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Parish Plan V8.1
SHOSCOMBE PARISH PLAN and neighbouring hamlets
QUESTIONNAIRE Important document! Do not throw away! All Questionnaires will be collected, including those not completed.
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Parish Plan V8.1
Questionnaire Notes The Government aims to give rural communities like ours a bigger role in running their own affairs and this is exactly what our Parish Plan will help to do. This Quesitonnaire has been put together by a group of Shoscombe residents, the Parish Plan Steering Group (our names are on the back cover), whose job it is to canvas everyone’s views and wishes concerning our community.
What you have to say is important to us. The answers you give will help us to write the Shoscombe Parish Plan. The more residents complete the Questionnaire, the more accurately the Plan will represent everyone’s views and the louder our voice will be in protecting and improving what we love and value here.
Your answers could affect the future of our village. Please complete as much as you can, but feel free to leave blank any questions which you feel don’t apply to you, or which you prefer not to answer. Completing the Tick Boxes will take about 15-20 minutes. It will take longer if you choose to fill in the Comments Boxes. Each adult in your household can complete his or her own Questionnaire, or you can share a Questionnaire between you. Your Collector will give you as many copies as you need. Young people aged from 7 - 17 have their own Questionnaire. If you’d like to give your contact details overleaf, you’ll be entered in a
Prize Draw! (see back cover for details) A representative of the Steering Group will call to collect your Questionnaire on the date below. If you have any queries, or you need additional copies, please contact a member of the Steering Group. Their names and contact details are on the next page.
Agreed Collection Date………………………………
Please note: the information collected from the Questionnaires will be held temporarily by the Shoscombe Parish Plan Steering Group solely for the purpose of compiling the Parish Plan. Individual replies will not be passed on to anyone else nor used for any other purpose whatever.
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Q3. Village events strengthen a sense of community. (please circle one of the following) Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Q4. The following community events take place in Shoscombe: Jazz & Cream Tea, Village Day, Irish Dancing Ceilidh, The Christmas market, Carol Service, The Music Festival, The Flower Festival, Fun Day, School Carol Servie What other events would you like to see organized?
* THE VILLAGE HALL Q5. The Village Hall is currently undergoing a programme of repair and renovation. Do you think that the building is adequate for the needs of the Community? (please circle one) Yes No
No opinion
Q6. What other facilities/equipment/improvements would be useful at the Village Hall? (please tick as many as apply) Projector and screen Hearing Loop Wi-fi Sound System More comfortable seating Better lighting Better heating Meeting room Changing facilities
Q7. Is there anything else that would make you use the Village Hall more often?
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This Questionnaire is for you if you are an adult resident. Children and young people between 7 and 17 have their own Questionnaire. In your household, you can complete a Questionnaire each, or you can share a Questionnaire between you. Q1. How many members of your household does this Questionnaire represent? (Please circle the number of people in your household sharing this Questionnaire.) 1
2
3
4
Section 1. COMMUNITY AMENITIES AND EVENTS In the initial questionnaire sent out in the Newsletter in 2014, people said they very much value the amenities we have. Let us know what you think about the events and community facilities in Shoscombe and how best they can be used and developed for residents of all ages and interests.
Q2. How often do you use these local amenities? (tick a box for each amenity) frequently The Village Hall The Play Area The Playing Field Church The Apple Tree The School Footpaths Bridleways Cycle Track
occasionally
never
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Q8. Which groups or activities do you attend, either at the Village Hall or elsewhere in the village? (please tick as many as apply) Irish dancing History group Book Club Wildlife Group Walking group Friends of Foxcote Church Stretch and breathe Table Tennis Dog training Cricket team Frack Free Shoscombe Q9. What other facilities, sports, activities or classes would you like there to be? For example: tennis court, film society, luncheon club, art classes, etc. Please include your age if you’d like to.
*
THE PLAY AREA AND PLAYING FIELD Q10. Do you use the play area or the playing field? (Please circle one) Frequently
Occasionally
Never
Q11. Please add your comments and suggestions for improvements to the play area or playing field, and include your age if you’d like to.
*
THE APPLE TREE INN Did you know that The Apple Tree Inn takes deliveries of parcels? Or that our Community Policeman visits the Apple Tree to keep in touch with us? Or that The History Group meets in the Apple Tree and Mark and Mandy welcome groups who’d like to use the pub as an informal meeting place?
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Q12. How often do you visit the Apple Tree Inn? (please tick one) Regularly
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Q13. What would make you visit the Apple Tree Inn more often?
***
Section 2. THE CHURCH and SCHOOL
ST JAMES THE LESS CHURCH Q14. What kind of services would you like to attend? (tick as many as apply) I’m happy with the services as they are Shorter, family-friendly services Traditional services Festivals and other special occasions Contemplative / meditation / healing Inter-faith services No opinion
Q15. Churches are increasingly being used for other community events. Would you like to see any of the following taking place in St James the Less? (tick as many as apply). Concerts Literary evenings Markets Talks and discussions Occasional services in response to world/national/local issues and events
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Q16. Any other comments for this section.
* SHOSCOMBE SCHOOL Q17. Do you consider the School to be an integral part of our community? (circle one) Yes
No
No opinion
Q18. Would you like to have a regular update in the Newsletter on the children’s achievements and current activities, in addition to the usual fund raising events? Yes
No
No opinion
Q19. Do you think the School building could be used for more community events? Yes
No
No opinion
Q20. Any other comments or suggestions for this section.
***
Section 3. COMMUNICATION Q21. Do you have internet access at home? (please tick one)
Yes
No
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Q22. There are currently 2 Shoscombe Village Websites, one for the Parish Council and one for the Village Hall. How often do you look at the websites? (circle one) Frequently
Occasionally
Never
Q23. Would any of the following changes to the websites be helpful? (please tick as many as apply) All community information on a single website More information from the Parish Council e.g planning applications received. More information from the village societies, groups, clubs etc. Noticeboard e.g freecycle, information sharing Picture galleries Information about local services, e.g mobile library. Village Blog No changes necessary
The BROADBAND service in some parts of Shoscombe has been a problem for a long time. There was a presentation at the Village Day by Matt McCabe from TrueSpeed about the possibility of ultrafast broadband coming to Shoscombe if enough residents register an interest on the Truespeed website.
Q24. Would you be interested in a faster, more reliable Broadband service? Yes
No
Don’t know
Q25. Please add any comments or ideas about on-line communication in the village.
*
THE NEWSLETTER THE SHOSCOMBE NEWSLETTER is delivered free to every household most months. It is produced by volunteers and contains information about events, services, the Church and other local issues; these notices are included free of charge.
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Q26. Would any of the following changes to the Newsletter be useful? More information from the Parish Council e.g planning applications received. More information from the Parish Council regarding current work in the village (maintenance, repairs etc) and planned work. Updates from the Village Hall Committee More updates on the activities of the village clubs and groups A list of recommended local tradesmen Information about local services, e.g mobile library. No changes necessary
Q27. Any other comments or suggestions about the Newsletter?
*
NOTICEBOARDS Q28. There are Notice Boards at 4 locations in the village. Do you look at the Notice Boards? Frequently
Occasionally
Never
Q29. Any other comments or suggestions about the Notice Boards?
***
Section 4. ROADS, PARKING & TRANSPORT In the Preliminary Questionnaire, people said they like the narrow lanes here because they’re part of the rural character of Shoscombe. Some people also felt that narrow lanes can help to slow down traffic and keep throughtraffic to a minimum.
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Q30. Please comment on our local roads. For example; are they adequately maintained?
For some time, the B&NES gritting truck has not been coming into Shoscombe village. The Parish Council is aware of this and has been working to rectify the situation, with no positive result so far.
Q31. Do you have difficulty driving to and from your home in icy weather? Yes
No
Occasionally
Q32. If you do have difficulties, please let us know the specific spots that are hazardous.
Q33. Are the roads here adequately maintained? Yes
No
No opinion
Q34. If ‘No’ in what way does the lack of maintenance affect you? Please be specific about the places where you feel the roads need maintenance.
Q35. Do you ever have difficulty parking your car within easy access to your home? Yes
No
N/A
Q36. If ‘yes’, please give details, being specific about the places and times when parking is a problem.
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Q37. Would you like to see (please tick as many as apply) More designated parking areas Introduction of residents’ parking scheme More road markings for restricted parking Q38. How do you normally travel to and from your home? Car Motorcycle On foot to the bust stop Other
Bicycle Taxi On foot
Q39. Do you ever use The Wednesday morning bus Car Fare
***
Section 5. ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES Q40. Do you ever have a problem getting to the doctor or hospital? Yes
No
Q41. If you’ve answered ‘yes’ above, please give more information if you’d like to.
Q42. Some villages have a voluntary transport scheme to enable those without a car to access essential services. (please tick as many as apply) More designated parking areas Introduction of residents’ parking scheme More road markings for restricted parking ***
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Section 6. LOCAL BUSINESS Please complete this section only if you work from home or run a business here. If you don’t, please skip this section and go on to Section 7. Q43. What kind of work do you do?
Q44. How long has your business been established?
Q45. How many people work for the business? Full time ……..
Part time ……..
Q46. How many people working in the business live in Shoscombe Parish, Foxcote, Braysdown or Woodborough? Full time ……..
Part time ……..
Q47. Are there services here that benefit your business?
Q48. What other services would benefit your business if they were available here?
Q49. Do you publicise your business in Shoscombe, Foxcote, Braysdown or Woodborough? Yes/No Q50. If so, how?
Q51. What factors make running a business here particularly pleasant, or difficult?
Q52. Does your business have direct connections with neighbouring villages or towns? Yes/No Q53. Could residents or Shoscombe Parish Council do anything to help your business do better?
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Section 7. HOUSING, PLANNING AND BUILDING DESIGN A majority of those who responded to the preliminary Questionnaire said that they do not want new houses built here. B&NES Core Strategy sets out development needs for the whole area for the next 25 years and it identifies no sites in Shoscombe Parish for prospective development. This means that there is no pressure on us to accept new building in our Parish. Shoscombe is washed over by the Green Belt so we have extra protection from development. However, applications for in-fill development might still be applied for. (In-fill is land bordered on 3 sides by housing.) Private developers or individuals who want to build, renovate or extend a property submit a planning application to B&NES and also to our Parish Council. The Parish Plan will be used by B&NES Council and Shoscombe Parish Council as a guide to residents’ wishes concerning development and also our preferences in design and materials should an application be considered.
Q43. If there is an application for Planning Permission, which of the following would you be happy for B&NES and our Parish Council to consider approving? (please tick) An extension to an existing building A single dwelling on infill land No development at all
Q44. Please comment on this important issue as fully as you’d like to.
Q45. We have many designs and styles of buildings here. If B&NES Council and our Parish Council receive an application for a new building, or the renovation or extension of an existing one, what would you like them to consider favourably? (please tick as many as apply) Traditional design. Modern design Traditional materials Modern materials Excellent ‘green energy’ credentials It depends on the location, design and materials No opinion
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Q46. If you’d like to, please say more about design and materials in connection with planning applications.
***
Section 8. LANDSCAPE, ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE
Q47. How do you rate the general appearance of the village and surrounding lanes and footpaths? (please tick one) Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
No opinion
Q48. What do you think might help to improve things? (tick as many as apply) More litter / poo bins Regular litter clearing Regular tidying e.g. old posters removed Village Caretaker to keep things tidy Things are fine as they are
Q49. Please add any other suggestions for improvements
Q50. How do you rate the current condition of local rights of way, i.e footpaths, kissing gates, stiles, boundaries, bridleways and byways? (please tick one) Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Don’t know
Q51. Please comment, being specific if you can about the location of rights of way you feel are not adequately maintained.
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Q52. Do you have other concerns about the local environment? e.g flooding, ditch maintenance, river maintenance, other? Be specific about location if you can.
Q53. How important is the landscape, natural environment and wildlife to you? (please tick one) Very important
Quite important
Neutral
Not important
Q54. Many residents who responded to the Preliminary Questionnaire noted the following as things that they value and would like to protect. Do you agree? (please tick as many as apply) ‘the green spaces between hamlets which give residents a sense of identity and are also important wildlife corridors’ ‘the recreational aspect of our local countryside; e.g footpaths, bridleways, cycle track, green play spaces for children’ ‘narrow lanes and single track lanes which are part of the character of the place’ ‘natural rural verges and hedges with minimal road signage’ ‘low traffic levels, low traffic noise’ ‘low pollution, fresh air’ ‘dark skies, no street lighting’ ‘beautiful countryside and views’ ‘unspoiled distant skyline’ ‘the local history, historical sites and industrial heritage’ ‘birds, insects and wildlife’ ‘wild areas and uncultivated land’ ‘the river and streams’ ‘open areas for butterflies, wild flowers and insects’
Q55. Please add anything else you value and want to protect as regards the landscape, natural environment and local wildlife.
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Q56. The following have been suggested as possible environmental or conservation projects for the future. They would all need volunteers, fund-raising and planning, but would you, in principal, be in support any of these initiatives? (please tick as many as apply) Acquisition of land for community orchard / nature reserve Allotments Becoming a bee-friendly village Conservation and improvement of the river Insect-friendly planting at the entrances to the hamlets Garden sharing initiative Management of open areas for butterflies, wild flowers and insects Q57. Any other comments or suggestions for this section?
***
Section 9. RECYCLING, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY Q58. For you, is the household recycling service provided by B&NES (please tick one) Very important
Quite important
Neutral
Not important
Q59. Village communities like ours are developing the following projects. All community projects need volunteers, fund-raising, detailed planning and consultation with the community, but in principal, do you think any of these are good ideas for us? (tick as many as apply) Local sustainable energy initiative, e.g. wind, solar Aim to be a zero carbon community A local carbon-capture (tree planting) scheme Aim to be a Fairtrade community Join with the Wellow Oil Group to share fuel buying Share garden produce (a place in the village where excess fruit and veg can be given away) Lift sharing A place to advertise free 2nd hand goods Advice and help with Green electricity sign-up A sustainable food project Local Freecycle/Swap Shop
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Hydraulic Fracturing, or FRACKING, extracts fossil fuel from underground using pressurized water, sand, and up to 300 chemicals. Shoscombe is about 500 yards from the nearest licence area. The current Government is in favour of Fracking; they say it would produce cheap electricity, create jobs and benefit local communities. Those opposed to Fracking say that it will not produce cheap electricity, that there will be serious environmental degradation, and house values will fall.
Q60. What is your opinion on Fracking in this area? (tick those that apply) I am in favour of fracking locally I need more information on the environmental impact I need greater assurances of safeguards and controls Fracking should not be undertaken locall under any circumstances Q61. Are you aware that there is a ‘Frack Free Shoscombe’ Group? (If you’d like more details, please leave your contact details at the end of the Questionnaire.) Yes No
I’d like more information
Q62. Any other comments or ideas for this section
***
Section 10. SHOSCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL AND FUNDING THE PARISH OF SHOSCOMBE PLEASE SKIP THIS SECTION and go to Section 11. if you do NOT live within the Shoscombe Parish boundary. Q63. Do you know what our Parish Council is responsible for? (please tick one) Yes
I have some idea No
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Q64. Do you know who your Parish Councillors are? Yes
Some of them
No
Q65. Would you know how to contact a Parish Councillor? Yes
No
Q66. Do you ever attend Parish Council meetings? Frequently
Occasionally
Never
Q67. If you’ve answered ‘Never’, is there a reason why you don’t?
Q68. Would you like to make any other comments or suggestions for this section?
* Funding the Parish of Shoscombe. Our Council Tax is paid to Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) and includes a portion for the Parish Council to spend on local needs. This portion is called the Precept. The amount of the Precept is set in January for the next financial year. Currently, for the year 2014/15, the Precept for Shoscombe Parish is £6,437. This is an average of £40 per household. With the above in mind, the next questions in this section are about how we could raise money for local improvements, community projects and conservation.
Q69. Increase the proportion of Precept we currently pay. This would mean paying more Council Tax with the extra going towards village funds. Is this a good idea? (please tick one) Yes
Yes, depending on the amount
Q70. Separately ‘fund-raise’ for specific projects. Yes
No
Don’t know
No
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Q71. Make direct contributions from the Precept to designated projects. Yes
No
Don’t know
Q72. Look at other methods of funding, through grants, initiatives and local authority support. Yes
No
Don’t know
Q73. Some community activities are currently being done by volunteers, e.g the Newsletter, website, litter-picking and occasional footpath clearing. If the Parish Precept were raised, it might be possible to employ someone, for instance, to clear litter regularly. Do you think it would be a good idea for the community to pay someone for such jobs? Yes
No
Don’t know
Q74. Any other comments or ideas about funding our community.
***
Section 11. CONCLUSION Q75. What would you like to see come out of this Parish Plan?
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Q76. Have we missed anything important in this Questionnaire? What else would you like to tell us about living in Shoscombe Parish, Foxcote, Braysdown or Woodborough?
***
Section 12. WOULD YOU BE PREPARED TO HELP?
Shoscombe and the neighbouring hamlets of Foxcote, Braysdown and Woodborough have not attracted developers yet, partly because there are limited facilities: e.g. no gas, no shop, narrow lanes, minimal parking, minimal public transport. In the Preliminary Questionnaire, many people said they like it this way and ‘don’t want anything to change.’ In what way might you, as an individual, be prepared to help maintain the status quo and protect what we have by contributing to a ‘Shoscombe Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability Policy’? Q77. Local self-sufficiency. Would you consider volunteering to help with services for local residents, such as Baby and toddler group Luncheon club Transport for people of limited mobility to doctor’s appointments, shopping, local social activities A friend of Shoscombe School A friend of Foxcote Church Looking after the notice boards Helping to look after the Shoscombe website
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Q78. Local sustainability and the environment. With more information, might you consider helping to make any of the following happen? Local sustainable energy initiative, e.g. wind, solar Become a Fairtrade community A fuel share group Acquisition of land for a community orchard/nature reserve Allotments Excess garden produce exchange (similar to Coombe Hay where there’s a place in the village where people leave their excess fruit and veg.) Environmental and wildllife conservation projects Improve the way the village looks eg. Natural planting at the entrances to the village Q79. Any other projects you’d like to see developed?
If you’d like more information about volunteering for any of the projects or ideas mentioned in this Questionnaire, please complete your contact details here. You will not be committing yourself to volunteering by leaving your details.
Name……………………………………… …..
Telephone number……………………..
Email address………………………………
END OF QUESTIONNAIRE THANK YOU! Your comments and suggestions are very valuable to us in developing a Parish Plan which will make this an even better place to live.
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Please fill in your contact details below if you’d like to be entered into the QUESTIONNAIRE PRIZE DRAW (This cover sheet will be detached from your completed Questionnaire, so your answers will remain anonymous).
1st prize £50
2nd prize £35
3rd prize £15
Name .................................….….………………….…… Telephone number ……………………………………… or email address …………………………........................... * Please contact a member of The Shoscombe Parish Plan Steering Group, should you have any queries about the Questionnaire or the Parish Plan. Tricia Wastvedt
434805
Carolyn Keating
434103
Derek Withers
07778740628
Linda Lethbridge
435656
Heather Greenhough Sue Baillie
Email: triciawv@tiscali.co.uk
Email: info@dawco.co.uk