WESTLEIGH COMMUNITY APPRAISAL
Results and Recommendations
June 1999
Local Services
Police
Budgetary considerations in the Police service tend to concentrate more resources in areas of more obvious need. The provision in Westleigh will be made in that context.
|
63 people |
40% |
Thought the police coverage to be reasonable/good |
|
60 people |
38% |
Thought that the police coverage was poor |
‘You never see a policeman’
‘No beat policemen’
Post Office
106 people (67%) rated the service provided by the post office to be important or greater.
49 people said they did not use the post office.
‘A shop is needed’
Recommendation:
Given that the village is apparently about to lose this facility and in the hope that it might be saved, the central administration should be informed of these results, in the hope that offers made to potential postmasters/postmistresses might be made more financially attractive. This facility is especially important for older people and those with limited transport options.
SWEB and SW. Water Services
Improvements in SWEB supply have been made since last year. Nevertheless, 20% of the sample had cause for concern regarding SWEB and SW. Water. However, a large majority considered it to be good.
‘There is no gas in Eastleigh’
‘A full treatment needed for sewage’
‘Inadequate drainage system’
Refuse Collection
94% of the sample are prepared to separate items from their refuse for recycling.
Recommendation:
Refuse collection agency should be informed and asked to co-operate in making this possible at the point of collection.
Health & Social Services
Health and Social Services are served through provision in Bideford. They are well regarded generally with the exception of the provision for dental care which was regarded as poor by 11 people (16% of those expressing an opinion). Concern was also expressed with the provision for mental health and chiropody. Difficulty about NHS dental provision was experienced ‘often ‘ by 9 people (13% of users) and ‘occasionally’ by 14 people (20% of users). The hospital, chemist and optician also proved occasionally difficult for a minority of the sample.
Bus Services
|
45 people |
28% |
Want improvements to the bus timetable |
|
31 people |
20% |
Want changes to bus routes |
|
29 people |
18% |
Identified reliability as the main problem |
Recommendation: