Sampford Courtenay Parish Survey Report 2004

The Parish

Sampford Courtenay is a large rural pari

sh of 3350 hectares, lying close to the northern fringes of Dartmoor. The village is six miles north-east of Okehampton (with all major services, including supermarkets) and two miles from North Tawton, where there are local shops, primary school, doctor and dentist. The community of 528 inhabitants is partly clustered in the village and a few hamlets, but many people live in fairly isolated situations. The village has a pub and a sub-post office but, since 1987, no shop. Sampford Courtenay is noted for its cob and thatch cottages and, historically, for being the site of the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549. The manor of Sampford Courtenay was owned by King’s College Cambridge for 350 years.

The parish has its own railway station, closed in the early 1970s but recently reopened and the subject of plans by Dartmoor Railway to run daily passenger services to Exeter and Okehampton. A limited bus service links the parish with Okehampton, North Tawton and Exeter.

Methodology

During 2003 the Parish Council agreed it would be desirable to conduct a new survey of the parish to determine how residents feel about local issues and whether they would wish to see any changes. The survey would provide the Culm Locality group of the Okehampton Area Market and Coastal Towns Initiative with useful information sourced from the community.

A steering committee was formed in December 2003 and a well attended public meeting was held in February 2004 to introduce the survey, which is the first part of the process towards formulating a Parish Plan. A questionnaire was designed and sent out to every household. This report contains the results of that survey.

The Objectives of the Survey

· To have a comprehensive consultation with the community.

· To enable a representative sample of views in the parish to be expressed.

· To find what problems or unmet needs there are in the parish.

The Survey

251 questionnaires were sent out or posted to households in the parish and 121 were returned using the pre-paid envelopes provided. This gives a return rate of 48.2%. The surveys represented the opinions of 258 people in the parish. Our thanks go to everyone who took the time to complete the forms. It had been decided not to coerce people - by knocking on their doors - into returning their surveys and we are content that the response is a

representative cross section of a community.

Each survey had tick boxes for up to six individual persons. The surveys could be answered by anyone of 14 years and over, with younger children having their own survey. It should be noted that:-

w Not all questions were completed by everyone.

w Some questions were not fully understood by everyone.

w Percentages where given are a percentage of the persons who answered the questions.

w Percentages have been rounded up or down so do not always add up to 100%.

w We have tried to include as many of the comments made as possible, some of which appear in summarised form. Comments appear in blue text.

w Not everyone took the opportunity to make additional comments.

This report has been presented in a format which contains all the facts and, it is hoped, is easy to read and understand. Numbers and percentages of persons answering each question have not always been mentioned but these statistical (and anonymous) data and further analyses are available. Please contact the Parish Clerk for additional information.

The Survey Results

Individuals

Age Range

Of the 258 people who answered the survey 248 indicated their age. 64% were aged between 41 and 70.

Of the 231 people who indicated their sex, 52% were males.

Residence in Parish

A third of respondents failed to indicate how long they had been living in the parish. It is possible that the question was missed due to its position in the grid. However it is encouraging to see a high response to the survey from newcomers.

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Employment and Education

Employment Status

As might be expected from the age range distribution, the graph shows a large number of retired persons in the community, while a similar number of persons are in employment or are self-employed.

Nature of Employment

Not everyone stated which sector they worked in. A quarter of those answering were employed in agriculture/horticulture, followed by public sector workers. Leisure and tourism accounted for only 6%. Some of those occupations in the ‘other’ category could have been included in the named categories (although not making a significant difference) and some second home owners recorded jobs that may have been situated outside the region.

Types of Employment to encourage in the Parish

145 people were in favour of agricultural related small industry being encouraged in the parish and only 14 were not in favour. However, no comments were made as to specific operations. Small scale industrial workshops were viewed as undesirable by 68 people but 25 people were strongly in favour. More than 100 people were in favour of tourism development although only 24 people would like to see Sampford Courtenay develop as a tourist centre.

Other comments and suggestions made were:-

General store.

B & B.

Craft related workshop.

Exported office services using Broadband Internet connection.

Non traffic generating.

Use of farm buildings as craft workshops or for selling antiques or production of lime products etc.

Is there a Need for Educational Facilities in the Parish?

Both a playgroup and pre-school were wanted by at least 25 people and nearly double that number were in favour of a registered childminder. Not everyone in the parish may be aware that there is thought to be at least one person already operating as a registered childminder.

There was strong demand for adult education classes. We asked whether these should be held in the parish and 120 people agreed (including at least 20 people who had not responded to the previous question about a need for classes!). Half this number were prepared to travel locally elsewhere to classes and distance learning from home also found favour with 38 people. Classes held in the evening were easily the most popular, but many people were flexible with timing and mornings, afternoons and weekends were also acceptable to them.

Education Classes: The most wanted subjects

Language study was the most popular subject with French, Spanish and Italian being mentioned specifically. Local history was also wanted and DIY (home improvements, plumbing and car maintenance receiving comments) was in demand.

It was not possible to match distance learning subjects apart from languages and study for the Open University.

Transportation and Highways

We wanted to know, initially, how (or if) people travelled from their home in pursuit of employment or training/study. This question did not apply to about half of the respondents to the survey, due to their being retired or unwaged. Of the 54 claiming to work at home, 16 appeared to be retired or unwaged. Possibly they are engaged in part time work at home, e.g. Agriculture.

Location of Work/Training/Study

Means of Transport to Work/Training/Study (See chart on page 6) 98 people claimed to travel to work, training or study by car. [However, some of these recorded themselves as retired/unwaged; perhaps they travelled for purposes of study.] 5 people used a public bus and 3 people walked. Interestingly 5 people used a train in their journey and one person travelled by air.

Public Transport

Response to the question ‘How often do you use these travel services for other purposes?’

	Daily	Weekly	Monthly	Occasionally	Never
Bus	2	9	2	61	106
Train	0	6	8	81	85
Coach	1	1	1	40	116
Private coach	1	0	0	62	99

These figures speak for themselves; regular use (i.e. daily or weekly) of public transport is non-existent for the vast majority of Sampford Courtenay residents making journeys for ‘other purposes’, which might include shopping, going to bank/post office, leisure etc. Occasional use of the train attracts almost as many people as would never use it and we might assume it would be for journeys starting from Exeter or beyond. Bus and coach travel currently have no apparent appeal for more than 50% of respondents to the question.

Using a Daily Train Service from Sampford Courtenay Station

Responses to the question about travelling by train from the parish railway station were made prior to its reopening in May 2004. [Until such time as there are daily services the answers may be considered to remain largely valid.] In the previous question, the number of people who said they, currently, never use a train was 85; in contrast, only 23 people said they would not be interested in using a daily local service from Sampford Courtenay.

We wanted to know how often people would use the train, where they would travel to and - bearing in mind its location in the parish - how they would get to and from the station.

Only 14 people (out of 202 would-be train users) said they would use the train daily but 145 people would be willing to make occasional train journeys.

Exeter was clearly the most popular destination.

It is encouraging to note that nearly half of those answering this question would be able to reach the station without the use of a private motor vehicle. However, there could be severe parking problems at the station if all the people who said they would use their car/motor bike were to travel on the train the same day! One person ‘would cycle to SC station, train to Okehampton to use the cycle track to Lydford’.

Alternative Means of Community Transport

94 people thought that a community bus was a good idea but just half that number would join in a subsidised community taxi scheme or a shared transport scheme. Two persons favoured ‘a car pool’.

Taxi Service

63% of respondents never used a taxi in the parish but most of those that used taxis considered the service to be adequate. Regular use, i.e.weekly or even monthly, was minimal and no one used a taxi on a daily basis.

Public Transport versus Private Transport

This question was designed to find out how many people would choose to use an efficient and regular bus and/or train service to go out and about in Devon or whether they would continue to use cars or taxis regardless. There may have been some confusion in answering as some of the 70 people (i.e. 29 %) who would willingly use public transport also gave answers to the benefits of private transport. Some people would use trains but not buses.

The pressures of today’s life styles suggest that cars are essential for getting around quickly and comfortably and for the weekly shopping trips. The most important feature, however, was clearly the ability to travel at any time of the night and day.

One comment:

Buses and trains would not get me to work - impractical.

Major Danger Spots on the Roads in the Parish

This subject attracted a large number of comments. 65% of people identified danger spots in the parish for all road users; of the remainder half did not answer and half thought there were no problems. [It is worth noting some contrasting comments in the later question on traffic calming.] The speed of traffic was generally considered to be excessive on several sections of parish roads, particularly when approaching road junctions . The following chart shows the worst danger spots:

Belstone Corner includes the road junctions on each side of the railway bridge.

Tongue End Cross is the cross roads on the old A30 (the Belstone junction).

Access to The Beeches is off the Crediton Road. Visibility on exit is restricted.

Other danger spots mentioned were the Iron Bridge and Beacon Cross on the Crediton Road, Appledore Hill to Sampford Courtenay station and Brightley Road.

Typical comments included:-

Crossroads at New Inn - significant number of motorists using the main road have no intention of giving way at mini roundabout.

Blind corners on single lane roads - traffic speeds to blame.

The junction approaching SC station turning right to Okehampton is completely blind to traffic on approach over the bridge. No sign at all warning of a concealed entrance coming out onto the main road - an accident waiting to happen for want of a sign.

Main road...past The Beeches - highly dangerous walking on this road...

Support for Speed Control Measures

A considerable number of forceful comments were made and a selection appears overleaf. A 30 mph speed limit at Sampford Courtenay station/Belstone Corner met with the approval of 128 people and 72 people would like to see a speed camera at the cross roads by the New Inn. Traffic calming measures were favoured by rather fewer people; extra road warning signs and sleeping policemen were wanted by around 10% of respondents.

30 mph speed limit at Sampford Courtenay station/Belstone Corner

Not 30 mph but 20 mph flashing signs at Sampford station.

Speed Cameras

Speed camera on straight road between Belstone Corner and The Countryman pub.

Speed camera at Sampford Chapple.

More Road Warning Signs

Rectory Hill.

Double bends on B3215.

Sampford Courtenay station.

The Beeches.

No more unsightly signs please.

There are more signs concerning traffic round this small village than can usefully be absorbed by drivers - and they detract from the scenery.

Sleeping Policemen

Sleeping policemen = noise and more pollution.

Sleeping policemen in the village...essential or individuals will take their own action.

No!! to sleeping policemen in the village.

Traffic Calming Measures

Entering and exiting the village.

On A3072 both directions approaching New Inn (roundabout).

The flashing lights do not seem to work as they are too far outside the village to be taken seriously.

Traffic calming in Sampford Courtenay was a waste of tax payers’ money (both times).

There is ample road calming already ! Road calming is more dangerous than nothing. Thank goodness the silly ones have been removed.

And finally ... some general comments

B3215 and A3072 should have 50 mph limit overall and 40 mph approaching village and station.

Better enforcement and more ‘soft’ measures to reduce all traffic speeds to return the community to people rather than vehicles as at present.

No speed control measures needed.

Absolutely definitely NONE of these (speed control measures) . As a car driver I find them all totally abhorrent. Moreover they do no good.

Street Lighting

The question of whether there should be more street lighting in the parish seemed not to concern a quarter of respondents who ignored it - perhaps those living in remote places away from settlements. Of those answering, 91% said ‘no’ and one person commented:

This is not suburbia, definitely not needed in rural situations.

Light Pollution

Very few respondents suffered from light pollution but it clearly troubled some people. Street lighting was too bright or considered inappropriate: ‘Ugly “motorway” style street lamps have excessive spread.’ ‘It is never “dark” as there are too many lights in the area.’ There were also comments about security halogen lights on private buildings left on after dark.

From a wider perspective one person felt:

The whole sky is polluted from a distance - towns, villages and roads, it is no longer like being in the country, so less lighting is better.

Housing and Planning

We asked what types of housing development would be acceptable (or not) in the parish.

30 people indicated they wanted no further housing development; this represents just 12% of those completing the survey.

Conversion of existing buildings, such as barns, was acceptable to more than half of those answering the question.

There was also firm support for single dwellings and those built in the local style, by which we meant ideally of cob and thatch construction.

13% would accept groups of up to 10 properties but very few would favour larger groupings. Since no one wanted as many as 50 dwellings built and/or converted in the parish, it is assumed that people would accept one or two groups at most of 10 or 20 but not several groups. However, this may not necessarily be the case as people may have interpreted ‘up to 50 dwellings’ as meaning ‘groups of...’.

It was interesting to note that more than 50 people thought there should be provision for low cost housing or sheltered housing. 21 people thought that houses should be provided for single person occupancy. More than 20 people made specific comments, some of which are given below:

With more of a choice at a reasonable price there would be more of a chance of younger families living in the village.

Affordable housing for locals and their children.

Single dwellings in hamlets/conservation area only if in local style.

Greater control over planning restrictions of these barns, i.e. keeping to original plans.

If tourism is to be encouraged then most development should be disallowed.

Be careful, it is very easy to become a suburb of Exeter.

The bungalows must be for ‘old’ people. I believe they are not.

Local Services

Provision of Health Services

We asked people if they had problems getting to the health services:

Difficult to get on to the dentists’ books.

Concerned there is now only one dentist in North Tawton, previously two.

Okehampton Hospital - what a joke!

No problems while we have a car.

Most people had no difficulty in getting to the local health services provided they had the use of a vehicle, were not too elderly and the weather was not bad. The service that came in for the most criticism was the dentist service. Getting appointments at the R.D.& E. Hospital was a problem for one person; for another bus connections there proved difficult.

52% of people are registered with a NHS dentist (not necessarily locally), 36% would like to register locally if one were available but the remaining 15% are reckoned to be happy with other arrangements.

Prescription Collection

97% of people had no problem collecting prescriptions but the limited opening hours of the North Tawton chemist received some comments.

Parish Services and Facilities

We asked if there is a need for various services or facilities, some of which we already have.

Over 50% of people wanted to keep the village hall and the public toilets; there is some suggestion that not everyone ticked these boxes because these facilities exist already. Litter bins were thought to be necessary (perhaps in lay-bys) and there appears to be a sizeable demand for a village community shop. 58 people would appreciate a doctor’s surgery on a weekly basis. Off-street parking in the village was seen as a need by 81 people.

When we asked people whether they would use various services if provided in Sampford Courtenay, the results were as follows:

Service	Yes	No	Not applicable
Benefits advice	26	41	85
Travel information	50	69	32
Local information point	83	55	24
Library facility	95	56	21
Day centre	19	61	71

A majority of people would like to have a local information point and a library facility. Other suggestions were: ‘a police contact point/neighbourhood officer’and ‘a citizens advice session’.

Shopping

We asked questions relating to shopping in North Tawton, Okehampton and elsewhere (including Internet shopping). We thought it was important to find out how far people were prepared to travel for post office and banking facilities as well as shopping for provisions and other goods. 180 people said they usually shopped at Okehampton. North Tawton was the first choice for only a handful of those answering, although 126 shopped there occasionally.

The following comment may sum up most people’s feelings:

The hill is such chaos and parking difficult. I only go to North Tawton if I have to.

There were favourable mentions for newspaper delivery, the fish & chip shop and builders’ merchant. One person commented on the ‘friendly service’.

More range of food in Okehampton.

Okehampton has become untenable with traffic. Exeter is less hassle.

Usually use shopping as an excuse for a day out.

Items in Exeter/Plymouth are a lot cheaper.

Several people commented that they shopped in Okehampton because it was closer than North Tawton. However, for most people the main reasons for shopping in Okehampton and/or elsewhere were the wider range of goods, the ease of parking and the availability of their bank. Cost was less important with only 31% giving it as a reason. Some people took Internet shopping to refer to grocery deliveries locally that, currently, are not available.

A Shop in Sampford Courtenay?

54% thought that a new shop in the village would bring a central focus to communit