Index

In some cases, the information gathered from this report is going to be of most use to people at District, County and National Park level. Information on such topics as employment, education and health services will be passed on to the relevant authorities. The Parish Council now has a useful base of information on which it can draw when it is asked to give a local opinion on matters being considered at higher levels.

But there are a lot of points which come out of the survey which could be looked at more closely at parish level, and where some action can be taken locally. The following is a suggested list of recommendations for action, based on the findings of the appraisal:

Recreation and Facilities in Peter Tavy

There is a clear problem with the facilities for 8-14 year olds, and 15 -24 year olds. This need should be addressed by the various organisations within the parish, including the village hall committee, and involving people from these age groups. The problem may be felt more strongly in the future, as there is a growing number of children and young people in the parish who will grow into these age ranges.

Most people who use the facility are fairly happy with it - although some additions would be welcome, but signing should be considered to explain where it is situated and that it is open to all.

Those people who did not consider the hall adequate to our needs gave a variety of reasons, which the Village Hall Committee should consider. The number of suggested improvements also justify the Parish Council's support when the Village Hall Committee are seeking grants towards the cost of work.

Services in Peter Tavy

The Parish Council should notify the Borough Council of the strong demand for recycling facilities - particularly bottle and glass collection points, and can banks - and seek to have suitable facilities installed in the parish.

There is clearly strong feeling that the village needs a shop/post office. Further information is needed:

how much usage would really be made, when 50% of respondents work outside the village?; what sort of opening hours would be preferred?; what should a shop stock?, and what other facilities could it offer?

The Parish Council should call an open meeting to discuss the idea of a village shop/post office, and further research on this topic is required.

The Peter Tavy Piper is clearly the best mechanism for spreading information. The Parish Council and/or editors of the Piper should call a meeting and try to assemble the 36 people who said they would be prepared to help with the magazine. Distribution and delivery assistance is also required.

As it does appear to be the main information source for the parish, the Parish Council should consider raising the grant it provides to the Piper.

The Peter Tavy Piper should then be used to tackle some of the other problem areas identified:

• More information about the Parish Council: a list of members and how the council spends its money
• More regular information on recreational and social events and clubs in the parish
• Information on local services and facilities

The Parish Council should consider a secondary noticeboard in the Langsford area - and possibly elsewhere -to ensure people living there have full access to available information.

The Parish Council should pass on the findings of the survey about opinions of the bus service, both to the relevant bus operators and to the Transport Section at Devon County Council, and push for an improvement to the village service.

The Parish Council should begin action to investigate the development of a voluntary transport and/or car sharing scheme. There is clear interest in these ideas, and they could help to alleviate some of the access problems identified by the survey - in particular, the difficulty of gaining access to medical facilities. The Peter Tavy Piper might be able to help here.

The Parish Council should investigate the difficulties associated with footpaths, and seek to identify and correct any particular problems highlighted by the appraisal. Comments and information should also be passed on to Dartmoor National Park.

Planning and Housing in Peter Tavy

There seems to be some uncertainty about the operation of the planning system in the parish, and some dissatisfaction.

The Parish Council should invite a representative from the National Park Authority to come to the village to give a public presentation explaining the planning system, and to hear about the dissatisfaction which some residents feel.

March 1997