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WESTLEIGH COMMUNITY APPRAISAL
Results and Recommendations
June 1999

The Village Hall

Drawn from 25 people who volunteered, a committee now co-ordinates activities held at the Village Hall and is currently working to secure funding to renovate the fabric of the building in order to update the facility. The frequency with which the hall is used is therefore crucial to its future and it was found that:

7 people use the hall between 1-5 times a month

83 people use it less frequently

Recommendation:

Seek ways to increase the use of the hall and pursue all possible sources of funding to achieve this end.

 a. Adequacy of the Village Hall

Including those who consider the hall inadequate, opinions indicated that:

b. Activities possible at the Village Hall

Some interest was shown in promoting and attending a number of different activities that could be located at the village hall. Unfortunately so far, despite efforts made, those making such choices have yet to be identified. The activities suggested and numbers of people prepared to take part were as follows:

 

To organise

To play/attend

Gardening

7

50

Conservation Group

5

41

Senior Citizen Group

6

30

Dance

4

29

IT

4

26

Art Society

3

25

Music Society

3

21

Photography

No organiser

21

Luncheon Club

1

18

Whist

1

17

Bridge Club

3

14

Youth Club/Drop in

1

8

Recommendations:

  1. Publicise again the need for those who promised to organise events to contact the hall committee.

  2. Reconsider practicality of some individual activities in the light of accommodation available.

  3. Analyse returns to discover proposed site for new hall.

Village Appearance

Concern was expressed about some aspects of the Village’s appearance. 64% of the sample considered that here were areas that needed improvement. Also 114 people (72%) would prefer the overhead wires/lines to be put underground.

Recommendations:

  1. he North Devon District Council should be informed of the strength of feeling about overhead cables bearing in mind the conservation status of the village.

  2. Methods of funding the project to place them underground should be explored with NDDC.

  3. The War Memorial enhancement scheme should be again put forward for grant aid.

  4. Villagers should be encouraged to help maintain areas, such as that near the Memorial.

  5. Further research is needed to identify any other areas that will benefit from improvements.

Transport and Road Safety

Parking

Off road parking is limited in the Village and the steady increase of car ownership promises a problem which some people believe is already apparent. 77 households own 120 vehicles. 10 vehicles are parked on the road, 59 off the road and 47 in garages. Car ownership varies according to information provided as follows:

‘A car park could be sited above Church or at Westliving Farm’

‘Car parking could be sited in different areas around the village…’

6

Households own no vehicle

8

Households own three vehicles

35

Households owned one vehicle

1

Household own four vehicles

26

Households own two vehicles

1

Household own five vehicles

Perceptions about parking also vary:

106 people (67%) identified danger spots.

93 people (58%) consider street parking is already a hazard.

84 people (53%) claim never to have a parking problem in Westleigh.

79 people (50%) considered that a car park was needed.

40 people (25%) claim that they have occasional parking problems.

14 people (9%) say they often have parking problems.

Recommendation:

Explore all ways of finding new parking places in the village.

Road Safety

A large number of people believe that improvements need to be made to ensure maximum safety on the roads both for pedestrians and drivers alike.

109 people

68%

Wanted speed restrictions to be introduced in Westleigh

72 people

45%

Believe that facilities for pedestrians are poor

58 people

36%

Believe that facilities for pedestrians are reasonable

5 people

3%

Believe that facilities for pedestrians are good

Westhall house; By Downman’s cottage and Oxman’s cottages and near Parish Hall are all danger spots’

‘Parents of children at the nursery drive too fast’

Hedges and Verges

Maintenance of hedges and verges on the B3223 was also seen by some as a safety factor.

‘Footpath needed at Mount Pleasant’

Street Lighting

Recommendation:

Lighting should be investigated to see if

  1. the complaints focused on one area and if
  2. improvements can be made wherever necessary

‘Street lights needed near Hope House, Westliving Lane’

‘At Junction with main road’

The Millennium Celebration

There was strong support for a village celebration to mark the Millennium.

People

%

  

112

70

Thought that appropriate funds could be spent on a millennium project

109

69

Thought Westleigh should promote a project for the millennium

66

42

Preferred the celebration to take the form of a party for all ages

56

35

Preferred a tree planting to mark the millennium

49

31

Focused their attention on the ‘History of Westleigh’ book

43

27

Offered to contribute money

42

26

Offered their time

22

14

Offered both time and money

Recommendations:

  1. The matter should be discussed at the Parish Council who should also ask for further suggestions regarding the proposed nature of the celebration preferred.

  2. Clearly, more than one alternative could be implemented depending on the nature of the proposal.

  3. Depending on any decision made, a planning schedule will need to be agreed as soon as possible.

‘It would be a wonderful gesture if they (Tapely Estates) would make a positive contribution to the Millennium celebrations in the village’

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