September 1999
Over the summer the Village Appraisal Steering Group have been busy analysing the information collected by the questionnaires and a full report is now in the final stages of production. The main findings and recommendations were presented to an open meeting for villagers on 22” September, but for those of you who were not able to make it here they are in brief.
80% of households in the village replied to the questionnaire, representing 390 residents aged 11 and over. We are a fairly balanced mixture of families and retired people and our houses, the surrounding countryside and village life are all important to us. There is little support for building development, but there was support for some environmental enhancements, mostly amenity woodland and a village green.
The church and school were important elements of village life with suggestions being put forward for additional roles they may take on. People would like more opportunity to meet informally for social, sports and educational activities. Many suggestions were made about what these might be. Tennis, keep fit classes and badminton were the favourite sports, whilst the need for a children’s playground was important for younger families. Educationally, computing classes were the most popular but other subjects also attracted much interest. A wide range of social events were supported, especially the idea of a summertime Millennium celebration. Many of these activities need the provision of a suitable venue as well as enthusiastic volunteers to develop them.
Other concerns which were identified included by-pass and aeroplane noise, road safety, pollution (dog-fouling in particular) and transport. People felt that information and communication could be improved, particularly concerning the parish council and the content of the parish newsletter.
The village shop/post office had been missed since its closure and a replacement was seen as the most important option in making the village a better place to live, closely followed by a ’villagers’ pub.
Many residents were willing to help with a good neighbour or voluntary transport scheme and over 80 people put their names forward for a variety of initiatives. (To those who offered their help to the school - please identify yourselves to the headmaster, who would love to hear from you!)
On the whole, it was felt that funding for projects should come from sponsorship and fundraising, but the majority of villagers were also in favour of small increases in the council tax.
So now we know what we would all like - taking forward the findings of the survey is the next challenge and the steering group drew up a number of recommendations for this. Some actions would be quick and easy to effect, whilst others might take longer to develop. Several involve the need for a group of interested volunteers to form ’working parties’ to consider more closely their feasibility – these include the shop/post office; the pub/social club; the children’s playground and improvements to communication, including the newsletter. However it is suggested that, on a small scale, groups of interested individuals could get together to start up initiatives on their own. Also needed are one or two people who could co-ordinate a register of volunteers and urgently some enthusiasts to form a Millennium Event Committee.
The appraisal also recommends that, in the first instance, the Parish Council investigates further the findings concerning road safety and street lighting; transport; environmental issues and street naming.
There is much more detail about the appraisal findings and recommendations in the full report, but because of the costs of production, only a limited number will be printed. However copies will be available for all villagers to refer to in the Village Hall or from the Parish Clerk. If you want your own copy they will be available at cost of reproduction or on a floppy disc.
All this and more was discussed at the open meeting, where representatives from Cotswold District Council, Gloucestershire Rural Community Council and Cirencester College were present to offer help and advice. Several initiatives have already resulted from the appraisal and further action will take place as follows:
· Harold Stevens has made a notice board for the east end of the village, which will soon be installed by the post box at Dudley Farm Corner.
· Mrs Scott from Ampney Park: has offered their indoor riding school as a venue for a Millennium event.
· Martina Richt is looking into re-starting the toddler group in the village.
(First meeting: Tues. 5’” Oct. 10 am Village Hall)
· Cirencester College is planning to run Computing courses in the village in January. For further information on this and other possible classes, contact Hazel Blackburn, Cirencester College, É 640994.
· The Neighbourhood Watch Group in the west of the village is willing to pass on their experience and help to any group wishing to start a group elsewhere in the village. Contact Sandy Westmacott.
· The Parish Council will take the lead in improving communications, in particular investigating a more wide-ranging newsletter, in discussion with the Parochial Church Council.
· The Parish Council is also going to take a lead in investigating further the recommendations concerning: the shop/post office; planning and development; road safety, including street lighting; transport; environmental issues and street naming.
The Village Appraisal Steering Group has done its job and has now disbanded. A review of progress on its recommendations will take place at the Annual Parish Meeting in May 2000. If you would like to help with any of the initiatives or want to find out more about them or the appraisal findings, please contact Fran Huckles in the first instance.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped with the appraisal in any way, from all the members of the steering group and other helpers, to everyone out there who completed the questionnaire. The appraisal is really just the starting point – it’s up to us now to see what we can do about bringing about the changes we say we would like.
Fran Huckle
Chairman, on behalf of the
Ampney Crucis Village Appraisal Steering Group