An attempt to find out the views of all the people who live in Widecombe, Leusdon, Sherril, Jordon, Hannaford, Cator and all its hamlets. All parishioners were sent questionnaires to ask how they would like Widecombe to progress in the next millennium.

This was a great opportunity for all of us in the parish aged 11 and over to say what we would like in Widecombe District. Often too many of us think that ‘they’ (Parish Council, District Council, Dartmoor National Park, planners) do things that the we disapprove of, or don’t do what we want them to do. Our views, summarised, will clarify and inform Parish Council as to what we do and don’t want to see in the parish, and perhaps spark off new community initiatives.

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How did it happen?

With help from the Community Council of Devon (CCD), a sub committee of local people was formed, who drew up a questionnaire, and delivered it to all households in the parish (we hope!); everyone aged 11 or over was invited to answer the questions. Replies were anonymous and confidential, and after being collected, they were returned to CCD for analysis. The volunteer committee has now written this report based on the final statistics, and all households will receive a copy.

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The contents of this Report, together with the full statistics, will be given to the Parish Council, for reference over the coming years. Anyone who wants to look at the complete figures, or the complete list of comments, should contact the Parish Council. Further copies of the Report will be sent to the appropriate authorities (i.e. National Park, Social Services, Department of Health, etc.)

Some people filled in the tear-off strips at the end of the questionnaire, in order to register an interest in various activities. It is hoped to hold a final Public Meeting, where issues contained in this Report can be discussed, and where small groups can be formed to take forward some of the ideas we, as a community, have come up with.

If you have any queries about this Report, please make contact with any member of the Appraisal Committee listed below

To all the committee, helpers who delivered and picked up questionnaires and sent out the report, Community Council of Devon (CCD) for analysis. All the committee and helpers were volunteers to oversee the choice of questions. Thanks, too, to the Parish Council and DNP for supporting the Appraisal financially.