[DF&F Main Menu] [Community Profiles Menu] [Community Appraisals Menu] St. Giles On The Heath Community Appraisal Index Newsletter 138 people would like to see a newsletter (76% of those expressing an opinion). 61 people say they are prepared to help with preparing and distributing it. Recommendation: A newsletter is one of the simplest ventures to get off the ground. The major requirement is volunteers. These will be canvassed as part of the process of publishing this report. Advice is available from the Community Council of Devon and the Parish Council can be approached for its support. It is hoped that support of the newsletter will be given a high priority since this will be a key ingredient in generating and sustaining interest for many of the other proposed initiatives. Index Top Neighbourhood Watch 205 people said they would like a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and 40 said they would be prepared to help organise it. Recommendation: Parish Council have already arranged a public meeting to re-establish this initiative. Further progress should be reported by the Newsletter. Index Top Re-cycling Shed 143 said that if a re-cycling shed were located in the village hall car park, they would use it often and a further 115 occasionally (87% in total). Recommendation: Parish Council should take up the offer of a re-cycling shed from Torridge District Council. Index Top Pre-School Playgroup We have 2 younger children and would use a pre-school playgroup if there was a well equipped more up to date one available. At present we use facilities in Launceston and Lifton. 95 people think a revitalised playgroup is needed and 19 people said they would be prepared to help run it. Recommendation: The playgroup is currently reduced to 2 infants. There are a number of parents who take their children to playgroups at Lifton and Launceston. (Out of the 318 people covered by the survey, 19 were in the 0-4 age group). Despite the level of interest shown by the appraisal, attracting these parents back is unlikely to be easy. In order to discover exactly what would have to be done to attract parents into sending their children to a revitalised playgroup it is proposed that the existing Playgroup committee invite all prospective parents to a meeting that would be chaired by an independent person. Index Top Village Green 99 people (60% of those responding) are in favour, 65 do not think one is required and 16 are against (the largest number opposed to any proposal). 47 people are sufficiently interested to say that they are prepared to help create one. Recommendation 1: Because of the possibility of attracting a Millennium grant, Parish Council have this as an outstanding item on their agenda. They have been awaiting the outcome of the appraisal in order to gauge the level of support. However in view of the concerns that a number of people obviously have it is recommended that Parish Council consider calling a public meeting to canvass and address those objections which these people have. Recommendation 2: Parish Council should also consider letting the matter be handled by a separate committee which might be more able to mobilise those people who have indicated a willingness to volunteer. Index Top Training & Further Education Only 3 people thought the existing adult learning provision in St. Giles was reasonable. Most (70% of those expressing an opinion) felt there was no provision. 122 people are interested in vocational training - a remarkable 41 % of respondents. The most desired training category (50 people) was computing/new technology followed by skilled/craft (34 people). Most (90%) were prepared to travel to Launceston. 70% would travel to Holsworthy. 78 people said they would be prepared to pay for computer training if it were available locally. Recommendation 1: The committee formed to upgrade Coronation Hall should explore the possibility of equipping it with a computing centre so that computer training can be provided within the parish. Recommendation 2: Many courses are already available locally. It would therefore seem that further work needs to be done to pinpoint exactly what the specific deficiencies in training provision/public awareness/accessibility are. Parish Council should forward the results of the survey to both the Bude and Launceston Adult Continuing Education Centre and the Holsworthy Community College and ask for their help in seeking ways to address the issue. [Previous Page][Index][Next Page] [DF&F Main Menu] [Community Profiles Menu] [Community Appraisals Menu] [Top of Page] [Devon C.C. Homepage] Page Created: May 2002 This Information was provided by Corporate Information Services Send any comments, enquiries, etc. to DRIS@devon.gov.uk