PARISH PLAN FOR MIDDLETON-ON-THE-HILL AND LEYSTERS

The view from the Parish Hall – is this the best such view in ? What is a Parish Plan? In November 2000 the Government's Rural White Paper 'Our Countryside -- The Future' launched the concept of Parish and Town Plans. It said that the purpose of a parish plan is to: 'set out a vision of what is important, how new development can best be fitted in, the design and quality standards it should meet, how to preserve valued local features and to map out the facilities which the community needs to safeguard for the future.' It further stated that parish plans should 'identify key facilities and services, set out the problems that need to be tackled and demonstrate how distinctive character and features can be preserved.' The Government has asked the Countryside Agency to take forward the concept of parish plans and has made additional funding available to help parish and town councils prepare them. In the Parish of Middleton-on-the-Hill and Leysters the Parish Council approved in principle in May 2002 the production of a Parish Plan. Volunteers were thus sought through the Parish Magazine to form a Steering Group and 16 people said that they were prepared to help. A grant towards the costs of the Plan was also obtained from the Countryside Agency. The main aim of the Steering Group was to seek the views of people living in the Parish through the medium of a Parish Plan Questionnaire followed by an Open Parish Meeting. Thus, in November 2002 a Parish Plan Questionnaire was distributed to all adults living in the Parish of Middleton- on-the- Hill and Leysters. 299 copies of the questionnaire were delivered by hand to houses in the Parish and were subsequently collected by hand also. The results were analysed in January 2003. In all, 194 completed questionnaires were returned which represents 64.9%. The true success rate is possibly higher than this as some forms were addressed to people who had died, moved away or, in the case of young adults, were away at university. The other main method of information gathering from the local community was an Open Parish Meeting and, after advertising in the Parish Magazine and through a poster campaign, this was held on Monday 19 May 2003 in the Parish Hall.

Parish Plan Open Evening

Perhaps the extremely stormy weather kept numbers down somewhat but the evening was nevertheless a success and more views on how the Parish should develop were obtained. Here is how the event was reported in the Times.

2

Parish Plan Open Evening

Objectives of the Parish Plan Report

Thus, an enormous amount of data has been obtained giving the views of local people as to how they want their parish to be run. Many were happy with the way things were now but most acknowledged that changes were necessary in some areas. In deciding how views obtained at the Open Parish Meeting and from the Parish Plan Questionnaire should be covered by specific 'actions' in the Action Plan, more weight has been given to Questionnaire responses. This is because 100 people

3 may have opted for a course of action in the Questionnaire whereas a point made at the Open Parish Meeting reflects the views of a single person. Hence, we have tried to include invariably as an item for action the most popular choice under each heading in the Questionnaire and, where the action is relatively easy to accomplish, the second and even third most popular choice has also been included as an action. A summary of the views obtained at the Open Parish Meeting is at Annex C. Some of these points have been included in other 'actions', some have been superseded by events or accomplished already and the remainder will be reviewed by the Parish Council.

The next stage was to translate the views received into a Parish Plan Report which would have the following objectives:

� To secure the adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance of the measures identified by the community with the aim of improving and enhancing the quality of the built environment.

� To provide a medium for the community in the prioritisation and implementation of measures to improve the living locality.

� To provide mechanisms to inform and influence the decisions of statutory bodies, agencies, individuals and organisations about community priorities and local needs.

� To set out a plan for the future and to establish priorities for action by those both within the community and outside it.

The Parish as it is now

The Parish of Middleton on the Hill and Leysters has two Parish Churches, St. Mary the Virgin in Middleton and St. Andrews in Leysters; both are 12th. Century and both listed Grade 1. It should be noted, however, that the 'Parish' in this document refers to the civil, local government parish and not the ecclesiastical parish whose boundaries may be different. The two villages are mentioned in the . St. Mary’s church is situated at the end of a small road off the by-road from Kimbolton to Little ; St. Andrew’s is on a small back road from Leysters to . The number of homes in the Electoral Register for the villages of Leysters and Middleton-on-the-Hill is 146. The A4112 Tenbury Wells to road running on the high ground more or less divides the two villages, and St. Andrews, Leysters gives far views to , the Mortimer, the Clees and the Malvern hills. Our homes are mainly along the A4112 with clusters near the church at Middleton, at Woonton and Rosedale, the remainder are dotted around the Parish and are often fairly isolated, quite a few of them were built before 1800. Construction is often of stone, and some are part or all timber framed. Some more recent homes and extensions have been built of brick. We have eleven Grade 2 listed houses.

4 Our soil is slightly clayey with sandstone rock underlying. In some places there are fossils in the rock. There is still evidence of stone quarries, though none of them have been used for many years and most are now slowly being filled in.

Middleton-on-the-Hill & Leysters Parish

The 2001 Census showed that there were 388 people living in the Parish of which 70 were age 15 or under and 88 were 60 or over. 29.6% of our people were aged between 45 and 59, as compared with 21.1% of this age group in Herefordshire as a whole. Furthermore, 20.3% of people in the Parish worked in agriculture/hunting/forestry (compared with 6.7% for the County as a whole) whilst 33.2% worked from home (compared with 15.2% for the County). The 2001 Census also showed that 76.9% of our Parish households had a car or a van whilst 16.3% of our households comprised a lone pensioner. Finally, in 2001, 71.9% of us claimed to have good health, 21.2% had fairly good health and 6.9% claimed that their health was not good; in all areas our health was slightly better than Herefordshire as a whole!

5 Now in the Parish there are approximately 30 farms. The land usage is mainly arable, pasture and woodland. Agriculture is the main business in the area though few farmers can support themselves solely by farming and there are few full-time agricultural workers. There are some dairy herds and beef, pig, and sheep are raised and recently a breeder has introduced a herd of alpacas. Arable crops include barley, oats, Middleton-on-the-Hill wheat, beans, peas, linseed, maize, potatoes and oil seed rape. Some new cider apple and pear orchards are being planted. There are three large scale poultry farms where turkeys are reared intensively. Approximately 40 households are able to find employment or at least extra income from loosely allied or non-agricultural sources. These enterprises include a sign writer, craft workers, aerobics and rug making teachers, computer project management, car repairs, dog boarding, bed and breakfast and holiday accommodation, plant hire, painting and decorating and an architect's practice as well as the businesses associated with agriculture such as building and machinery contractors, animal health, animal feed and meat and egg suppliers, fencing and hedge laying.

Although an ‘A’ road the 4112 is still only two lanes wide, and most of the other roads in the Parish are single track with passing places, they are inadequate for the very large farm machinery and lorries which have to use them and the surfaces are often damaged and potholed. The nearest junior schools are in Kimbolton and Tenbury Wells, the garage runs a bus service from the villages to Kimbolton School. Leysters and Middleton villages are in the catchment areas for senior schools at Leominster and a coach service from Leominster provides transport there. There is no transport provided for parents who choose to send their children to the junior or senior schools at Tenbury Wells.

As a very rural area we have few of the amenities which more urban communities would consider essential. Our nearest shops are at Leominster, Tenbury Wells or Ludlow. We have a garage and petrol station that is situated near the crossroads at Leysters Pole and are fortunate to still have a sub-Post office contained within the garage and run by the owners. There is only one public telephone box

Parish Hall in Leysters 6 in the Parish; it is next to the Parish Hall.

A dairy in Tenbury Wells delivers milk and newspapers plus other useful sundries, and a travelling shop calls on Wednesdays with a selection of basic goods. The mobile library from Leominster visits once a month. A farm shop sells locally produced organic meat and vegetables, and some other farms sell their produce at their farm gate. We have one public house – the Duke of York - situated on the A4112.

The Duke of York There are no medical or dental practices in the parish. Our new Parish hall, constructed in 1997, is situated near the cross roads at Leysters Pole. Twice a week on a Tuesday and Friday mornings a bus drives through the lanes from Tenbury Wells to Leominster, returning in the afternoon. Once a month only, there is a bus from Burford to Hereford again going via Ludlow Lane, Five Ashes and Kimbolton and allowing three hours in Hereford. Main bus companies run services to Birmingham and Hereford, but these mostly follow the main A49/A456 and often entail at least a two mile trip to the nearest bus stop. It is very difficult to live in the parish without the use of private transport.

The essential services to the villages are supplied by Hereford District Council, nPower (electricity) and Welsh Water. There is no mains gas supply, nor mains drainage. A few homes still take their water from a private borehole and even springs and most use septic tanks for waste water and sewage disposal. Heating is mainly by oil, propane gas or electricity and wood/multi-fuel burning stoves and Agas are popular.

An idiosyncrasy in the allocation of postal codes for our villages (including HR, WR and SY prefixes) means that our mail is delivered from Worcester, Hereford and Ludlow. Delivery and collection of the post from the outlying areas is on Monday to

7 Saturday mornings only, but there is a twice daily and a Sunday collection at the sub- post office. Our household rubbish is collected weekly by a cleansing service contracted by Hereford DC. and twice a year the Parish Council arranges for a skip to be sited at the Duke of York for the disposal of garden waste etc.

Our water comes from the through a Water station at Whitbourne. There is a reservoir at Leysters Pole. Until six years ago a bore hole called the Easton Borehole was used but the water is not considered reliable enough in quantity or quality for today. The ridge along which the A4112 runs is a watershed between the Rivers Severn and Wye (to the Severn via the Teme and to the Wye via the Arrow and Lugg).

The water table is quite high and there are still many small ponds and springs to be found. Some of the ponds and springs referred to in old documents and shown on old maps have now been drained or diverted and wells which once supplied the homes are now often dry. Old field names such as Holly bogs and Wetreans in Middleton show that there has always been an Leysters - village green & bus stop abundance of water here and after heavy rains the roads near Middleton church are often flooded.

The Parish is a member of the Neighbourhood Watch.

So what needs to change?

Adults in the Parish were canvassed for their views under a variety of headings (Housing, Transport etc.) and the results are set out below. In each case the views expressed, and the need for change perceived, is followed by the action proposed to effect the change.

Housing

The Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan provides a framework for development up to the year 2011, including housing policy. Housing development will generally be concentrated in Hereford and the market towns. A limited amount of housing is directed to selected rural settlements (main villages), which have been identified on the basis of a range of criteria including population size, level of existing facilities,

8 and public transport availability. No settlements within this Parish have been identified as main villages, therefore when considering planning applications, the whole area is considered as countryside. Housing development within the countryside will only be considered, when it complies with policy, for necessary agricultural or forestry dwellings, replacement and extended dwellings and, where necessary, dwellings in association with rural enterprise.

Most people in our survey seemed content with this state of affairs although there was a definite feeling that, should more significant housing development ever be permitted, priority should be given to more modest and affordable homes, built in the traditional vernacular style, and particularly those suitable for young and local people. The following specific points were covered in the Parish Plan Questionnaire.

Questionnaire. People were asked which type of housing was most needed in the Parish. Seven options were given but six people proposed options not on the list including affordable housing for local workers and bungalows for pensioners and singles. Of the options that were on the list 8 people selected executive homes, 16 selected large family homes, 27 selected homes for people with disabilities, 33 selected homes for single people, 36 thought that no further homes were needed, whilst 68 selected small family homes. By far the most popular choice, selected by 123 people, was affordable homes for young people.

Question 2 asked what style people would most wish to see for new housing in the Parish. Eighteen people replied that they had no opinion whilst 20 people preferred modern housing. However, 140 people opted for a traditional housing style.

The Questionnaire next asked where new development should be placed if it were permitted. 10.4% of respondents thought that it should be on new, green field, land whilst 43.2% thought that it should be infill (i.e. filling in gaps between existing houses). However, 46.4% thought that further development should be permitted only on land which had already been developed.

Question 4 said that the NHS and npower had funds available to improve the energy efficiency of private homes and asked if people would welcome help and advice about making the heating of their homes more efficient and less costly. In response, 73 people declined the offer but 108 people said they would welcome such help and advice.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE ACTION DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To ask the NHS/nPower Health through Warmth Campaign to survey the Parish Feb 2004 NHS/nPower Parish. Council To advise the Herefordshire Council of the wishes of local people on housing Herefordshire Council Parish development as expressed in the Survey and to ask for it to be adopted as Mar 2004 (Forward Planning Council Supplementary Planning Guidance. Department)

Roads

Views on roads in the Parish are neatly divided between those on the A4112, which bisects the Parish, and those on the remaining minor, country lanes. In the former

9 case, there are very few complaints about the surface of the A4112 with most appearing to believe that it is a good and well maintained road. The problem exercising many minds is rather that, between Tenbury Wells and the A49 junction, Leysters Village embraces one of the few straight sections of the A4112. Thus, notwithstanding the 40 m.p.h. restriction through the Village, it has become a favoured section for both speeding and overtaking. A recent speed survey in the Village by Herefordshire Council has shown that many cars exceed the speed limit and, at time of writing, the Parish Council is negotiating with Herefordshire Council on what further speed restriction measures, if any, need to be undertaken.

Of the remaining, smaller lanes, many views seem to centre on uncut hedges and verges and blocked culverts, which sometimes cause flooding. In winter this tends to lead to road surface erosion, the formation of potholes and icy patches, all of which can be dangerous. There is an increasing problem too of our narrow lanes being used by ever larger agricultural machinery and an also ever greater number of delivery vans, who appear reluctant to use the vehicle passing places, but rather mount the verges and cause the ditches to collapse instead! Despite these problems, the consensus in the survey was that Herefordshire Council were generally doing a good job in keeping the roads of the Parish in reasonable condition. The following specific points were covered in the Parish Plan Questionnaire.

Questionnaire. Question 5 asked if people were satisfied with the condition of the major road (i.e. A4112) through the Parish. Fifty people said that they were not satisfied but 126 people said that they were satisfied.

Next, people were asked to state which safety measures they would support for the A4112 through Leysters. They were asked to number a choice of 5 possible measures in order of priority. 15.4% opted for traffic calming such as speed ramps and chicanes and a precisely similar percentage chose wider pavements. 19.8% proposed more speed checks whilst 24.1% opted for reduced speed limits. The most popular proposed safety measure, at 25.3%, was the marking of central double white lines.

People were next asked to consider the more important aspects of minor road maintenance in the Parish. Again they were asked to number four possible options in order of priority. 15.5% opted for the provision of more passing places, 23.1% selected the cutting of verges and hedges, whilst 23.9% proposed the clearance of culverts. The repair of pot holes proved to be the most important aspect of minor road maintenance, however, with 37.5% choosing this option.

Question 8 asked people to consider whether it would be more beneficial for the Parish to be responsible for its own road maintenance with a grant from Herefordshire Council or whether Herefordshire Council itself should continue to maintain the roads as it does now. Fifty eight people thought that the Parish should be responsible for road maintenance and 103 people thought that Herefordshire Council should continue with its present responsibility.

As a follow on to the previous question, people were asked if they would help administer the scheme if the Parish became responsible for its own road maintenance. Eighteen said they would help but 89 said they would not.

10 TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH Herefordshire To pursue specific road problems identified at the Open Parish Meeting Parish Council Feb 2004 Council Highways including the repair of culverts and the repair and cleaning of road signs. Department Herefordshire To ask the Herefordshire Council Highways Department to paint double Parish Council Feb 2004 Council Highways white lines on the A4112 through Leysters Department To survey the roads in the Parish for potholes and pass the results to Herefordshire Herefordshire Council Highways Department with a request that they be Parish Council Feb 2004 Council Highways repaired. Department

Tourism and Visitors

As the photographs in the Parish Plan confirm, Middleton-on-the-Hill and Leysters Parish is set in attractive countryside of rolling hills which is potentially a very pleasant area for any tourist to visit or stay. Although the Parish has no recognized tourist attractions, the two parish churches are of historical interest and the Poet's Stone has a connection with the poet Wordsworth. The Parish is, however, close to many well known tourist attractions: the two National Trust country houses of Berrington Hall and Croft Castle are on the doorstep and Ludlow, with its castle, over 500 listed houses and an outstanding culinary reputation is another nearby tourist magnet. The area also has many outstanding gardens and churches that perhaps appeal more to the mature tourist and there are fewer attractions for children in evidence. With this background, should the Parish introduce measures to help the tourists who will undoubtedly be passing through or even staying in the several B&Bs located here? Twenty-one respondents to the questionnaire had businesses that benefited from tourism and the three most popular initiatives to help tourists were a Parish Visitor Brochure, a sign showing Parish walks and a programme to improve footpaths and bridleways.

Questionnaire. Question 10 asked if people thought that the Parish was attractive to tourists. Thirty-seven thought that it wasn't but 130 thought that it was.

There followed a list of Parish features and facilities and people were asked to consider which selections on the list were most attractive to tourists. 3.5% of respondents chose bridleways for riding, 3.9% chose lanes for cycling, 10.1% chose the unspoiled pub, 20.5% chose old churches and historic houses, whilst 24.4% chose footpaths for walking. By far the most popular choice, however, at 37.6%, was the fine views.

People were next asked if they had a business that benefited from visitors. Twenty- one said that they did but 159 said that they did not. The businesses that benefited from visitors included B&B, rag rugs, holiday accommodation, language training, horse riding, farm gate sales, meat sales, taxi service, and a sign business.

11 View of Clee Hill from the Parish

Question 13 listed a number of tourist initiatives and asked which one people most supported. 6.9% of those replying selected a Parish web site but 15.2% thought that none of the options on the list was worth considering. However, 18.8% of people thought that a Parish visitor brochure was a good idea whilst 28.4% preferred a sign showing circular Parish walks. The most popular choice, at 30.7%, was a proposal to improve bridleways and footpaths by such measures as the introduction of dog- friendly stiles.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To produce a Parish Visitor Brochure showing information about the Parish Parish Plan Mar 2004 of use to visitors and tourists Committee Herefordshire Council (Public To initiate a programme of making Parish footpaths and bridleways more Rights of Way Parish Footpaths accessible, introducing dog-friendly styles where necessary, plus a sign for May 2004 Officer Manager) visitors showing circular walks within the Parish.

Crime and Safety

It was evident from our data gathering that people believed that crime had increased over recent years even though, by National standards, the Parish is located in a relatively low crime area. However, the odd farm related theft of a few years ago has been superseded by the threat or actuality of house breaking and, as the replies to 12 the questionnaire as reported below indicate, people in the Parish had suffered a remarkable range of crimes over the past five years. The solution, unsurprisingly, was seen to lie with the Police in most people's view. Parishioners felt that they hardly ever saw a policeman in the Parish and that 'a greater Police presence' would be a definite discouragement to criminals. On the more general subject of home safety, our survey indicated that nearly one third of the houses in the Parish did not have a smoke detector. It may therefore be appropriate to try to arrange a joint Police and Fire Brigade presentation in the Parish Hall on combating property crime and fire safety in the home.

Questionnaire. People were asked to state if they had been a victim of any crime within the Parish during the past five years. In considering the replies it is important to remember that the statistics refer to people rather than houses. Hence, 2 people living in one house could both report the same burglary. Nevertheless, 15 people, or 7.7% of those responding to the questionnaire reported that they had been a victim of house burglary in the past five years. Five people, or 2.5% of those responding, said that they had suffered car crime. None had suffered personal crime though one had been threatened by a gun. Under the category of ‘other crime’ people mentioned con men, shed break in, fly tipping, equipment theft, pilfering, garage break in, damage by neighbours, and horse box theft. In all, 18% of people responding had suffered property crime in the Parish in the past five years.

Question 15 asked which measures would improve people's sense of security in the Parish. Two people had suggestions not on the list including Police patrols on minor roads and more breathalyser checks. They also thought that criminals should receive harsher sentences and that there should be a crack down on the carrying of guns. Of the choices on the list, 18 people opted for ‘street lighting’ whilst 48 chose ‘a stronger Neighbourhood Watch.’ By far the most popular measure, however, with 108 votes, was ‘a greater Police presence.’

People were next asked to tick boxes to indicate which safety devices they had in their homes. Fifty one people (or 26.2% of those responding) had burglar alarms. 109 people (or 56.1%) had security lights whilst 128 people (66%) had window locks. The most popular safety device was the smoke detector which 136 (70.1%) people said they possessed in their homes.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH

To invite to speak in the Parish Hall on ways of Parish Clerk West Mercia Police combating property crime (18% of people in the Parish survey had suffered Mar 2004 this type of crime in the Past 5 years)>

To ask West Mercia Police to increase their patrols in the Parish. Parish Clerk Dec 2003 West Mercia Police

To ask the Herefordshire and Fire Brigade to speak in the Parish Clerk Herefordshire and Parish Hall on fire safety (29.9% of people in the Parish survey did not have Mar 2004 Worcestershire a smoke detector). Fire Brigade

13 Education in the Locality

There is no school in the Parish but people are generally happy with the schooling available locally, whether nursery, primary or secondary. Whilst education standards receive a predominantly 'good' rating, however, school transport receives only a predominantly 'adequate' rating with some stating that no transport was available at all. Concern was also expressed at the Open Parish Meeting that Parish children should have the right to go to the nearer Tenbury Wells High School rather than be required to go to Leominster. Some Adult Education classes in Computer Studies have been held recently in the Parish Hall and these have been both well attended and popular. There now appears to be scope to hold further classes in the Parish Hall with local history, computing, and first aid being the most popular subjects.

Questionnaire. People were asked which of a choice of adult education classes they would be interested in attending if the classes could be arranged in the Parish hall. Thirteen people chose courses not on the list of options and these included painting, drawing, yoga, bridge, crafts, dog training, book keeping, music appreciation, tai chi, art, farm office management, chain sawing, hedge laying, dry stone walling, pilates, carpentry, upholstery, sewing and English literature. Of those that were on the list 29 people said that they would be interested in learning a language, 46 people opted for first aid, whilst 49 opted for computing. The most popular choice, however, with 66 votes, was local history.

Question 18 asked people whose children had used school or college transport in the past three years how they would rate the standard. Five people said that no transport had been available, 11 said it was good, whilst 17 said it was adequate.

Next, those whose children had used state education in the past three years were asked to rate its quality. Six people said that the standard had been adequate but 30 thought that it had been good.

Finally in this section, those whose children had used nursery education in the past three years were asked how they rated it. One person said that it had been adequate but 18 people thought that it was good.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To ask Herefordshire Council to improve the standard, availability and Herefordshire Feb 2004 flexibility of school transport serving the Parish. Parish Council Council To examine the scope for holding adult education classes in the Parish Hall Parish Plan Local Education in one of the following subjects (shown in order of preference): Local Mar 2004 Committee Authority History, Computing, First Aid.

Access to Facilities

As will be seen under the following 'Transport' heading, the very great majority of people living in the Parish have access to a motor car and are able easily to visit the local towns with their full range of facilities. There is thus a very small captive audience for whom services located within the Parish, or those that visit frequently,

14 are vital. To succeed, therefore, a resident or visiting facility must offer exceptional convenience, quality and price - or provide a service that is not found elsewhere. That said, the Parish Plan survey identified ignorance in the Parish about exactly what facilities were available here and a clear need for publicity to overcome this.

Questionnaire. People were asked how often they used the Leysters Post Office. Two people said that they used it daily, 30 people that they used it weekly, 23 that they used it monthly, and 60 people that they used it less often. Seventy two people said that they never used it at all.

Next, people were asked which of the other facilities in the Parish they used regularly. Fourteen people said they used the mobile library, 17 people the mobile grocer, and 18 people the Duke of York pub. Twenty-seven people used Ash Farm Shop (closed at time of writing though due to re-open), 59 used Leysters Garage, and 85 people had a milk delivery.

The Questionnaire asked people if they would support a shop in the Parish selling fresh, basic food at reasonable prices. Forty nine people said they would not but 125 people said that they would.

Following on from this, respondents were asked which items they would buy regularly from a shop in the Parish if the quality and price were reasonable. Forty three people said they would buy meat, 76 said they would buy groceries, 87 would buy bread, and 102 would buy fruit and vegetables.

People were next asked if they had difficulty in getting to any on a list of five local facilities. Six people said they had difficulty getting to the library, nine people had difficulty with general shopping, whilst 10 had difficulty getting to the bank. Twelve respondents had difficulty getting to the dentist and a similar number to the doctor's surgery.

Question 26 asked which towns people generally visited for shopping and other services. Four towns were listed and 4.3% of respondents said that they visited towns not on the list. 10% of people replying chose Hereford, 11.1% chose Ludlow, whilst 30.5% went to Tenbury Wells. The most popular town for shopping and other services was Leominster at 44.1%.

The Questionnaire said that some villages had community computers for access to the Internet and for sending e-mails. People were asked if they would use these facilities if they were available in this Parish. Fourteen people said that they would but 161 people said that they would not.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH Parish Clerk to To produce and distribute an information sheet or booklet outlining the coordinate inputs features of local facilities such as the Post Office and Farm Shop, together Apr 2004 from facility with the advantages of using them. owners

15 Transport

As indicated already, people who live in this Parish appear generally to both own and use cars with only 14 of those surveyed indicating that they did not have daytime access to a vehicle. Since our survey was completed, a new 'Little Lynx' bus service has started providing a twice-weekly connection between Leysters Pole and Leominster. However, with only a few houses in the Parish within reasonable walking distance of the Leysters bus stop and with most people happy to use their cars, it is doubtful if this service will get many takers from the Parish. It is nevertheless important to consider how best to help the few people for whom transport remains a problem. Some will have been helped by the new, extended bus service whilst others should have their needs met by Community Wheels or Toc H Thumb-a-Lift. For the remainder, however, it may be appropriate to conduct a further survey with the aim of linking those with transport difficulties with neighbours prepared to take them to the local towns.

Questionnaire. Question 28 asked if people had a current driving licence. Twenty respondents said that they did not but 168 said that they did.

Next, people were asked if they were a driver who had daytime access to a vehicle. Fourteen people said that they did not but 165 said that they did.

Those that did have regular access to a vehicle were asked what they used this vehicle for. Twenty two people said that they used their vehicle for other reasons not on the list of the five possible options. For those selecting the options, 28 used their vehicle for taking children to school, 65 for business journeys, 74 for transport to work, 129 for leisure, and 130 for shopping.

Question 31 listed four other transport options and asked if people used them for transport within the Parish. Only one person used Toc H Thumb-a-Lift and three people used Community Wheels. Four people used the public transport bus that went through the Parish whilst ten people used taxis. 132 people used none of these services.

People were asked if they considered lack of transport to be a problem for them. Twenty-one respondents said that they did but 156 said that they did not.

Question 33 gave a list of transport solutions for those with transport problems and asked which would best resolve these problems. Five people opted for greater availability of Toc H Thumb-a-Lift and Community Wheels whereas five thought that a Parish minibus, if available, would solve their transport problems. Five others would welcome more offers of lifts from neighbours but 18 people would welcome a more convenient timetable for the public transport bus that went through the Parish.

Following on from the previous question it was next noted that grants were available periodically for parishes to buy a minibus. People were asked if they would join a roster to drive such a minibus if one was bought for this Parish. Thirty people said that they would join a roster and 137 said that they would not.

16 TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To draw up a list of those with transport difficulties to the local towns with Parish Plan Mar 2004 the aim of linking those on the list with neighbours prepared to take them. Committee

Community Buildings and Environment

Most social events in the Parish are organized by the Parish Hall Committee and one or other of the Parochial Church Councils (PCCs). Whatever the event, it tends to be supported by the same people from the Parish and, similarly, the organizers and helpers from one event to the next tend to come from the same, select band. Some recent events have thus had a disappointing turnout. If the survey results below are to be believed, however, there are many others in the Parish who would attend, given the right event, and would help with the organization. It may therefore be appropriate for the Parish Hall Committee to draw up a list of potential helpers at social events and for this Committee and the PCCs to consider new ways of publicizing events (e.g. by web site or email). Similarly, the survey results below indicate a support for the churches in the Parish considerably greater than the evidence of numbers attending services. It is perhaps appropriate for the PCCs to consider ways of translating this latent support into actual support

Questionnaire. A list of past events that had taken place in the Parish hall was given and people were asked to indicate which events they would support in the future. Sixteen people made suggestions for other events that had not been held in the past and proposals included structural/political development forum, reels on wheels, flicks in the sticks, concerts and cinema, local interest groups, public talks, dances, kids club, live music, classical music, fun fair, events to mix young and old, and Young Farmers Dance. Of the events that had been held before, eleven people would support Bingo in the future, 16 would support Coffee and Chat, and 48 would support a quiz night with dinner. Fifty-one would support an Art Show, 67 a play with cheese and wine, 77 an antiques evening with cheese and wine and 94 a Spring Fair type event with teas, plant stall, and bring and buy.

Following on from this people were asked to indicate if they would help organise such an event in the Parish Hall and 13 people said that they would be prepared to be a member of the Parish Hall Committee. Sixty-three people said they would not be prepared to help at all but 75 said they would act as general helpers.

Question 37 asked in what way the two churches in the Parish were important to people. Thirteen people said the churches were not important at all. However, 42 people said they were important for baptisms, 55 for Sunday worship, 62 as a place where they would like to be buried, 72 for weddings and funerals, and 76 as a focal point for the community. Finally, however, 115 people said that the churches were important to them as historic buildings.

17 St. Mary the Virgin, Middleton

People were asked in which ways the appearance of the villages in the Parish could be enhanced. Nine people thought that there should be fewer signs whilst 12 people made their own suggestions for improvements. These included the cutting of hedges and verges on the A4112, improving the drainage on this road, cleaning signs, extending pavements on the A4112, cleaning gutters, providing a bench for walkers, collecting litter (by rota if necessary), providing dog litter bins, replacing metal signs with wooden ones and keeping the village green tidy. Of the options on the questionnaire list, 14 people thought that there should be more signs, 27 that there should be street cleaning, 35 that there should be more litter bins, 50 that there should be more trees, and 79 that there should be more flower boxes and plants.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To promote more community events in the Parish Hall of the types Parish Hall Mar 2004 identified as being most popular in the Parish Plan Survey Committee To promote greater use of the Parish Churches in view of the numbers in the Parish Plan Survey who stated that the churches were important to PCC Feb 2004 them both for worship and as historical buildings To initiate proposals to enhance the appearance of the Parish as identified in the Parish Plan Survey. The 3 most popular selections were, in order of Parish Council Mar 2004 preference, more flower boxes and plants, more trees, and more litter bins.

Other Environmental Issues

Herefordshire Council should be encouraged by our survey results on 'other environmental issues.' An overwhelming majority of parishioners responding would be prepared to sort their rubbish for recycling as soon as Herefordshire Council is able to put the infrastructure in place. In the meantime, it may be appropriate for the Parish Council to examine the scope for extending the recycling facilities currently available in the Parish. The view on wind farms is less clear cut - the question being 18 put in the survey because wind farms were being proposed for other areas of Herefordshire at the time the Parish Plan Questionnaire was being undertaken. The result was that more people were against the siting of a wind farm in the Parish than were for it, though many felt that they needed more information before answering. Finally, our survey shows a large majority in favour of establishing a cycle path in the Parish. Herefordshire Council's Local Transport Plan is currently committed to doubling bicycle use in the County by 2012 and there may be scope, for example, to develop a cycle path on the A4112, or a series of circular cycle routes linked to the proposed plan of circular walks mentioned above under the heading of 'Tourism and Visitors.'

Questionnaire. People were asked if they would sort rubbish for recycling if it was collected from their house. Fifteen people said that they would not but 166 people said that they would.

They were next asked if they used the glass recycling bins at the Duke of York pub. Forty one people said that they did but 139 people said that they did not.

Next people were asked for their views on wind farms. It was noted that a number of these had been established, or proposed, in the region and, if one was to be proposed for this Parish, people were asked if they would support it or be against it. Fifty-Eight respondents said that they didn't know, 59 would support it but 67 would be against it.

It was noted that Herefordshire Council had established several cycle paths in the County and people were asked if they would support a designated cycle path in this Parish. Thirty-eight people said that they would not support such a path but 131 said that they would.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH Parish Herefordshire To produce and distribute an information sheet on local recycling facilities Clerk/Parish Feb 2004 Council (Recycling and to examine whether the Parish's own facilities should be extended. Council Officer) Herefordshire To liase with Herefordshire Council to see if the Parish can be included on Council Parish Council Feb 2004 the County network of cycle routes (Integrated Transport Dept.)

Business and Employment

It is of note that 58% of people in employment travel outside the Parish to work and, in the absence of suitable public transport, they will need to travel by car. However, the remaining 42% of employed people work inside the Parish and it is likely that most of these will work from home. As an increasing number of those working from home now use the Internet as a key component of their jobs (for example, everyone on the Parish Plan Committee has an Internet connection) it must be desirable to campaign for an Internet Broadband connection to be offered through the Leysters Telephone Exchange as soon as possible. Although British Telecom advertise that

19 over 70% of the is now wired for Broadband, only 10 people connected to the Leysters exchange have currently registered an interest. Under current rules, there is thus little prospect of a Broadband connection being offered here for the next few years. To ensure that country dwellers are not disadvantaged, those in the Parish reading this report may wish to lobby for a change (see Action Plan below).

Questionnaire. Question 43 asked people about their employment status. One person was unemployed and another was in a government training scheme. Four respondents were in full-time education, five were permanently sick or disabled, and 14 described themselves as unwaged housewives or husbands. Twenty-four respondents were self-employed and employing other people, 43 were self-employed and not employing anyone, 56 were employees, and 60 were retired.

Those people in work were asked if they worked mainly in the Parish. Fifty-three said that they did and 73 said that they did not.

People were asked to state if they would like to see more work opportunities in the Parish and, if so, in which areas they would like to see such opportunities created. 2.4% said they would like to see opportunities created in construction, 2.8% in retail, 5.2% in cleaning, 5.7% in secretarial/office work and 9% in light manufacturing. 12.8% wanted to see opportunities created in tourism/catering and 28% in agriculture. However, 34.1% thought that no opportunities at all were required - the Parish was fine as it was!

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH All on the Leysters To register an interest at www.bt.com/btbroadband/register in getting a Exchange with an N/A Broadband connection offered through the Leysters Telephone Exchange Internet connection

Elderly

As already stated, the great majority of people in the Parish have their own cars which they are happy to use daily and they do not have to rely on the infrequent public transport. A number of those without their own cars, however, are both elderly and infirm. It is Herefordshire Council's policy to give concessionary travel to senior citizens in the form of discounted Railcards and half-price bus fares (or free bus travel for those who are registered blind or partially sighted). Unfortunately, this is of limited benefit when the Parish has no rail connection and a bus service that is of no practical use to most of the elderly. Senior citizens used to be able to receive travel tokens for use with taxis as well as buses and 29 of them would like to see this system re-introduced.

Questionnaire. Question 46 was directed at senior citizens only and concerned activities that appeared to be popular with their age group. They were asked to state those which they attended and indicate any others that were currently not available but which they would like to see in the Parish. Only one person attended Bingo and 20 four people suggested other activities including bowls, skittles, knitting, sewing, keep fit, flicks in the sticks, and talks with slides. Of the items listed five people attended the Age Concern Mobile Day Centre, eight the Evergreen Club, and 13 attended Coffee and Chat.

Senior citizens were next asked which services could make life easier for them, especially for those who were less mobile. Two people suggested services not on the list including mobile fish and chips and Meals on Wheels. Fourteen people suggested a wider selection in the village shops and 15 that there should be more mobile shops. Eighteen people said that they would support home deliveries of groceries and a similar number would support a mobile hairdresser. Twenty-Nine people said that they would like travel tokens for use on a bus or taxi whilst 32 people would welcome mobile health services including such facilities as a chiropodist.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To examine with Herefordshire Council the scope for re-introducing travel Herefordshire Parish Council Feb 2004 tokens for senior citizens. Council To examine with Herefordshire Council the scope for providing mobile Herefordshire Parish Council Feb 2004 health services (such as chiropody) for senior citizens. Primary Care Trust

Youth

The village of Kingsland has provided a precedent by purchasing and developing a village green in the centre of the Village and now, in our survey, 103 people have said that they would support the acquisition of a communal sports ground/play area in this Parish. This would be a major undertaking and not one to enter lightly: in the (probably unlikely) event that land became available, great care would be needed to ensure that the will of the Parish to proceed was genuine and that the facility could be properly funded and maintained once acquired.

Questionnaire. The final questions were aimed mainly at those with children but anyone who had a point of view was invited to answer. Firstly, it was noted that Leysters used to have a football pitch and people were asked whether they would support the acquisition of a communal sports ground/play area if the opportunity arose. Seven people said they would be against this but 103 would support the acquisition.

Following on from this people were asked if they would help maintain a Parish sports ground/play area. Thirty nine people said that they would help but 56 people said that they would not.

Question 50 asked what other suggestions people had for children's leisure activities within the Parish and, just as important, who might organize them. Suggestions were wide ranging and included a youth club, a holiday club, theatre, Arts and Crafts club for 8 -- 12s, art courses, Scouts, Cubs, Guides, Brownies, Sunday School, play area, young local bands and groups, children's after school club, coffee shop, monthly children's social event, toddler group, archery, treasure hunts, football, music, gym, ballet, judo, youth club outings, drama, and Saturday morning youth club for 6 -- 12s.

21 People were far less forthcoming as to who might organise all these activities with suggestions such as ‘local people’ being put forward. However, some suggested a rota of parents and others with children said that they would volunteer to help.

TARGET RESPONSIBLE DATE FOR AUTHORITY ITEM FOR ACTION ACTION BY PARISH OUTSIDE ACTION PARISH To offer financial and other support to any parent wishing to organize and Parish Council Feb 2004 run youth activities in the Parish. Variety of To consider a grant application for funds for a Parish sports ground/play Parish Council Feb 2004 agencies offer area should land for such a scheme become available. grants

Conclusion

Unlike some Parish Plans, the one presented here for Middleton-on-the-Hill and Leysters does not have a grand design such as the re-modelling of the village centre. It is more modest in its scope and tone. It has aimed to recognize that many people here are happy with the Parish the way it is now and so, in several important areas, our Parish Plan can be a force for maintaining the status quo. Equally, we hope that most will agree that some changes are necessary in the spirit of progress and the action plans under the various headings above seek to ensure that these changes are carried through. The Parish Plan Committee has worked closely with The Countryside Agency and Herefordshire Council in the production of this Plan and copies of the printed plan will be lodged with these bodies as well as with local libraries and the Public Record Office. A copy will also be sent to the local MP. Some of the task of actioning the Parish Plan falls to the Parish Council and the Parish Clerk but some too falls to the Parish Plan Committee itself, individual members of which have kindly agreed to take forward certain of these tasks.

Annex A - Parish Plan Committee

The following people, who all live in the Parish, contributed towards the preparation and production of this report.

Barbara Davies Jane Pace Marion Davies David Reeve Roy Gardner Tricia Reeve Guy Griffiths (Co-ordinator) Anna Smith Clare Halls Owen Smith Chris McCamley Tim Surtees Rose Merrick Eileen Woakes

Annex B - Parish Plan Questionnaire

Housing 22 1. Which of the following types of housing is most needed? (Tick as many as you like) a. Affordable homes for young people b. Large family homes c. Small family homes d. Executive homes e. Homes for people with disabilities f. Homes for single people g. No further homes are needed h. Other (state what)…………………………….

2. What style would you most wish to see for new housing in the Parish? a. Traditional b. Modern c. No opinion

3. If further housing development was permitted in the Parish, should it be: a. Only on land which has already been developed b. On new, green field, land c. Infill (i.e. filling in gaps between existing houses)

4. The NHS and npower have funds available to improve the energy efficiency of private homes. Would you welcome help and advice about making the heating of your house more efficient and less costly? Yes No

Roads

5. Are you satisfied with the condition of the major road (i.e. A4112) through the Parish? Yes No

6. Which of the following safety measures would you support on the A4112 through Leysters? Number those you support in order of priority. a. Traffic calming, e.g. speed ramps/chicanes b. More speed checks c. Reduced speed limit d. Wider pavements e. Central double white lines

7. What do you consider to be the more important aspects of minor road maintenance in the Parish? Number those you support in order of priority. a. Repair of potholes b. Provision of more passing places c. Cutting of verges and hedges d. Clearance of culverts 8. Do you believe it would be beneficial for the Parish to be responsible for its own road maintenance, with a grant from Herefordshire Council (i.e. The Lengths man Scheme) Yes No

23 9. If yes, would you be prepared to help in administering the scheme? Yes No

Tourism/Visitors

10. Do you think the Parish is attractive to tourists? Yes No

11. Which one of the following Parish features and facilities do you consider most attractive to tourists? a. Footpaths for walking b. Bridleways for riding c. Lanes for cycling d. Old churches and historic houses e. Unspoiled pub f. Fine views

12. Do you have a business that benefits from visitors? Yes No if yes, what is it? ………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. Which one of the following tourist initiatives would you most support? a. Parish visitor brochure b. Parish website c. Sign showing circular Parish walks d. Improvements to footpaths (e.g. dog-friendly stiles) and bridleways e. None of these

Crime & Safety

14. Tick box if you been a victim of any of the following crimes within this Parish during the past 5 years? a. House burglary b. Car crime c. Personal crime d. Other (state what)

15. Which one of the following would most improve your sense of security in the Parish? a. Street lighting b. Stronger Neighbourhood Watch c. Greater Police presence d. Other (state what) ………………………………………..

16. Tick boxes to indicate which of the following safety devices you have in your home a. Smoke detectors b. Burglar alarm c. Security lights

24 d. Window locks

Education in the locality

17. Which of the following Adult Education classes would you be interested in attending in the Parish Hall? a. First Aid b. Computing c. Local History d. Language e. Other (state which) ……………………..

18. If your children have used school or college transport in the past 3 years, how would you rate it on the following scale? a. Good b. Adequate c. Poor d. None available

19. If your children have used State education in the past 3 years, how would you rate it on the following scale? a. Good b. Adequate c. Poor

20. If your children have used nursery education in the past 3 years, how would you rate it on the following scale? a. Good b. Adequate c. Poor

Access to Facilities

21. How often do you use the Leysters Post Office? a. Daily b. Weekly c. Monthly d. Less often e. Never

22. Which of the following facilities do you use regularly? a. Leysters Garage b. Duke of York Pub c. Mobile grocer d. Mobile library e. Milk delivery f. Ash Farm shop 23. Would you support a shop in the Parish selling fresh, basic food at reasonable prices? Yes No

25 24. Which of the following items would you probably buy regularly from a shop in the Parish if the quality and price was reasonable? a. Fruit and vegetables b. Bread c. Meat d. Other groceries

25. If you have difficulty in getting to any of the following facilities, tick the appropriate box. a. Bank b. Doctor’s Surgery c. Dentist d. Library e. General shopping

26. Which town do you generally visit for shopping and other services? a. Leominster b. Tenbury Wells c. Ludlow d. Hereford e. Other

27. Some villages have community computers for access to the Internet and sending emails. Would you use these facilities if they were available in the Parish? Yes No

Transport

28. Do you have a current driving licence? Yes No

29. Are you a driver who has daytime access to a vehicle? Yes No

30. If yes, what do you use your vehicle for? a. Business journeys b. Transport to work c. Leisure d. Shopping e. Taking children to school f. Other

31. Which of the following do you use from time to time for transport within the Parish? a. Community Wheels b. Toc H Thumb-a-Lift c. The Public Transport bus that goes through the Parish d. Taxis e. None of the above

32. Do you consider lack of transport to be a problem for you? Yes No

26 33. If yes, which one of the following would best resolve the problem? a. More offers of lifts from neighbours b. More convenient timetable for Public Transport bus that goes through Parish c. Greater availability of Community Wheels/Toc H Thumb-A-Lift d. Parish Minibus (see Q.34)

34. Periodically, grants are available for Parishes to buy a Minibus. If this Parish bought a Minibus, would you be prepared to join a roster to help drive it? Yes No

Community Buildings & Environment

35. The following events for those living in the Parish have, in the past, been held in the Parish Hall. Tick those which you would support in the future. a. Quiz night with dinner b. Antiques Evening with cheese and wine c. Play (theatre) with cheese and wine d. Hot lunch to celebrate special event (e.g. Jubilee Lunch) e. Art show f. Bingo g. Spring Fair type event (e.g. teas, plant stall, bring & buy etc.) h. Coffee and Chat i. Other (suggest what………………………………………)

36. Would you be prepared to help organise such an event, either as a general helper, or as a member of the Parish Hall Committee? a. As a general helper b. As a member of the Parish Hall Committee c. Not prepared to help

37. In what way are the two churches in the Parish important to you? a. For Sunday worship b. For baptisms c. Weddings and funerals d. As a focal point for the community e. As historic buildings f. As a place where I would like to be buried g. Not important at all

38. Tick any of the following ways in which the appearance of the villages in the Parish could be enhanced. a. More litter bins b. More flower boxes and plants c. More trees d. More signs e. Fewer signs f. Street cleaning g. Other (suggest what)…………………………………

Other Environmental Issues

27 39. Would you sort rubbish for recycling if it was collected from your house? Yes No

40. Do you use the recycling bins at the Duke of York? Yes No

41. A number of wind farms have been established, or proposed, in the region. If one was proposed in this Parish, would you support it or be against it? Support it Against it Don’t know

42. Herefordshire Council has established several cycle paths in the County. Would you support designated cycle paths in this Parish? Yes No

Business and Employment

43. Are you at present? a. An employee b. Unemployed c. Self-employed – employing other people d. Self-employed – not employing anyone e. In a government training scheme f. In full-time education g. An unwaged housewife/husband h. Retired i. Permanently sick/disabled

44. If you work, do you work mainly in the Parish? Yes No

45. Would you like to see more work opportunities in the Parish and, if so, in which one of the following would you like to see opportunities created? a. Agriculture b. Light manufacturing c. Construction d. Secretarial/office work e. Retail f. Cleaning g. Tourism/catering h. None – the Parish is fine as it is!

The Elderly

If you are a senior citizen, please answer questions 46 to 47

46. The following activities appear to be popular with senior citizens. Tick those which you attend and indicate any others that are currently not available but which you would like to see in the Parish. a. Evergreen Club b. Age Concern Mobile Day Centre c. Coffee and Chat d. Bingo

28 e. Other activities (suggest what)……………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………….

47. The following services could make life easier for, perhaps less mobile, senior citizens. Tick those which you would support and suggest any additional services that come to mind. a. More mobile shops b. Home deliveries of groceries c. Wider selection in our village shops d. Mobile health services (e.g. chiropodist) e. Mobile hairdresser f. Travel tokens for use on bus or taxi g. Other services (suggest what)……………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………. Youth

Questions 48, 49 and 50 are mainly for those with children, but anyone may answer

48. Leysters used to have a football pitch. If an opportunity arose to obtain a communal sports ground/play area within the Parish, would you be for or against this? For Against

49. Would you help maintain a Parish sports ground/play area? Yes No

50. What other suggestions do you have for Children’s leisure activities (such as a youth club) within the Parish, including details of who might organise them?

29 Annex C - Suggestions made at the Open Parish Meeting held on 19 May 2003

� We should cross refer our views and plans with other local parishes. � Education - our children should have the right to go to Tenbury High School, which is closer to Leysters, as opposed to Leominster. � There should be a speed camera sign on the A4112 through Leysters to make the entrance to/exit from houses safer. � The Parish should have waste recycling bins, including those for glass, plastic and tins, at one central point. � So that visitors and tourists can enjoy the fine views and footpaths in the Parish, there should be a designated parking area with a signboard showing footpath routes. � Greater use should be made of the school buses. � Youth - there is active local membership of the Tenbury Wells Scouts who meet in the Town. Perhaps scope for others from the Parish to join or help to organize? � Why have the Cat's Eyes been removed from the A4112 through Leysters? � Only 10 people linked to the Leysters Telephone Exchange have registered for Broadband Internet. All Internet subscribers in Leysters should be encouraged to register an interest so that this facility, which now covers over 70% of the West Midlands, will become available more quickly. � Transport - if youth club transport was needed parents would happily share. � Transport - two people gave their contact details to act as volunteer drivers. � The culvert south-east of Miles Hope farm (Grid Ref 579642) needs building up where people get out to open the gate: there is no verge at all and someone will soon fall down a large hole! � The Leysters Village Green needs kerbs to protect the grass ( kerbs have subsequently been put in place). � The signpost at the crossroads between Ford Farm and Dugdale (Grid Ref 548652) needs repair.

30 Table of Contents

What is a Parish Plan?...... 2 Objectives of the Parish Plan Report...... 3 The Parish as it is now...... 4 So what needs to change?...... 8 Housing ...... 8 Roads...... 9 Tourism and Visitors...... 11 Crime and Safety...... 12 Education in the Locality ...... 14 Access to Facilities...... 14 Transport ...... 16 Community Buildings and Environment...... 17 Other Environmental Issues ...... 18 Business and Employment ...... 19 Elderly ...... 20 Youth...... 21 Conclusion...... 22 Annex A - Parish Plan Committee ...... 22 Annex B - Parish Plan Questionnaire...... 22 Annex C - Suggestions made at the Open Parish Meeting held on 19 May 2003 ...... 30

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