Loggerheads Community Information Shop

	LOGGERHEADS PARISH PLAN PROJECT
News - 31 May 2008 - click here for PDF version
PARISH PLAN SUMMARY PROFILE The initial findings in this summary are based on the questionnaires returned by 1,806 people, almost half the adult population (3,638) of the Parish. All areas and age groups are represented and there is a good balance between the sexes. • 55% Men • 45% Women • 90% Owner occupier • 80% have lived here for > 5 years • 35% Retired • 60% In full/part-time employment The questionnaires from children aged 8 - 11 (125), young people aged 13 - 17 (130) and Businesses (49) have yet to be summarised. LOCAL AREA Over 75% of the respondents feel that access to local shopping, doctors, chemists, libraries, post office, recycling and places of worship is good or adequate. However, nearly half feel access to other health services such as chiropody and physiotherapy is inadequate. Those who indicated ‘inadequate’ are concerned (in order of priority) about the doctor’s facilities, lack of facilities near the village, recycling of plastic and cardboard, either no local or few shops near them and transport difficulties especially to North Staffordshire hospital. Over 95% feel that Ashley Fire Station and the Community First Responders are of high value and 72% feel the Community Police Support Officers are of high value. Respondents commenting on the lack of important facilities included:- • Youth facilities/ meeting places • Shops/post office (some areas) • Police presence • Youth activities • Children’s play areas • Manned police station • Sports facilities • Petrol station LOCAL ROADS AND SAFETY A high proportion of residents consider road surfaces and storm water drains are poorly maintained, whilst pavements are adequately maintained. Provision of footpaths and pavements is adequate and street cleaning satisfactory. A majority of respondents (59%) stated that speed restrictions are appropriate, but monitoring and enforcement is not satisfactory. Parking provision is appropriate, but respondents are dissatisfied with the monitoring and enforcement of the restrictions particularly outside the Hugo Meynell School. More than two thirds of respondents consider street lighting to be appropriate for the area. During daytime people generally feel safe cycling, but 19% feel unsafe at night. Speeding is a major concern together with some road layout and junctions with the A53. A small proportion of respondents are concerned about noise and nuisance from traffic. ENVIRONMENT AND UPKEEP OF THE LOCAL AREA For many respondents (84%), the rural nature of the Parish, its countryside and wildlife is very important and must be preserved. Respondents believe that setting up volunteer projects would be helpful. Approximately 45% of the community feels that the upkeep of the environment and local area is adequate. A significant number of respondents consider that provision of litter and dog waste bins is inadequate. The possible adverse impact of proposals for wind turbines and leisure developments are environmental issues of most concern. TRANSPORT The majority of respondents in the community own a car and use it for its convenience, 70% never using buses. Bus users are happy with the frequency, reliability and comfort, 54% are unhappy that there is no night service. As a result of inadequate transport provision people have difficulty with the following journeys:- • 13% getting to medical appointments • 5% to local shops • 6% to local town and also • 7% relying on others for transport • 20% would like a voluntary driving scheme COMMUNITY SAFETY This section looked at how local residents feel about crime, their experiences in relation to crime and at how effective they had found the local policing arrangements. For most people the listed crimes (burglary, car, violent crime, anti-social behaviour and road traffic accidents) are not a problem and only a small number had been victims of crime; 40.5% say vandalism/damage is a slight problem. Most respondents feel safe in the area during the day and at night, however 81% people do not know of or understand the local policing arrangements and many feel Neighbourhood Watch should be extended. LEISURE AND RECREATION Over half the responses received indicate that provision of leisure and recreation facilities in their area is poor or very poor. The majority opinion regarding the availability of social activities is also that they are poor or very poor. A high proportion of respondents (62%) are in favour of a central area in the village for fêtes and other events. Over 53% feel there is a need for the following:- playgrounds, community hall, youth centre and subsidised education classes. There is a strong indication that the local school facilities should/could be used for indoor/outdoor sports provision. AREA DEVELOPMENT Almost half of respondents would like to see no further housing development in the Parish so that the peaceful, rural nature of the area could be preserved. Where it is acceptable, small sites are preferred, conditional upon the inclusion of community facilities and improvements to the roads. Small family homes would be most acceptable, but the greatest need is for affordable housing for young people. Small workshops or craft units and farming or horticultural developments are the most acceptable amongst other types of developments. A fairly consistent two thirds of respondents are opposed to wind turbines, gas wells and minerals extraction. Support for wind turbines (21%) was significantly greater than for the other two. More than one in three believes there is a need to create new jobs within the Parish, especially the 18 - 24 age group. The majority consider that insufficient publicity is given to planning applications. COMMUNICATION Almost two thirds of respondents do not know how the Parish fits in with the Borough and County Councils. Over 50% are confident that the Parish Council fully or partially appreciates local needs, this diminishes to 41% for the Borough and 30% for the County, however 75% do not know their Parish Councillors. The present method for communication of local events and issues is primarily by word of mouth, local paper or the Parish magazine. There is no single preferred method. There are 61% of respondents with access to the internet, but 69% are unaware of the local web site. More than two thirds of respondents feel that political parties do not involve local residents during election time. Almost half of respondents who had never had contact with the council are not confident that they can influence decision making and 26% of them also do not know how to make contact with their local councillors. CONCLUSIONS Over 94% of respondents are happy living here with about 70% feeling that there should be some changes. Half the respondents feel there is a good community spirit and that our parish is no better or no worse a place to live than similar ones in surrounding areas. Over 70% say neighbours look after each other and they are prepared to travel for shops and leisure facilities to preserve the rural nature of the area. When asked “ What is the best thing about living in the area?”, the main responses are, the lovely countryside, the rural environment and the peace and quiet. Although over 75% of respondents accept there cannot be the same facilities as those in towns, the main concerns about the area included:- • Lack of local facilities • Unattractive village centre in Loggerheads • Speeding and volume of traffic • Youths hanging around • Litter Over the summer months a detailed report and action plan will be produced, which will be delivered to every home in the Parish. Loggerheads Parish Plan Committee, May 2008

PARISH PLAN SUMMARY

PROFILE
The initial findings in this summary are based on the questionnaires returned by 1,806 people, almost half the adult population (3,638) of the Parish. All areas and age groups are represented and there is a good balance between the sexes.

• 55% Men • 45% Women
• 90% Owner occupier • 80% have lived here for > 5 years
• 35% Retired • 60% In full/part-time employment

The questionnaires from children aged 8 - 11 (125), young people aged 13 - 17 (130) and Businesses (49) have yet to be summarised.

LOCAL AREA
Over 75% of the respondents feel that access to local shopping, doctors, chemists, libraries, post office, recycling and places of worship is good or adequate. However, nearly half feel access to other health services such as chiropody and physiotherapy is inadequate.

Those who indicated ‘inadequate’ are concerned (in order of priority) about the doctor’s facilities, lack of facilities near the village, recycling of plastic and cardboard, either no local or few shops near them and transport difficulties especially to North Staffordshire hospital.

Over 95% feel that Ashley Fire Station and the Community First
Responders are of high value and 72% feel the Community Police
Support Officers are of high value.

Respondents commenting on the lack of important facilities included:-

• Youth facilities/ meeting places • Shops/post office (some areas)
• Police presence • Youth activities
• Children’s play areas • Manned police station
• Sports facilities • Petrol station

LOCAL ROADS AND SAFETY
A high proportion of residents consider road surfaces and storm water drains are poorly maintained, whilst pavements are adequately maintained. Provision of footpaths and pavements is adequate and street cleaning satisfactory.
A majority of respondents (59%) stated that speed restrictions are appropriate, but monitoring and enforcement is not satisfactory. Parking provision is appropriate, but respondents are dissatisfied with the monitoring and enforcement of the restrictions particularly outside the Hugo Meynell School.

More than two thirds of respondents consider street lighting to be appropriate for the area. During daytime people generally feel safe cycling, but 19% feel unsafe at night.

Speeding is a major concern together with some road layout and junctions with the A53. A small proportion of respondents are concerned about noise and nuisance from traffic.

ENVIRONMENT AND UPKEEP OF THE LOCAL AREA
For many respondents (84%), the rural nature of the Parish, its countryside and wildlife is very important and must be preserved. Respondents believe that setting up volunteer projects would be helpful. Approximately 45% of the community feels that the upkeep of the environment and local area is adequate. A significant number of respondents consider that provision of litter and dog waste bins is inadequate.

The possible adverse impact of proposals for wind turbines and leisure developments are environmental issues of most concern.

TRANSPORT
The majority of respondents in the community own a car and use it for its convenience, 70% never using buses. Bus users are happy with the frequency, reliability and comfort, 54% are unhappy that there is no night service. As a result of inadequate transport provision people have difficulty with the following journeys:-

• 13% getting to medical appointments
• 5% to local shops
• 6% to local town

and also • 7% relying on others for transport
• 20% would like a voluntary driving scheme

COMMUNITY SAFETY
This section looked at how local residents feel about crime, their experiences in relation to crime and at how effective they had found the local policing arrangements.
For most people the listed crimes (burglary, car, violent crime, anti-social behaviour and road traffic accidents) are not a problem and only a small number had been victims of crime; 40.5% say vandalism/damage is a slight problem. Most respondents feel safe in the area during the day and at night, however 81% people do not know of or understand the
local policing arrangements and many feel Neighbourhood Watch should be extended.

LEISURE AND RECREATION
Over half the responses received indicate that provision of leisure and recreation facilities in their area is poor or very poor. The majority
opinion regarding the availability of social activities is also that they are poor or very poor.

A high proportion of respondents (62%) are in favour of a central area in the village for fêtes and other events. Over 53% feel there is a need for the following:- playgrounds, community hall, youth centre and subsidised education classes. There is a strong indication that the local school facilities should/could be used for indoor/outdoor sports provision.

AREA DEVELOPMENT
Almost half of respondents would like to see no further housing development in the Parish so that the peaceful, rural nature of the area could be preserved. Where it is acceptable, small sites are preferred, conditional upon the inclusion of community facilities and improvements to the roads. Small family homes would be most acceptable, but the greatest need is for affordable housing for young people.

Small workshops or craft units and farming or horticultural developments are the most acceptable amongst other types of developments.

A fairly consistent two thirds of respondents are opposed to wind turbines, gas wells and minerals extraction. Support for wind turbines (21%) was significantly greater than for the other two.

More than one in three believes there is a need to create new jobs within the Parish, especially the 18 - 24 age group.

The majority consider that insufficient publicity is given to planning applications.

COMMUNICATION
Almost two thirds of respondents do not know how the Parish fits in with the Borough and County Councils. Over 50% are confident that the Parish Council fully or partially appreciates local needs, this diminishes to 41% for the Borough and 30% for the County, however 75% do not know their Parish Councillors.

The present method for communication of local events and issues is primarily by word of mouth, local paper or the Parish magazine. There is no single preferred method. There are 61% of respondents with access to the internet, but 69% are unaware of the local web site.

More than two thirds of respondents feel that political parties do not involve local residents during election time. Almost half of respondents who had never had contact with the council are not confident that they can influence decision making and 26% of them also do not know how to make contact with their local councillors.

CONCLUSIONS
Over 94% of respondents are happy living here with about 70% feeling that there should be some changes. Half the respondents feel there is a good community spirit and that our parish is no better or no worse a place to live than similar ones in surrounding areas.

Over 70% say neighbours look after each other and they are prepared to travel for shops and leisure facilities to preserve the rural nature of the area. When asked “ What is the best thing about living in the area?”, the main responses are, the lovely countryside, the rural environment and the peace and quiet.

Although over 75% of respondents accept there cannot be the same facilities as those in towns, the main concerns about the area included:-
• Lack of local facilities
• Unattractive village centre in Loggerheads
• Speeding and volume of traffic
• Youths hanging around
• Litter

Over the summer months a detailed report and action plan will be produced, which will be delivered to every home in the Parish.

Loggerheads Parish Plan Committee, May 2008