Transport & Highways
The pressure to include questions on road problems in the village forewarned us of what we might expect from replies. The questionnaire listed four danger spots. In each case, around 700 people were concerned to see some action. Greatest was the demand for action in Meavy Lane, with considerable supplementary remarks:- this narrow road with no pavements is our only access to the village hall and children's play area, that the road is used by heavy lorries and has no calming measures or protection for children attracted some very strong comments.
In terms of traffc control measures, opinion was divided on whether to extend existing speed limits, but there was substantial demand for pedestrian crossings across the A386 and Dousland Road. Only a small proportion of the elderly and disabled found road crossing facilities good or even reasonable; with such a high proportion of our residents in the older age group this is a serious shortcoming.
Car parking facilities were not generally seen to be a problem. Over 60% (719) felt there was adequate parking in the shopping forecourt, and a similar number do not wish to see parking controls introduced.
Surprisingly few people use the bus service regularly; the only significant occasional use was for shopping and social and leisure pursuits.
Care in Our Community
A principal reason for the appraisal was to assess the need, and support, for a community care scheme. We were very encouraged by the evident support, as over 25% (321) of residents expressed their willingness to provide help in one form or another. A similar proportion were already engaged in voluntary work. This shows the high degree of social involvement in our area.
On the needs side, 114 individuals indicated a need for help due to sickness, disability, or physical limitations, and the majority (95) would like to use the services of a self help care scheme if it were available.
The problems of getting to services were less than expected, but between 50 and 100 do have diffculty from time to time getting to the hospital, doctor, dentist, chemist, optician, local shops, and recreational facilities. To assist with this need, 160 car owners indicated a willingness to provide voluntary transport. This figure almost matched the number who would like to use such a facility, particularly if a nominal payment could be made.
Finally, in this section there was a very high level of interest in fnding out more about the services currently provided by the Care and Repair Agency. Also a significant number (401) expressed an interest in making use of a mobile Citizens Advice Bureau.
Local Countryside & Community
Environment and location were by far the factors people found most important about Yelverton. Nearly 60% (737) would like Yelverton to develop as a balanced community, and nearly 40% (489) would like it to stay as it is.
A high proportion, nearly 70% (853), would like to have a designated open space in the village for local people to meet and children to play, and nearly 60% (509) of these would like it to be situated on the edge of the airfeld near Leg O' Mutton.
This would fit well with the weight of comment on the unsuitability of the present location of the children's play area down Meavy Lane.
A considerable number of comments requested the provision of a meeting place for young people. Only 91 people, less than 10%, felt that the facilities for the 15-24 age group are reasonable, and the current trend for a group of youths to gather at the bus shelter was disliked by many of the residents.
Although nearly half of the village is not in a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, of these nearly 70% (434) would like to join one.
With regards to information on what is going on in Yelverton, there is clearly room for improvement. By far the most people found out by word of mouth, the fewest from the notice board. One third used the Church magazine 'Roundabout', another third found out from posters, and a quarter from the parish information sheet 'Miscellany'. Many newcomers indicated that a directory of services and activities would be a welcome addition.