Vision

Mortimer has a distinctive rural character and sense of community with a wide range of services and thriving small business economy. It is this vision of Mortimer, now and in the future, that forms the fundamental and distinctive focus for the Neighbourhood Development Plan. This vision is encapsulated by the following:

Agricultural

Although the livelihoods of most parishioners are no longer linked to agriculture there is still significant rural activity – farms, forestry, small holdings, and equine services – that permeates Mortimer giving it its essential and valued rural character.

The landscape and setting of the village

Distinctive views, open spaces, woodland, rural paths and bridleways combine with the more immediate setting of the village to create the landscape within which the village is set. The area of the Fairground with community centre and the Horse & Groom, and the focussed centre of the village with St John’s Church, shops, bank, Post Office is itself a valued visual landscape.

Separate from neighbouring villages

The approach to the parish is through clear green belt, open fields or natural woodland between us and neighbouring communities of Burghfield, Wokefield, Beech Hill, Mortimer West End, Silchester and Padworth, and along the east side of The Street. Other villages within the area are similarly approached through working countryside.

Quietness

A rural ambience pervades the parish rather than that of a town or urban area with the sounds of the countryside, wildlife, quietness not the urbanised hum of motor traffic or shopping malls.

Easy access to countryside

Public paths/walks and rural activities are available for walking, cycling, shooting, hunting, horse riding.

Local design

The local or typical architecture and design gives Mortimer its distinctive character shunning large car parks, lighting, road signage, advertising, taxi ranks and general street clutter found in a town but are alien to a rural environment.