The plan moves a step further with the issue of the survey form, delivered with the Grapvine as a coloured "supplement".
It will form the body of evidence of what Stewkley Folk think about what is needed for our village.
The completed Plan will support both existing and new organisations in their bids for funding and grants, most rural communities are drawing up similar plans, the fear is that without one communities will not be able to fully access "lottery money" and the like.
The Survey contents appear below :
Stewkley Parish Plan
Our Future – YOU decide
Complete this survey and you could win £50!
What do we want you to do?
Please take a few minutes to tell us – your friends and neighbours on the Parish Plan Steering
Committee (see page 11) – what YOU think would improve our village and surrounding
countryside. A separate survey (coloured green) is included for your children to complete.
Why do we want you to complete the surveys?
Your responses will help us to develop a Parish Plan by identifying what needs to be done,
what can be done and what requires further investigation. It may help village organisations
to win funding for various projects. It may highlight problems that the Parish Council,
Aylesbury Vale District Council or Bucks County Council can tackle. It will give Stewkley a
stronger voice in District and County decisions. Some things will succeed. Some will fail. But
we have a better chance of success with a Parish Plan than without one. The Plan will be
regularly updated as new issues are identified.
Aren’t Parish Plans expensive to produce?
Parish Plans are part of the government’s policy to give local communities a stronger voice in
decisions that affect their everyday lives. Our Plan is funded by a government grant secured
with the help of Bucks Community Action, the county’s Rural Community Council. Other
Bucks villages that already have a Parish Plan include Drayton Parslow, Stoke Hammond and
Great Brickhill. Soulbury is currently developing one.
How did we know what questions to ask?
We chatted to lots of people at the School Fete and the Village Flower Show and also had a
meeting with many village organisations to find out what sorts of things concerned Stewkley
people. We now need to know if YOU share these thoughts and what other ideas YOU might
have. If you have already spoken to us, please still complete the survey so that we can gauge
your opinion on other issues.
Why should you take part?
Because it’s all about what you want, not what others say you want. And you could win £50!
Jot down your phone number on page 10, and we’ll pull the lucky winner out of a hat. We
don’t need any other information that could identify you.
What do you do now?
Please answer the following questions, or just the ones that interest / concern you. Some
questions are easy: some require a bit more thought, and perhaps discussion amongst your
family would help. If there is a difference of opinion, note it down or use an additional form.
You may also need extra forms if you have more than one child. These are available from St.
Michael’s School, Harvey’s Café and Deli, the Carpenter’s Arms and the Swan.
Alternatively, you can download copies from www.stewkley.org,
See the links above on the left,or contact someone on the
Steering Committee (page 11). Someone will collect the completed form(s) from your home
between Monday May 12th and Sunday May 18th inclusive. Have fun!
Stewkley Parish Plan Survey – April 2008
Please tick one box for each relevant question unless instructed otherwise, and
please write as much as you like on the dotted lines provided.
SHOP / POST OFFICE
1. Are there any general store items, which are currently not available in
the village, that you would like to purchase locally? If so, please specify:
SORRY : This form can not be currently filled in on line
2. How often would you buy such items in Stewkley, on average?
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Never or hardly ever |
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Weekly |
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Monthly |
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Other (please specify) |
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3. How often would you use a village Post Office, on average?
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Never or hardly ever |
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Weekly |
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Monthly |
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Other (please specify) |
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ROAD SAFETY
(Please note that St Michael’s School is currently looking at road safety issues, with
specific regard to our school children, within its own consultation process. We shall
share any relevant information from this survey with the school.)
4. Do you think that Stewkley roads are: (Tick one box only)

A) Too busy at all times

B) Too busy at peak times only

C) Acceptable at all times
5. If you ticked 4A or 4B above, how would you prefer to control traffic
speed and volume in and around Stewkley? Choose a maximum of three:

Flashing speed-indicator or slow-down signs. Where?

Traffic-calming bumps. Where?
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Additional chicanes. Where?

Laser speed cameras used by trained volunteers.

Speed cameras sited permanently in village. Where?

Speed cameras sited occasionally (e.g. six-monthly) in the village. Where?

Raised kerbs or railings to stop vehicles mounting the pavements. Where?

20mph speed limit throughout the village.

Reduced speed limits on country roads around the village. Where?

Other: What and where?
6. What other features do you think would improve road safety in and
around Stewkley? Choose maximum of two:

Zebra crossing(s). Where?

Pedestrian island(s). Where?

Wider pavements. Where?

Other: please give details
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PARKING
7. Are you inconvenienced by cars parked on the village roads? Please
tick the appropriate box / boxes:
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As a pedestrian |
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As a driver |
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As a cyclist |
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Not at all |
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8. How might the situation be improved? Choose a maximum of two:

Parking permits or parking discs

Parking banned on verges

Single or double yellow lines

Any other ideas?
BUS SERVICE
9. Would you use a new / improved bus service to: (Please tick as many as appropriate)

Leighton Buzzard

Wing

Aylesbury

Milton Keynes

Other destination(s) (please specify)

I would not use public transport
10. For what purpose(s) would you use the buses?
11. On what days and times (there and back) would you most likely use
the buses?
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WALKING / CYCLING
12. Would you use public footpaths and rights of way from Stewkley that
lead directly to other villages?
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Yes |
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No |
13. Should cycle pathways be included in such a scheme?
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Yes |
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No |
14. If you answered Yes to questions 12 or 13, do you have a route or
routes in mind? Please give details:
15. If a hard pathway were provided across the Recreation Ground, from
the car park off Soulbury Road to Ivy Lane, how would you use it? Please
tick as many as appropriate:

Walking

Cycling

Pushchairs

Wheelchair / disabled access

Would not use it

Other. Please give details
16. Does the village need a dedicated cycleway for young children to ride
their bikes and scooters?
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Yes |
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No |
17. If you answered yes to question 16, do you have any suggestions as to
where it might be in or around Stewkley?
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HOUSING AND THE ENVIRONMENT
18. Do you support more home building or other development: (Please tick
as many as appropriate)

Within the built-up village boundaries

On the edges of the built-up village

In the open countryside in Stewkley parish, e.g. up to the border with Soulbury

None

The above do not completely address my concerns (please give details)
19. Would you be interested in renting and/or buying (shared ownership) an
'affordable home' in or around Stewkley?
20. Are there any instances when you do not feel safe in the area?
21. If your response was ‘yes’ or ‘not sure’ to question 20, please provide
details. We will treat these confidentially.
22. Which of these local features would you like to be more attractive or
prominent? Please choose a maximum of three:

Village pump (south end)

Village entrances

War Memorial

Recreation Ground entrance

Telephone Exchange

Pictorial village sign (we do not have one at present but one could be obtained)

Other (please give details)
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23. Which of these do you think is a problem in or around Stewkley?
Please tick as many as you think appropriate:

Litter. Where?

Fly-tipping (illegal dumping). Where?

Graffiti. Where?

Dog mess. Where?
24. What would help you to recycle more items, and more often? Choose
maximum of 2:

Village facilities for additional waste materials e.g. cardboard, silverfoil, garden waste

Official permission to use the Tidy Tip at Heath and Reach

Help with installing compost bins in your garden

Other, please give us details
25. What can be done about global warming in Stewkley area that will
really make a difference?
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COMMUNITY BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES
26. How often, on average, do you use the Mobile Library?
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Every week |
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Every fortnight |
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Every month |
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Every now and again |
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Never use it |
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27. Are you likely to use it more often if: (Tick as many as apply)

It visited on other days. Please specify

It visited at different times. Please specify

It parked on the school playground?

It parked on High Street South?

Other. Please specify
28. What other library / information services would you use if they were
provided? Choose a maximum of three:

Permanent library facility

Drop-in Centre

Book shop / second-hand bookshop

Book club

Low-cost / free computer facilities, including internet access

Local museum and natural history centre

Art Gallery / Art Classes / Art interest group.

Other, please give details
29. What would you like the Village Hall to provide or host that it does not
already provide?
30. St Michael's School is a valuable village facility. Do you think that ALL
the village community (residents and other organisations) take
appropriate advantage of the facilities available?
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Yes |
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No |
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31. If your response to question 30 was ‘No’ how could the situation be improved?
32. What additional facilities or improvements to existing ones would you benefit from?
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
33. Do YOU need the Doctors’ surgery to maintain a visiting surgery in the
village? [Currently Tuesday mornings in the Rec Pavilion]
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Yes |
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No |
34. Is it easy for you to get to other healthcare facilities not in Stewkley?
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Yes |
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No |
35. If you answered NO to question 34, which healthcare facilities do you
need to be more accessible?
FOR SPECIAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
36. Please answer this question only if you are 60+
Are the Village facilities / services for older residents: (please tick one)
37. How can they be improved?
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38. Please answer questions 38, 39 and 40 only if you have a disability or
other challenge. What is the nature of your disability(ies) or challenge(s)?
39. Bearing in mind the nature of your disability / challenge, how easy are
the local facilities and services to use?
40. How could these facilities and services be improved?
EMPLOYMENT
41. Should Stewkley Parish Council be seeking employment opportunities
for Stewkley area by, for example, encouraging small-scale enterprise?
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Yes |
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No |
MISCELLANEOUS
42. How could local people and organisations make newcomers to
Stewkley area feel more welcome, e.g producing a Welcome Pack?
43. Do you think communications within the local community and
organizations could be improved?
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Yes |
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No |
44. If you answered yes to question 43, how could this be achieved?
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45. What do you think will be the most important issues facing people
living in the Stewkley area over the next 25 years?
‘HAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING’ QUESTIONS
46. What do you like MOST about the Stewkley area?
47. What do you like LEAST about the Stewkley area?
48. Would you like the Parish Plan Steering Committee to consider
anything else at all, regarding the future of our community?
AND FINALLY!
Please provide your phone number if you would like to take part in the
prize draw for £50.
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THANK YOU
Thank you for taking the time and energy to complete this survey - we hope it was
fun! We will collect it from you between Monday May 12th and Sunday May 18th.
Please encourage any children and teenagers in your household to complete the
young persons’ survey on the green sheet – they will be entered into a prize draw for
a £25 book token.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
The Steering Committee will collate and analyse all the information and draft a formal Parish
Plan for the whole of Stewkley Parish. This will include a strategic overview focused on the
future of our village and an initial action plan. The Parish Plan will be a working document
that will be reviewed regularly, because some of the objectives will be achieved and others
will have to be re-examined as new challenges are faced and fresh ideas emerge. We hope
to deliver the first Parish Plan in the autumn 2008.
Members of the Stewkley Parish Plan Steering Committee
Pete Fry
John Hart
Arthur Lyttle
Ingram Murray
John Pilley
Ann Pritchard
Sally Shefferd
Paul Smith
Rachel Webb
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Stewkley Parish Plan: Survey for younger residents
We are carrying out a survey of all people who live in Stewkley village and nearby areas.
The purpose of the survey is to find out what people like and don’t like about living here and
what changes they would like to see. We feel that young people should have a survey of
their own, to tell us what you think is important, not just what others think is right for you. If
more than one young person lives in your house, you can all fill in a survey by getting more
copies from www.stewkley.org,
Click here to jump to the link, St Michael’s School, or Harvey’s Café . You could even take
a photocopy of this one. There are also spare copies at the Carpenter’s Arms and the
Swan; it would perhaps be better if you asked an adult to get you a spare copy.
We will collect your completed survey from your home between Monday May 12th and
Sunday May 18th, put them all into a box, close our eyes, choose one
and If it’s yours we
will give you a £25 book token! Please write your phone number here so we can let you
know if you win.
SORRY : This form can not be currently filled in on line
Phone number: .............................................
Please tick the correct boxes or write your answers on the dotted lines.
1. How old are you?
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5 or younger |
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6 – 11 |
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12 – 16 |
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17 or 18 |
2. Are you a girl or a boy?
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Girl |
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Boy |
3. Do you or did you attend St Michael’s School ?
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Yes |
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No |
4. Do you enjoy living in this area?
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Yes |
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No |
5. If you DO like living here, what do you really LIKE about it?
6. If you DO NOT like living here, please tell us why.
7. Do you or have you attended any of the village toddler or play groups?
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Yes |
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No |
8. How often, on average, do you use the Mobile Library?
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Every week |
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Every fortnight |
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Every month |
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Every now and again |
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Never use it |
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9. Are you, or have you ever been, in any of these village groups? Please tick as
many as you need to.
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Beavers |
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Brownies |
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Scouts |
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Venture Scouts |
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Youth Club |
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Band |
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Youth football teams |
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Tennis club |
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Village Cricket Team |
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Other: |
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Please tell us which ones |
10. In the Recreation Ground we have play areas for very young children, for
example: slide, swings and climbing frame. When do you play on these?
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Often |
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Not very often |
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Never |
11. If you don’t like or have never used the play areas, please tell us why.
12. Do you use the adventure equipment for ‘older’ children?
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Often |
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Not very often |
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Never |
13. If you don’t like, or have never used, the equipment, please tell us why.
14. Did you come to any of the skateboarding, basketball and roller skating
sessions in the Recreation Ground?
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Yes |
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No |
15. If you did not come to the sessions, please tell us why.
16. Do you use the hard surface area for basketball and football in the Recreation
Ground?
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Often |
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Not very often |
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Never |
17. If you don’t like, or have never used, this area, please tell us why.
18. Is there anything else you would like to have or change in the Stewkley area?
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