THE SPREYTON COMMUNITY APPRAISAL STEERING GROUP

Over the last few years there has been a feeling in the Parish that "something" needs to be done to ensure that Spreyton remains as a viable, happy community. Some people will have their own ideas about what that ‘something’ is but housing, public transport, education and the village facilities appeared to be the things about which most people care.

At the same time, those authorities that control many aspects of our life are forced to do their work with less money and if they are to be persuaded to give help they must be convinced that there is a real need. It was against this background that the Parish Council was persuaded to ask the Community Council of Devon for their help in organising a Parish Appraisal; this being the vehicle, accepted by local government, for canvassing the views of the people concerned.

In April 1999 a public meeting was organised by Sue Murphy of the Community Council, to explain how an appraisal was organised, to identify the issues which were most concerning people and to find volunteers to carry out the various tasks. A Steering Group was formed to prepare and circulate a Questionnaire to every household in the Parish. Once the completed Questionnaires were collected, they were analysed by the Community Council and from the results of this analysis the Steering Group have prepared the report that follows.

The Steering Group wish to thank everyone who has been involved for making this Appraisal such a success. Thanks to all of you who completed the Questionnaires, to those who distributed and collected them, and to those who offered help with community projects in the future. Also we wish to thank those who have given financial support, Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council and Spreyton Parish Council. Finally our very special thanks to Sue Murphy for her advice and guidance without which the task of the Steering Group would have been very difficult.