|
|
DRAFT ACTION PLAN
FOR A BETTER
SANDFORD
ON
THAMES
|
RESULTS
IN BRIEF
- 282 households in Sandford completed the village questionnaire - that's an amazing 49%
- Speeding traffic was a routine problem for 230 village households, see page 2
- The largest response (260) was from those agreeing that Sandford is an excellent place to live, see page 4
- 228 households (87%) agreed that if there were a village shop they would use it regularly for up to a quarter of their shopping, see page 5
- 86% approval rating for our Parish Council.
- Three quarters of the village would support a neighbourhood watch scheme in their area, see page 4
- 84% of respondents are looking for improvements to policing arrangements see page 2
- 158 households are dissatisfied with the present bus services, see page 6
- Half the village support up to 50 more homes, see page 3
- Your feedback - let us know, see the back page.
|
|  |
Introduction
After a number of months of quite hard work, the Village Appraisal team are very pleased to be able to present this draft action plan.
The intention is to obtain your approval for our proposals, to address the issues that you identified.
Your interest in this activity has been very evident.
1 in 2 households completed the survey and provided the group with more than 590 comments and more than 200 suggestions.
Fortunately, there was a very strong consensus in the viewpoints expressed and, for once, even the adults & young people are in agreement !!
Overall, the survey results paint a picture of an 'attractive', 'friendly' and 'quiet' piece of the countryside,
which is conveniently close to the city and an 'excellent' place to live.
The work of the Parish Council, The Link and the Village Hall are all appreciated.
However, the survey also describes a Village under threat from traffic, reducing services,
encroachment by the City, perceived rising crime and a declining state of repair.
These have been the appraisal's major focus and recommendations are made about all of them.
The team will be staffing a stand at this year's village fete on 10th July,
where there will be further information available for those who are interested.
On the last page of this report there is also a feedback form that we would ask you to let us have back,
ideally at the fete or certainly by Friday 16th July.
We hope you will be pleased with the results of the appraisal and will give it your active support,
not least by getting involved in its implementation.
Steve Daniels (******)
Village Appraisal Group Chairman
Increasing Awareness & Communication
An interesting outcome of the appraisal has been the realisation that many villagers do not know about the facilities already available to them.
When asked what clubs and societies they wanted, many people asked for things already available in the Village Hall.
Appraisal group members also soon became aware of what many of themselves did not know, such as bus times and the mobile library's schedule.
Proposed action: to issue an annual 'services directory' as an extra issue of 'The Link' and to initiate a project, using available grants,
to extend www.sandfordonthames.co.uk significantly into a 'portal' that gives access to lots of useful information.
If you are interested in helping, just let the website know !!
|
|
|
Page 1
|
Speeding
Traffic
is a major
Concern for
the Village
By Jon Wood
|
|
The Village Appraisal team have drawn up a comprehensive proposal to address these issues in as structured a way as possible.
Indeed, by careful detailed design, other enhancements should also become possible such as improved access from the Park Homes site to the main village.
Those residents will then be able to catch the buses that we do have more easily.
The detailed nature of the scheme is such that it is best examined on a plan.
This will be available at the Village Fete and you are encouraged to comment on it then using the form enclosed.
However, it is important that everyone recognises that the scheme is going to be expensive and that SODC and OCC will inevitably perceive
that they have higher priorities for their scarce funds.
It is likely that a strong lobbying campaign will be needed.
Work will begin on this once we have secured and documented the support of the village.
|
|
Most of the respondents to the survey had things to say about this subject - and quite vocally too !!
A massive 83% said that speeding is a routine problem e.g. by HGVs turning left into Henley Road towards the bypass.
And a majority want highways improvements as a priority, to address clear danger spots e.g. the junction of Henley Road and Church Road.
Problems of village access, caused by a general lack of parking space (especially on match days) were clearly seen as exacerbating the situation.
Strong concern was also expressed about the poor quality of the main village roads and of the pavements too - particularly those in Church Road.
|
|
On the Village Beat By Paul Daglish & Roger Hutchins.
The survey showed some, but not general, concern about levels of crime appearing to rise, including car crime.
The police have provided us with a detailed breakdown of recorded crime over the last three years which,
though not negligible, has actually fallen by 6% for the year to March 2004.
84% of respondents were unhappy about village policing arrangements, especially the lack of
visibility and our village falling under Thame Police Station.
Discussions with Thames Valley Police have not succeeded in transferring us to an Oxford Station and 999 calls are always handled by the nearest unit.
TVP point out that a number of 'Community Support Officers' are being recruited and a Community Beat Policeman is assigned to us.
Opportunities for greater interaction with him have not so far been forthcoming, although his attendance at the Village Fete
and a planning meeting for Neighbourhood watches is being arranged.
Proposed Action: Whilst negotiations continue with Thames Valley Police, the best remedies continue to be safeguarding one's own property.
Crime Prevention / Reduction information will be available at the Fete and more news may be available by then.
For any emergency requiring a police presence call 999
It's an emergency if a crime is being committed,
there is a risk of injury or a risk of serious damage to property.
For non-emergency incidents or general enquiries
(or to contact the Community policeman PC Brian Price) 08458 505 505.
|
|
Mobile Library
We asked if people thought the mobile library was important. 82% of you did, even though most of you don't seem to know when it calls!
It turns out that it stops outside The Fox pub from 11:55 to 12:30 every other Tuesday - 6 July, 20 July, 3 August etc.
Proposed action: encourage the use of the existing service and thereby support its continuation.
If possible, more visits to the village will be obtained, especially in the late afternoon to allow greater use by children.
|
|
|
Page 2
Sandford
Village Hall
By Mick Hills
Interestingly the village hall received the most written opinions from the survey and generated more suggestions than the questions on traffic problems.
The high response rate showed that over half (57%) have visited our village hall at least occasionally, and a third had hired the hall themselves.
Strangely, many of the suggestions for new activities and clubs at the hall, already exist.
|
It seems that many people are either unaware of the existing clubs or perhaps they find the time inconvenient or prefer an alternative club.
Understandably there were some concerns raised about noise and the regulations have already been tightened up to reduce possible nuisance.
Obviously the hall is widely considered in the village and very useful to many.
However the hall management committee continues to be quite stretched, if you can help please do add a note to your feedback form.
|
Proposed action: to encourage the use of the hall by advertising its facilities and conditions of hire more widely and,
along with the management committee, to expand the range and type of activities as highlighted by the survey.
|
|
More
Starter
Homes
|
|
The village stood shoulder to shoulder recently and successfully helped to defeat the structure plan proposal for 1,000 on South Oxfordshire lands.
However, this is clearly not a case of simply a bunch of NIMBYs at work, as half of respondents declared themselves happy to see up to 50 houses
built in the village.
The equally clear wish that they be of mixed type including family and starter/affordable homes should go quite some way to
satisfying the quarter of residents that did not want any building at all.
The options for the location of these houses are limited. The Brookes University accommodation site on Heyford Hill Lane has now been sold.
The site presently occupied by Orchard House could only accommodate a very small number.
This leaves the only options as the plot between the bypass and Henley Road (continuing the Rock Farm development)
or the farmland on the left of Henley Road as you enter from the bypass.
Proposed action: that the Parish Council be aware of village opinion and that, if required, it adopts the latter option as it least
'builds up' the village and would provide greater flexibility to any builders.
This site could also accommodate the space for any future shop.
However, the subsequent viability of the farm will need to be considered.
|
| |
Living and Working Locally
Over half of the working residents already work in Oxford, a further 15% up to 10 miles away but only 10% in the village.
Although there was 'ambivalence' about whether they wanted to be the ones working locally, 60% felt there should be more local work opportunities.
However, 75% are pessimistic about the chances of this, and believe that the village will be a dormitory in less than 5 years.
Proposed action: the Sandford on Thames website to include links to local employment websites and those of all the local employers.
Those employers will be encouraged to advertise posts on the site and in The Link wherever possible.
Villagers can, however, help themselves in this regard by increasing employment demand by their actions
e.g. when shopping, planning breaks or procuring services doing so locally.
A Good Neighbour Scheme
The household survey results were pretty unanimous that Sandfordians are 'friendly' and 'show they care'.
Indeed, a massive 86% of respondents are willing to provide help to, and keep an eye on, an elderly neighbour.
This could be a real contribution to village life and a great help to the Old People's Homes along Henley Road.
Proposed action: provided that a co-ordinator can be found, the appraisal team recommend that a
'neighbourhood help' scheme be established alongside the neighbourhood watches.
|
|
|
Page3
A 'Green' Sandford
By Steve Daniels
Respondents to the survey strongly agreed that 'green maintenance' was important,
even if it has since been difficult to obtain a consensus on what that meant !!
In contrast, the survey replies were evenly split over whether the village looks attractive when entering it.
There were a number of comments too to suggest that the village lacked a 'heart or soul'.
Proposed action: that more should be made of the green spaces by an improved verge-mowing programme in central areas
(that cuts more finely and removes the cuttings).
Flower and shrub beds should also be created at a variety of key points throughout the village.
Some of these can be created as part of the traffic management proposals documented elsewhere.
The usability of village pavements and paths will also improve when a programme of trimming and edging is initiated.
This would be complemented by other areas being left to naturalise or being maintained as wild gardens.
The Parish Council will need to assess the costs of this scheme, both for its creation and for its upkeep,
which should include effort by interested residents.
|
Dog Mess & Litter
Litter and dog mess seems to be generally recognised as a growing problem that is already significant in some areas
such as by the various play equipment, around the King's Arms and on Henley Road.
At present a few souls take it upon themselves to do litter sweeps of some areas.
Proposed action: the village has an annual 'litter blitz' to share out the work followed by a social event such as a BBQ.
In addition, the Parish Council to be approached to fund additional waste and dog mess bins at strategic points around the village
and their emptying by the rubbish collection teams.
Finally, dog owners can clearly help by exercising their dogs in the open grassland area behind the village hall and not on the village green,
as well as by following the example set by other owners who clear up after their dogs.
|
| |
Local Facilities
Use Them or
Lose Them!
As well as trying to improve them, it is clear that some existing services have experienced only a limited take up.
The bus services, mobile library and village hall clubs are cases in point.
The appraisal group have received inferences that some might even be subject to cut backs if usage levels were to decline.
Lets all try harder in our own interests to make more use of what we have.
Neighbourhood Watch
It seems that opinions on the Neighbourhood Watch system are mixed with only 41% thinking the local schemes are effective.
With only a quarter of the village currently covered but three quarters of you welcoming a scheme in your area, the opportunity lies in your hands...
Proposed action: the Appraisal Group, supported by Thames Valley Police,
will get together all those who are keen to improve or set up new Neighbourhood Watch schemes in their area.
At a meeting in the Village Hall we will be able to discuss how to establish effective watches to cover your area of the village.
Please indicate on the feedback form your interest in supporting the development of the existing and future schemes.
|
|
|
Page4
|
A Village Shop ? By Mick Hills
Unsurprisingly, most people were in favour of a local village shop, many would find it very convenient and said that they would use it regularly.
The results shows that most people would spend around a quarter of their weekly shopping there.
However, any shop would have to be a viable business and be able to cope with the lure of the nearby Sainsbury's.
The Office for National Statistics gives a range of figures for rural weekly shopping.
Taking these and the support for a shop indicated by the survey and extending this to the
whole village shows that we would generate turnover of about £8,000 weekly.
A Spar or Londis would require a turnover of at least £10,000 and the Co-op (who work a different scheme) about £15,000.
Customers are likely to want late opening and a suitable location for the shop would also have to be found. This would currently be a major difficulty.
Sadly, with the limited catchment area and stiff local competition, the idea of a village shop therefore seems unlikely to get off the ground.
Proposed action: that the idea of a 'chain' village shop be considered in some more detail, as well as to explore alternative approaches.
Clearly, any house building in the village could include a plot for a new shop.
In the mean time, we will keep local community and retail developers aware of our needs,
and also ask the Parish Council to monitor local development opportunities which may provide the possibility of developing a village shop.
|
| |
Did you know...
The highest percentage of 'strongly agrees' in the survey concerned "the importance of The Link, Village Noticeboard and Sandford Web pages".
The village obviously not only likes to know what's going on but also would like to know more.
As mentioned elsewhere in the draft plan, the limited communication, especially to those new to the village, is quite apparent in some areas.
The existing services do a good job in providing an important role in keeping people informed.
Proposed action: the existing services should not only be maintained but also encouraged to improve and expand.
New noticeboards are also proposed, including outside the village hall to publicise its activities.
The Stadium and The Ozone
The creation of the 'Ozone' Centre by the Kassam Stadium has generally been welcomed and is expected to be even more beneficial
as more units open within the centre. At the same time, traffic congestion has improved as new car parking facilities have been opened on site.
Proposed action: to help achieve greater awareness of the centre through the website and services directory.
At the same time, it is anticipated that, alongside seeking out job opportunities for villagers,
the Parish Council will continue to press Firoz Kassam to make good his promises in respect of a
financial contribution towards traffic management enhancements.
|
|
|
Green boxes by Anna Gasking
An early success of the appraisal has been to identify that many households did not know about the green box scheme
or were not recycling all the materials that are accepted.
A briefing in The Link caused a number of boxes to be requested and more will be available at the Fete.
Could those moving out of the village make sure they leave their green box behind along with a note to their buyer ?
Many requests were also made for glass recycling facilities in the village, which the current green box scheme does not support.
Proposed action: a suitable location, for a glass recycling bank, that does not cause traffic or litter problems,
would need to be found along with a contractor prepared to provide and to empty the containers.
This will be referred to the Parish Council for further study.
|
|
Page5
|
On the Buses By Aileen Waller
A fact little known by many, including most of the Appraisal Group, is that Tappins,
for Tesco's, already runs a service from the Catherine Wheel, that leaves at 10:00 and returns at Midday.
This answers the 127 respondents that said they would welcome such a service.
Requests for improved services, including Sunday and evening services, to Thames Transit, have had some limited successes.
Journey timings have been adjusted to link to school closing times.
However, Thames Transit observed that previous Sunday and Evening services had been tried and were not used sufficiently.
Residents may also like to know that Salter's Steamers run a twice daily service from the lock to Abingdon
leaving at 9:55 and 15:10 arriving at 11:05 and 16:30.
A return service departs at 11:15 and 16:45 arriving at the Lock at 12:20 and 17:50 respectively.
Proposed Action: To continue to lobby the bus companies for service improvements and to encourage more usage by village residents.
In addition, Tappins will be approached to make additional stops in the village on its Tesco service.
Finally, the traffic management scheme discussed elsewhere would include improved bus stops on Grenoble Road for bus users from the Park Homes.
|
|
Young Voices By Jacquie Shanahan
About a third of young people in the village aged from 4-17 responded to a separate questionnaire covering issues specific to them.
It was clear that, like adult respondents, they were strongly in favour of a village shop and a better bus service,
and they also object to vandalism, fast cars, poor lighting and misuse of play equipment.
The Ozone bowling and cinema facilities are used regularly by teenagers and under 12s.
However, they feel strongly that the range of activities and recreational equipment in Sandford itself is inadequate,
and does not reflect the wide range of interests they have. This view is endorsed by the majority of adult residents.
A range of requests for clubs have been received.
Most young people attend schools outside the Sandford catchment area, which means they are less likely to have school friends living locally.
Teenagers in particular care about having a suitable place to meet up.
Sadly, a small number of 4-12 year olds felt that some villagers in Sandford were unfriendly, in contrast to adult views that Sandford
is generally a friendly place to live.
|
If you are one of those who responded - thank you for speaking up for young people in Sandford.
Proposed actions:
Consider spending power of young people when assessing viability of shop and improved bus services.
Promote the activities that are already locally available to young people via a specific section in the village directory.
Highlight the need for a broader range of activities including out of school/holiday schemes to the Parish Council and apply for
'Awards for All' grants to set them up.
Advertise in The Link for volunteers in the village who might run informal sessions e.g. football or art/craft.
Ask the Parish Council to budget for new recreational equipment for the 7-12 age group (in range £200-£2000)
with clear signage to deter use by older children.
|
Please note: This Draft Action Plan report is intended to support further village consultation
and should not be taken to represent the present Parish Council policy.
|
|
The Appraisal Group would like to thank the Countryside Agency for their grant aid,
and also Oxfordshire Rural Community Council for their help and support, without whom this project would not be possible
|
|
|
|
Page6
|
