SIDDINGTON PARISH PLAN
So what is the Parish Plan?
The Siddington Parish Plan project is a unique opportunity for all residents to voice their thoughts about the way Siddington is today and the way they would like it to be in the future.
It’s a project that’s being driven by a group of residents, but it’s fully supported by the Parish Council and Cotswold District Council. It will provide evidence that can be used to influence the decisions made by these and other government bodies. Crucially, it can provide valuable evidence when groups within the community seek funding for projects.
What does it involve?
The largest part of the project is the household survey. A questionnaire has been distributed to every household in the parish so that everyone has an equal opportunity to be heard.
Businesses, clubs and groups within the parish have been interviewed and young people have passed on their ideas.
The results of these surveys have been professionally analysed to find out key areas of concern as well as aspects of life in Siddington that are valued and should be preserved.
SIDDINGTON PARISH PLAN …. RESULTS OF THE SURVEY
In April, the Questionnaire was delivered to 529 addresses in Siddington Parish. We had an amazing 80% return. Since then, with the help of the GRCC we have been trying to turn your answers into statistics that we all understand! We now have the results. The next task that we are undertaking is to record all of your written comments and look for common threads. This is no mean job as you had many thoughts and ideas. We will combine this information with the results of our group interviews and the 'Spring off the Streets' event for young people.
We could not have got this far without the backing of the Parish Council, the support and advice of Chris Cowcher of GRCC, the help of the Parish Plan team and all who filled in the Questionnaire. Thanks to you all.
Here is a summary of the basic facts emerging from the questionnaire:
- 25% of those replying have lived in Siddington for less than 5 years, and 42% for over 20 years.
- 43% of Siddington’s households have two or more cars; 44% have one; 13% none.
- 23% of households contain at least one person who travels by bus at least once a week.
Environment
Environmental issues were of concern to over 40% of respondents. Top concerns are litter and fly tipping and dog fouling. Flooding and the
maintenance of watercourses plus the state of roadside verges were of concern. 77% were broadly in favour of the restoration of the canal.
Traffic and Pedestrians
Road traffic is a major concern; 42% favour a reduction of speed limits, 30% the introduction of traffic calming.
As for pedestrians, 71% value walks and footpaths, 48% call for better maintenance of the paths and bridleways. 31% favour a pedestrian crossing in the village.
Services and Facilities
- Between 20% and 60% are not satisfied with the following; electricity supply (number of power cuts?), street cleaning, road and pavement maintenance, recycling collection, TV and mobile phone reception.
- Most people with children or teenagers consider the facilities available for them in Siddington are inadequate.
- Concerns are expressed about vandalism, theft/burglary, excessive noise and drink or drug related anti-social behaviour. Two thirds feel that Neighbourhood Watch schemes would be beneficial in their area. Many feel that the policing of Siddington could be improved.
- As for the Bus Services, the majority of comments relate to busshelters, access to buses by disabled people and those with pushchairs, bus frequency and the routes and destinations served.
Community Life
- Most people value the sense of community. The shop/post office, village hall, pub church and playing field are all widely valued. A third of respondents would like to see the Village Hall refurbished/updated and the range of activities to be broadened.
- The Village News gets a very high rating.
- Regarding future developments, the majority view is by no means 'anti'. Almost half of the respondents would favour small scale business development in the parish and rather more favour small scale affordable housing development and the conversion of redundant buildings.
One plan can’t solve all of Siddington’s problems but it can make a start and make a difference. It covers 18 topics – anti-social behaviour, better facilities for children and young people, increased support for the village hall and school, better footpaths and cycleways, flooding, litter and fly-tipping, dog fouling, car parking, road safety, bus stops and shelters and quite a bit more …
Please click here for the final Parish Plan as a pdf document
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR PART OF SIDDINGTON
The Parish Plan team is trying to recruit up to half a dozen people to keep a watchful eye on possible ‘environmental nuisances’ in their immediate patch of Siddington – looking out for things like potholes, pavements that need repairing, overhanging hedges, litter, street cleaning, spillages of refuse, street lights not working etc. If several of us were to look after 2 or 3 streets in that way it would really benefit us all. Any observations would be fed to the parish council who would then take the matter up with whoever. Sarah Parsloe (642656) is organising this. Please give her a ring. Incidentally, the parish plan team thinks that the litter situation in the parish has improved a bit in recent weeks – thanks perhaps to people taking more of their litter home….or just picking up a few pieces when they are out and about.
Recent news on the progress of the Village Plan
Work is now underway to address some of the parish plan action points:
Car parks: James Trotter of Fosseway Living has arranged for the Parkway and Ashton Road car parks to be tidied up and will arrange for the hedge partially obscuring the entrance to the Ashton Road car park to be cut back when birds are no longer nesting. He has also agreed that users of the village hall may use the Aston Road car park to ease congestion outside the hall. The parish plan team is very grateful to Mr Trotter for his swift and helpful response.
Dog fouling: The Parish Council has installed two new dog waste bins (one on the Butts, one on the 15 by the school) and recently invited
Environmental Wardens Sue Ponting and Louise Little to a meeting to give advice about the problem. The Wardens have since patrolled the
playing field and have reported that it’s largely clear of dog fouling. Thank you very much to all dog owners for avoiding the playing field. As we all know, if it isn’t picked up, dog waste can end up on children’s hands or footballers’ legs. It’s smelly, sticky and can cause infection.
Speeding issues: Over the last 3 months the local police have been carrying out random speed checks mainly along Ashton Road. The
results are that they have sent out 22 caution letters and 2 fixed penalty notices. On top of this the camera safety unit van and central traffic car
have attended ( these results are not currently available) We have also been informed that the police will be continuing to carry out random
speed checks in and around the village.
Village Information Plan
The Parish Plan included an action to improve the spread of information about village activities and the first meeting to discuss this was held in May hosted by David Vernon-Smith. Village News (VN) editors and Peter Mathews. who kindly hosts the VN website, attended. In the Parish Plan survey, 79% of villagers felt well informed about what went on in the village and 91% reported the VN to be helpful. The survey included suggestions to improve it. At the meeting it was agreed that due to the increased pressure of space for articles to be included in the VN that in 2011 it should increase to 12 pages on a regular basis. This will of course have funding implications and one page of the News will need to be dedicated to regular advertising, so advertisers will be sought. Peter will be looking into updating the website and having a dedicated Village News e.mail address. Further details to follow.
