Conclusions

There can be little doubt that the exercise of preparing our Parish Plan has been a great success. However, preparing the Parish Plan is one thing, making use of the findings, and ensuring we have an achievable Action Plan is another, and is the reason for all this hard work so far.

The results of the analysis of your questionnaires have given us some very important pointers for the future. Firstly, it is clear that the demography of the parish has changed over the past few years. There are now a significant number of younger parishioners. Another fact, which has emerged, is the lack of affordable housing, which was given as a significant reason for people leaving the parish.

The very nature of our village is it is a growing organism, which means that there will be a need to review and, in places improve or add to the existing facilities. The increase in housing is a key issue for future planning consideration both in order to provide housing for those most in need, and for the future growth of our community in a sustainable way.

We also need to manage our environment to better effect both through recycling and maintenance of the roads and verges.

The issue of transport is clearly very important, both in terms of providing links to outside facilities and its impact on village life.

Clearly, from the survey results, sport and recreation in general, have a large part to play in future plans for the village.

Lifelong learning is a key provision in our future plans, with facilities for adult learning as a strong part of such planning. The development of an internet café, and a possible village library, are both issues currently under review.

In terms of health we need to take the concerns raised in the survey to the health providers, to ensure that adequate healthcare facilities continue to be provided and improved, where possible.

The issue of public services may be as much about increased awareness as about the need for better services.

Whilst many of the above issues concern physical attributes of our parish, it is important not to overlook the social issues whilst have been raised in the questionnaire responses. In particular issues concerning social inclusion both within the community and with our immediate neighbours need to be addressed.

It is important for us to take the issues raised in our Parish Plan forward to an Action Plan, which needs to be both achievable and sustainable. This will be the next part of our work.