Walton Parish Plan

1 Walton Parish Plan

During 2009 Walton Parish Council set up a small subcommittee to organise a Parish Plan as a way of giving a voice to residents about their village, present and future.

A small grant was obtained from the Mendip Regeneration Fund and in the autumn of 2009 a questionnaire was hand delivered to every household in the parish. The inclusion of a freepost envelope for return along with no requirement for a name or address to be provided resulted in a very respectable return rate of 42%. This return rate makes it possible to claim that the results accurately represent the views and opinions of the residents of Walton.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete and return a questionnaire - this plan would not exist without you.

After collation and analysis, summarised sections of the questionnaire were sent out to relevant departments at Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council and the Avon & Somerset Police Authority to inform them of the opinions of Walton residents. Copies of this completed plan are also being widely distributed.

The Parish Council is looking at the issues raised and although some may be beyond their control, the good return rate of the questionnaire validates the results. Short, medium and long term goals and recommendations have been drawn up guided by the findings of the plan.

2 Walton Parish Council

Autumn 2010.

Contents

A brief history of Walton page 3

Environment page 4

Transport page 6

Local Housing page 7

Police, Crime & Disorder page 8

Health page 9

Education page 9

Shopping page 10

Lifestyle & Leisure page 10

General comments page 12

Future Directions page 13

3 4 A Brief History of Walton

The name Walton is thought to mean 'settlement in a wood or wold'. The village like many others surrounding Glastonbury, has rather vague parts to its history. The reason for this is thought to be the dissolution of Glastonbury Abbey in 1539 when historical records of the abbey and local village histories were lost or destroyed. The abbey in its day was the centre point of local economy for miles around. Walton, like other villages, was thought to be part of a huge estate owned by Glastonbury Abbey and played its part in supplying food and provisions to the abbey. Walton's unique history saw most of the village being auctioned off on 14th July 1939 when the owner of nearly all the properties and surrounding land, Lord Bath, put the village up for sale. Walton, which was then part of the Longleat Estate, produced an annual income prior to the auction of £3,135 from tenant rents etc. Thirty-four farms and small holdings, forty-one houses and cottages, an inn and a residence called the Old Parsonage, as well as many plots of land, went under the hammer on that day. Walton, when mentioned in the Doomsday Book, recorded less than fifty residents within its area. The village, like so many other locations, has seen itself evolve with spurts of house building which each have a trademark or identity which dates them to a particular time period. The main types appear to be centuries old stone dwellings, houses built at the beginning of the last century around the time when the original village hall was built, moving along to pre-war 1920 -1930 houses and the last substantial development of modern houses built in the 1990's. Walton is similar to many locations where a village or town has grown along the length of the road rather than forming into a circular location.

Today Walton is a village with an Historic Church, a Primary School, a village hall, playing field, multi use games area, children’s play area, two pubs with skittle alleys, a barbers, a garage, several farms and little industry. Amongst other events it has an annual village fun day, a village in bloom competition and many social and sports groups including a walking group that regularly explores the local footpaths linking the village into the Somerset Levels and the Polden hills which it nestles between. It is a rural village bisected by the busy A39.

5 Environment

Walton Parish encompasses areas of the Polden Hills and the Somerset Levels, the village itself being located on the A39 between the villages of Street and Ashcott. This is a rural location with many local footpaths and the majority of residents are satisfied with their local natural environment

However there are particular areas of concern that impact on the quality of life within the village, for example noise, litter and traffic.

When asked about noise the main area of concern was related to roads, with Traffic and Drain covers being the main problems:

Although the majority of people do not consider there to be a litter problem around the village concerns were raised about litter from specific sources; the most mentioned being from fast food take away outlets, with fly tipping and dog mess also being noted. Specific locations named for attracting litter were Main Street, the village hall area and car park, Asney Road and Veal & Long Lanes.

Due to the nature of Walton, being bisected by the A39, traffic is an issue of great importance. 75% of residents are concerned about their safety as pedestrians, their main concerns are:

Main Street [A39] attracted the largest number of specific comments about pedestrian safety with narrow pavements, and the speed of the traffic using it [especially large lorries] being the most frequently mentioned. The lack of pavements and narrowness of pavements was the main issue in roads off of the A39 followed by school run traffic in the Meadow Lane area.

6 Note:

All charts or graphs relate to either the actual number of respondents or percentages

7 Transport

Public transport was criticised most for not being frequent enough or at times convenient for travel to or from work, but residents do use it on a regular basis,

Taunton, Street, Wells and Bridgwater are the most frequent destinations.

Most people do not consider there to be a parking problem in the village in general, however two areas were noted as problem areas, in front of the Church and in the area of the School.

61% of residents stated that they had concerns about their safety as vehicle drivers in the village. The problem of joining or exiting the A39, from driveways or at junctions, was the major issue raised with pulling out of South Street being most frequently mentioned.

The majority of people who responded to the questionnaire do not live on Main Street,

However, 84% of households would be in favour of a bypass for the village, and the majority would be prepared to consider further housing development in or around the village to assist with funding a bypass, although the number of new houses that would be acceptable varied widely.

8 Local Housing

In the main residents are satisfied with the availability and affordability of housing within the village :

The majority believe that it meets their needs and the needs of their families, and although the shortage of cheaper properties for first time buyers was raised, do not consider that more homes need to be built in Walton:

If new homes were to be built there was a wide range of opinions as to exactly where they should be located.

9 Police, Crime & Disorder

The majority of people feel safe living in Walton

But there were some areas of concern

A few people feel unsafe in some areas of the village, when asked where and why, the majority of the responses related to Main Street’s narrow pavements and dark or unlit footpaths, although intimidation by dogs and Anti social behaviour both received mentions.

When asked for any opinions with regard to the frequency of local policing the overwhelming response was that more was needed, however positive feedback was given for the local Police Community Support Officer.

Health

The majority of residents are happy with the ease of access to health and social services although it was felt that health services would be welcomed in the village rather than having to travel to Street, with a visiting surgery one or two days a week being the most popular proposal.

Education

Walton has a small Church of England Primary school located since 1993 in Meadow Lane and providing education for children between the ages of four and eleven which is popular 10 and has been oversubscribed. There is also a preschool play group which runs in the village hall.

For other educational services people have to travel out of Walton, the majority by car, but many on foot or by cycle:

Shopping

Until recently the village had a small shop and post office but with these now gone all weekly shopping has to be done out of the village

Where people shop now:

Lifestyle & Leisure

Opinions about the quality of life within the village were split

The main reasons given for a drop in quality of life were traffic, the loss of the village post office and shop and an increase in noise levels. The positive things mentioned were more community activities, the Multi Use Games area and the village hall.

11 When asked how they find out about local events the most popular response was the Parish Magazine, however word of mouth was also a very popular response

Other local magazines and the A39 sandwich board also received a mention.

Many activities take place within Walton that are arranged by local groups and clubs, for example cricket, dance, bowls, walking, tennis, netball and croquet. The WI also organise many events open to local residents, as does the church. However many people wanted to see more events arranged specifically for the young and elderly as well as a wider range of activities open for all. Those mentioned ranged from a children’s music club, keep fit for the elderly and a cycling group through to archery, a gardening club and a sewing club.

For the young people of the village the Meadow Lane play area and the Multi Use Games Area are the most popular:

General Comments

These are a selection from the most frequent themes of the general comments received about the village and the questionnaire:

12 Future Directions

When asked how they would prefer the Village of Walton to be in 2020 the top ten responses were

And there were many individual comments about traffic calming measures and speed control, keeping the village pubs thriving and improved cycle and footpaths.

Following on from the Parish Questionnaire the Parish Council adopted the following goals / policies at the August 2010 parish council meeting:

1. ON GOING A] Continued prompt reporting of noisy/damaged drain covers to Mendip Highways for repair

B] Continued prompt reporting of fly tipping to Connaught Environmental and/or Mendip District Council for removal and the PCSO for follow up

C] Ongoing liaison with Somerset County Council Highways for the continued placement of Speed Indicator Devices [SID’s] within the village

D] Ongoing support of traffic reduction and calming measures throughout the village

E] Consideration of all housing applications on an individual basis reflecting the needs of the local community and the developers 13 F] Continued support of the work of the Police Community Support Officer

2. SHORT TERM A] 2 Extra litter bins [sponsored by MacDonald’s ] to be installed

B] Ongoing lobbying for the maintenance of the existing protected By pass route status

C] Liaison with the police in order to increase the existing frequency of policing around the village.

D] Enquire as to the possibility of a regular visiting doctor’s surgery to the village

E] Promote new village website [www.parish-council.com/Walton] as a source of up to date information

F] Continue support of the Walton Parish Council ‘Parish News’ village newsletter

3. MEDIUM TERM A] Press for immediate resurfacing of the A39 through the village with noise reducing tarmac

B] Ongoing monitoring of effectiveness of litter bins installed with the possibility of further bins being installed as and where needed.

C] Continued investigation into alternative pathways away from the A39 to alleviate the issue of narrow [or no] pavements

D] Investigation of traffic control measures at the junction of South Street and the A39

4. LONG TERM A] Ongoing liaison with regard to littering and its impact on the environment

14 B] Continued support of the concept of a bypass for the village in full consultation with all residents over any specific projects that arise

15 Further copies of this Parish Plan, or a larger print version, can be obtained from:

Walton Parish Clerk 21 Bere Lane Glastonbury Somerset BA6 8BD

Email: [email protected]

Or it can be downloaded from the parish website at:

www.parish-council.com/walton

16 With thanks to all the residents of Walton who responded to the questionnaire & also to the Mendip Regeneration Fund who assisted financially

~ Walton Parish Council ~