Steep community website

STEEP PARISH PLAN - VILLAGE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Steep Village Survey - Introduction

We are fortunate to live in a fine parish in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within the new South Downs National Park. Steep is an active and varied community, including those who work within the village (or nearby), those who commute to work, as well as those who are retired. Agriculture plays an important part in village life; there is some small-scale industry in Steep Marsh; and we have the added advantage of the presence of our beautiful church, a well-regarded primary school and Bedales, one of the country’s leading independent schools. We enjoy the unique backdrop provided by the Ashford Hangers and benefit from a wide range of styles and types of housing within the parish boundary.

However, like all communities, Steep Parish is subject to various pressures for change and has to be prepared to respond positively to these. To help manage any such changes effectively, the Parish Council is sponsoring the development of a Steep Parish Plan. In developing this plan, we want to reflect the views of the whole village in looking at how we might deal with change and in how we might choose to change. Equally, we will also need to focus on what should be protected and preserved.

This exercise only has value if it reflects the views of the people of Steep Parish on the topics and issues that influence their life here. YOUR ideas and opinions are a vital part of the Parish Plan. The list of topics covered in the survey is based on suggestions from the early conversation groups on the Parish Plan which involved a large number of residents across the Parish, as well as from the two exhibitions held in 2010. We are seeking the views of everyone who lives and works in Steep, together with the children and young people who attend school here.

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. If you need any help in completing the form, we will be pleased to assist.

If you have any questions about the survey form, please telephone any of the following

• James Rush on 01730 267928
• Peter Cruttenden on 01730 233241
• Tony Struthers on 01730 269533
• Jeremy Young on 01730 265414

How your answers will be used - and what happens next

• Taking part in this survey is VOLUNTARY. You can answer as many questions as you wish, but the more answers you give; the more this will influence the final direction of the Parish Plan.
• Indicate your answers clearly with an X in the boxes provided. Some questions invite you to give more information, but please keep your answer as brief as possible to make analysis easier. If you do not wish to answer a question, please leave blank. If you need more space, please use a separate sheet of paper and include it in the survey booklet.
• Your answers will be kept CONFIDENTIAL. The results from all the forms received back will be added together to provide statistical summaries. Any written comments or suggestions you provide will only be used anonymously.
• There is an Entry Form at the end of the questionnaire for you to use to enter the prize draw. Please fill in your details and you will be entered into the draw. Don't worry, your details will be kept separate from the Questionnaire!
• We would ask you to complete the form (and invite any other members of your household to add their views - the form is designed to accommodate a number of individual views) as soon as possible. You may find it more fun to sit down together as a household to complete it. Multiple answers to the open questions can be entered in the text box provided in each case.
• You can mail your completed survey form using the enclosed postage-paid envelope or you can drop it into the box you will find in the Village Hall. All forms must be in by the closing date of Friday 1st July.
• Once we have analysed the results, we plan to hold a VILLAGE SURVEY FEEDBACK EVENT. This is likely to be in the autumn. All villagers will be welcome to this event (whether they have completed the survey or not) and it will be an opportunity to discuss the survey results, the issues they raise, and to influence the next stage of developing the Parish Plan.