchildren Felix, Giles, Lily, and Oscar. 

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