STILTON VILLAGE APPRAISAL 1999

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
iii) VILLAGE APPRAISAL INTRODUCTION

The group met regularly over the next 17 months and this report and web site are the outcome of their work.

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1. To identify the key issues and concerns of the residents of Stilton about the present state of the village.

2. To quantify a range of data about the local population (eg. age, housing, etc.).

3. To provide factual evidence to support future plans for community development.

4. To collect the views and opinions of residents about the issues identified as important.

5. To provide evidence that could be used to influence decisions made by our County and District Councils.

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At the initial meeting and in discussions with the Parish Council the issues and concerns were identified as

Population structure,
Housing development,
Environment,
Traffic and transport,
Village services,
Sports and Leisure,
Public safety / Crime,
Council Services and local taxes.

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With the help of a computer programme published by the Countryside and Community Foundation (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England), the issues were assembled into a questionnaire of 65 questions (see Appendix 3).

This was distributed to each of the 800 households in Stilton early in March 1999 and was collected over the next three weeks. 452 questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 57%. This was considered to be a successful response that would provide highly representative statistical information.

The questionnaire also provided the opportunity for respondants to make their own comments and these have also been used in the analysis of the questionnaire.

During the summer of 1999 the completed questionnaires were manually entered into computers by a network of volunteers around the village. These batches of data were then combined into one 8 Mega-byte database for analysis.

A Summary Report was published as an insert in SCAN, the village newsletter, in December 1999. See Appendix 1.

This report and web site goes further in analysing the information and providing the statistical evidence that highlights the areas of concern. The most often expressed written comments are also included.

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A printed version of this web site was presented to the people and Parish Council of Stilton, at a Village Meeting in Stilton School called by the Parish Council.

Over the last year and a half some of the issues and concerns that were originally identified have been addressed, but many still remain.

If we are to remain a vigourous and lively community we need the involvement of the village's residents.

It is now up to the whole community to draw up an Action Plan and then to find ways to implement it. The information contained in this report and web site can be helpful in persuading statutory and voluntary bodies to develop facilities and services that we, the people of Stilton, have said we want.

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Acknowledgements

Many villagers have helped at each stage of the Appraisal. Thanks are due to:

Distribution and Collection of the Questionnaire:

Mrs A Banks, Mr P Biggins, Mr K Bull, Mrs P Crane, Miss D Darnell, Mr R Eckersley, Mrs S Edwards, Mrs F Ellicott, Mr R Farrington, Mrs J Hanram, Mrs S Hayward, Mrs Ibbotson, Mrs H Landy, Mrs O Main, Mrs P Maltman, Mrs T Mayles, Mrs J McGivern, Mrs T Newell, Mr M Nickolay, Mrs S Paxton, Ms C Purser, Mr W Raymond, Mrs H Rees, Mr D Severn, Mrs P Seaman, Mrs C Tallowin, Mr&Mrs C Walford, Mr&Mrs J Warner, Mrs C Warren, Mrs J Wilkinson, Mrs L Worsley

Stilton Post Office, Hi-Lite and The Bell Inn who collected questionnaires.

Data Input:

Alex Main (who processed 120 questionnaires)

The Bell Inn staff, Paul Biggins, Keith Bull, Dee Darnell, Doug Maltman, Mike Nickolay, Mary Stretton, Christina Tallowin

Thanks also go to:

The Bell Inn, Stilton and the Forte Post House, Norman Cross, for donating prizes to the questionnaire Lucky Draw,

St. Mary Magdalene Church, Stilton, for the use of the Meeting Room,

SCAN (Stilton Community Association Newsletter) for publicity, updates and publication of the Summary Report,

Stilton Parish Council for generous financial backing,

Cambridgeshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) for financial help and advice (Julie Owers and Ted Easy)

The Print Centre at The Environment Agency, Anglian Region, for printing the questionnaire and report at cost (Carol Jarvis),

Doug Maltman for the map of the village,

RMS Ltd. for aerial photographs,

Yvonne Warner for access to Stilton's Heritage Books,

Paul Biggins for his computing expertise, enthusiasm and photographs.

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