Wolvey Parish Council Contents

12-04-09 WOLVEY the plan

THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF WOLVEY PARISH

Page

Foreword by Chair of the Steering Group 3

Executive Summary 4

Introduction 5

Findings

Residents Questionnaire

Households 7 Household amenities and services 7 Sustainability 10 Local information 11 Personal 12 Employment 13 Public transport 15 Traffic 17 Housing and development 18 Sports and social amenities 22 Environment 24 Crime and disorder 26 Church buildings 28 The future for Wolvey 28

Business Questionnaire

Purpose and definition 31 Findings 31

Conclusions 33

Action Plan 34-46

Acknowledgements 47

2 Foreword by the Chair of the Wolvey Plan Steering Group

It gives me great pleasure to commend this plan as a document that represents the views of the people of Wolvey Parish. The plan has taken two and a half years to complete and this has been made possible by the willing support and hard work of the Steering Group and a great many local volunteers.

We asked parishioners to let us know their thoughts on a number of issues by completing a lengthy questionnaire and we were gratified that 373 households obliged. This magnificent 85% return rate not only exceeded our expectations but also lends credibility and meaning to the plan.

The plan has been adopted by Wolvey Parish Council and will be the basis for local decision making for the next few years. It is, however, a fluid document and will be revised and updated as the need arises. We have already acted on a number of ideas and initiatives that came to the fore during the planning process.

In a rapidly changing world it is comforting to know that people can still work together to shape the future of their local community. Thank you for your interest and please get involved in any way you can to ensure that Wolvey remains a thriving and vibrant place in which to live.

Bozena Kuncewicz Chair of the Wolvey Plan Steering Group August 2008

3 Executive Summary

The Wolvey Plan is a statement of how the Parish of Wolvey sees itself developing during the next decade. It forms part of the Government’s Local Development framework which aims to help rural communities take charge of their own destinies. A Steering Group made up of local volunteers drew up the Plan on behalf of the Parish Council.

The plan was produced from information and data collected by means of questionnaires completed by local residents and businesses. The questionnaires were devised with professional support following consultations with the local community. The residents’ questionnaire was completed and returned by 85% of households. This means that the plan is based on information and opinions that are highly representative of parishioners as a whole.

Wolvey has a high proportion of middle-aged residents. No more than two people occupy most households but car ownership is relatively high. Health services are highly regarded by most people and household services and amenities are generally well received but there are issues to address in both of these areas.

Energy saving measures are well established but there could be improvements in sustainable energy and water saving. Recycling facilities are well used by most people but take up could be increased.

Unemployment is very low but most people work outside the parish and there is a heavy reliance on cars as a means of transport. This means that Wolvey is, to a large extent, a ‘commuter village.’ Bus services are sparse and not well used but there is apparently a demand for improved services.

Traffic is thought to be a significant problem with speeding, parking and heavy goods vehicles being seen as the biggest issues. Most residents expressed views on suggested ways of alleviating these problems. Litter is seen as a problem by a significant minority of residents and most feel that crime and disorder need more attention.

Housing and development is the most sensitive issue. The great majority of residents want little change but many acknowledge the need for more affordable housing for young families and bungalows and sheltered accommodation for the elderly. Many residents accept that it is unrealistic to expect no change and understand the need to plan for an appropriate level of development that will enable the rural character of Wolvey to be retained.

Many residents have a vision that sees Wolvey as distinctly rural but with some controlled development to attract young families and to cater for elderly residents. The school and post office are seen as important assets of a vibrant community. Quality of life must come through responsible sustainable living, a shared purpose and a cohesive but diverse and engaged community.

4 Introduction

This Plan is a statement of how the Parish of Wolvey sees itself developing during the next decade. It sets out a vision for community development and identifies action needed to achieve this vision. The Plan has been prepared in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council Plans and forms part of the Government’s local development framework which aims to help rural communities take control of their own destinies.

Wolvey Parish is situated in the north west of the Borough, some 12 miles from the town of Rugby. The nearest major settlements are Coventry, Bedworth, Nuneaton and Hinckley all of which are within a radius of seven miles of Wolvey village. The population of the parish was 1741 at the 2001 Census. Farming is a mainstay of the local economy but there are also some small-scale retail businesses as well as commerce and other services. Significant employers include Galliford Try and the Ministry of Defence. Fewer than 1 in 10 of residents in work are employed within the parish, about 15% work from home and most of the remaining 77% work in surrounding towns and cities. There is a primary school, a shop and post office, a village hall and two churches situated in Wolvey village. Fishing and camping are also prominent as leisure activities within the parish.

The planning process began in November 2005 when the Parish Council formed a Steering Group that would be responsible for producing the Plan. The Group began its work by promoting and publicising the purpose of the Plan and seeking views on issues that ought to be addressed. A formal consultation launch took place at the Wolvey Produce Show in September 2006 and this was followed by the distribution of information leaflets and returnable post cards for residents’ suggestions. Presentations were made to local groups and societies and a drop-in day was held for all residents to meet face to face with Steering Group members. The military base at Bramcote Barracks did not respond to several invitations to be involved with the plan. Consequently, the questionnaire was not issued to residents of the Barracks.

On the basis of the views and information emerging out of the consultation phase a questionnaire was devised with support and advice from professional data consultants. The questionnaire was evaluated by means of a trial run, involving 14 local volunteers, and the final version was distributed in October 2007. Completed questionnaires were collected by early December and, with the help of many volunteers, a return rate of 85% was achieved. This excellent return rate ensured that the information collected was statistically significant and highly representative.

By April 2008 the raw data and written views expressed in the questionnaire had been analysed by the Steering Group with support from professional data consultants. A draft plan was produced and submitted to the Parish Council. This was followed by a public display at the Annual Parish Meeting. In June 2008 the draft was submitted to Rugby Borough Council’s Planning Officer for comments. The final version was approved by the Parish Council in August 2008 and has been submitted to the Borough Council.

Publishing the completed document is only the end of the beginning. The Plan expresses the opinions and aspirations of the Wolvey parishioners and it will be used as a consultation document by the local Planning Authority. It also forms a framework for the Parish Council to carry forward and implement changes and improvements. Some projects, including the Environmental Group, Parish Newsletter Group and the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, have already started.

5 The Plan will inevitably be partially governed by financial and resource constraints. Some objectives will be achieved, some only partially achieved and, sadly, some may not be achieved at all. But that should not diminish the importance of the Plan.

The message that came across from the results of the questionnaire is that the people of Wolvey are proud of their parish and community. They feel a profound identity with village life that they want to protect as much as possible.

Arguably, therefore, the most important part of the Plan relates to future domestic and commercial development within the parish. Although it cannot alter the overall strategic plans of both central and local government, the Plan can make an impact on the actual outcome. The Plan cannot stop change, but it will influence what happens, when it will happen and how it will happen.

Please support your Parish Council and the groups that are formed to implement parts of the Plan. You can keep up to date with progress by attending Parish Council meetings, reading the newsletters published by the Parish Council and by visiting the website: www.wolvey.org.

6 Residents Questionnaire - Findings

Households

Wolvey is a relatively affluent parish with higher than average levels of middle aged and elderly residents who live in their own detached properties. Occupancy is relatively low, over two thirds of households contain just one or two residents. The same proportion of residents live in detached houses or bungalows. Almost 90% of dwellings are owner occupied and the same proportion own at least one vehicle.

Just over half of the children of primary school age attend the local primary school.

Sources for comparative data: Office of National Statistics and Warwickshire County Council.

Household amenities and services

Wolvey is well provided for in terms of essential services. Mains electricity, gas, water and drainage are available to almost all households in the parish. However, there is almost no take up of sustainable energy supplies. 0.6% of households benefit from solar power, whilst none of the respondents have taken advantage of wind generated power. This may be because of the combination of the cost of initial outlay and a lack of awareness about opportunities to utilize sustainable energy.

It comes as no surprise that 99.7% of households have a telephone line installed. What is particularly encouraging is the take up of broadband in the parish. 58% of households have access to internet through broadband and a further 28.9% use a dial up service. This means that almost 87% of households have access to electronic communication and this could be highly significant in the continued development of the Wolvey Parish Council Website.

Local services performed well in general terms. Whilst there is always room for improvement, none of the services recorded high levels of dissatisfaction.

A significant minority of households were dissatisfied with street cleaning, pavements, roads, gutters, street drains and grass verges. The Parish Council should consider how to improve these services. There is also a role here for the newly formed Environmental Working Group.

There is a considerable difference in the level of take up of the various retail facilities within the parish. The village stores and post office is very well used with over 80% using the post office regularly and less than 1% stating that they never use the facility. Less well-used facilities probably suffer from low of demand because there is no evidence that lack of awareness is a factor. There was no significant support for introducing new retail facilities in the parish.

Medical facilities available to parishioners were well used and highly valued. Doctors (including the village surgery), dentists, the district nurse and local hospitals all scored high approval ratings. A very small number of respondents stated that they found it difficult to book convenient appointments at Wolvey Surgery.

A question about mobile phone masts exposed a tension between the popularity of modern communication technology and an aversion to living with the necessary infrastructure. 75% of households have access to a mobile phone but over 50% would object to increasing the number of phone masts in the parish.

The Issues:

Possible need for more telephone masts in the parish

Poor condition of many roads, pavements, footpaths, verges and drains

Dependence on retail facilities outside the parish and the consequent effects on the environment

Identify specific needs of the elderly, disabled and/or housebound

Specialist medical services spread over a wide area with little public transport available

Limited opening times and availability of emergency appointments at Wolvey Surgery

No local dentist

Lack of focal point for information or liaison with vulnerable in community

Comments:

Hinckley Road pavement is un-usable with a [child] buggy…

Late husband had carer 1/4 hour a day when housebound. No other help offered

9 Sustainability

The results from the sustainability section of the questionnaire show considerable efforts to reduce carbon emissions in some area and little impact in others.

Loft insulation and double-glazing are almost universal and over 75% of households use low energy light bulbs. Water saving devices are not widely used and it may be that households need more information on this facility. The parish would benefit from a strategic sustainable energy policy.

District Council recycling facilities are very well used but still around 15% of households are not taking advantage of the scheme. However, 95% of households stated that they would make use of extended kerb-side collections so it should be possible to increase the level of usage. The recent introduction of garden waste bins will make a significant contribution in this respect. The next development in recycling should deal with the large amount of plastic products that are discarded. Nevertheless, many households make use of local waste facilities.

The Issues:

Many houses still lack insulation and do not use energy saving devices

Carrying recycling boxes to kerbside is a problem for elderly/disabled residents

Trips to tips and recycling venues outside the parish increase our carbon footprint

Limited awareness of how insulating homes, energy saving devices and reducing car journeys benefits the environment

A lack of a strategic sustainable energy policy regarding renewable energy and energy conservation

Comments:

[Would like to see a] garden waste collection – it is a long way to the nearest tip, it means using a car and therefore not environmentally good.

Note: a garden waste collection was introduced in the spring of 2008.

Local information

It is clear from data on sources of information that no single publication reaches all households. Relatively few households take local newspapers and the Wolvey website is still in its infancy. Notice boards, the village stores and the ecclesiastical parish (The Link) all make significant contributions. However, the recently established Parish Council Newsletter is being delivered, free of charge to all households. This will enable the Parish Council to communicate more effectively with residents.

The Issues:

The maintenance of the quarterly publication and delivery of the new Parish Council Newsletter

11 The format and use of the Parish Council website

Attendance at Parish Council meetings and perceptions of the role of the Council

Communication and engagement with Bramcote Barracks

Involvement of new residents in the community

Comments:

We reside on the outer limits of the parish and village life has no effect on our lives as such

Busy and not really interested

Personal

Almost 30% of residents are in the 45 to 59 age group. This contrasts markedly with the 11 to 24 age group which accounts for only 12% of residents.

Large numbers of residents have been attracted to Wolvey because of its rural setting and the quality of housing.

The population is relatively sedentary with almost two thirds being resident for over ten years.

Employment

The level of unemployment in the parish is extremely low. Most people are either in full time employment or retired. There are however, significant numbers of self-employed and part- time workers.

13 Residents work in a wide variety of jobs with no particular sector being dominant. The highest score was in the ‘other’ category thus demonstrating that the questionnaire was not comprehensive enough on this issue.

About a quarter of residents work within the parish, this includes people ‘working from home’ as well as those employed at a workplace that is not their home. Another quarter work in Coventry with others based in the nearest neighbouring towns. Almost 20% work ‘elsewhere’ and this includes Birmingham, London, Yorkshire, Lancashire and abroad.

A large number of residents (375) travel to work by car. There is very little use car sharing and relatively few people use public transport.

Sixty people described themselves as actively seeking work and half of these felt that they were being impeded by barriers to taking up employment. None of these barriers stood out but ten people cited lack of access to transport as a reason.

Public Transport

Local bus services are used predominantly for shopping, social and leisure purposes. Most of these journeys are to Coventry and Nuneaton. Significant numbers of people would use local buses if they ran more frequently, later at night, to airports and railway stations and to more destinations.

A number of car owners (34) stated that they would be willing to become involved in a community transport service providing lifts to people who would otherwise have difficulty in travelling. Just over a hundred people expressed an interest in using a voluntary car service.

The Issues:

The limited use of public transport services for commuting

Wolvey is reasonably close to a number of urban destinations: Coventry, Leicester, Nuneaton, Hinckley and Rugby

Limited awareness of current bus timetables

Volunteers to operate community transport service

Deteriorating condition of bus shelters in parish

16 Comments:

I never use the bus

There are no buses to Hinckley or Leicester

The bus service in Wolvey is appalling, so more buses to more locations are needed

Note: a weekly bus service to Hinckley was introduced in the summer of 2008.

Traffic

Almost 600 residents responded to questions about traffic problems. Large numbers of parishioners identified speeding traffic (79%) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (56.5%) as being problematic. There was also considerable unease about parking outside the school (42.8%), the volume of traffic (31.1%), parking on pavements (38.9%) and in the village centre (23.4%). Vehicle noise (22.2%) was thought to be a problem for a significant number of these respondents.

By far the most popular solution to speeding problems was the installation of activated speed warnings, 326 people (54.8% of those responding to this question) were prepared to see this method in use. Significant numbers of people identified speed cameras (38.2%), speed controlled traffic lights (34.3%) and village gateways (33.6%). There was also support for a variety of other solutions ranging from ‘red tarmac’ to pedestrian crossings with traffic lights. It is clear that traffic related issues are of concern to parishioners.

Two specific areas within the parish where there are concerns about safety are the B4109/B4114 crossroads at the top of Temple Hill and the B4065/B4112 crossroads in the south of the parish. A considerable number of respondents felt that more needed to be done to improve road safety at these junctions. There was significant support for structural

17 improvements such as roundabouts and traffic lights in addition to many other suggestions including speed limits and speed cameras.

The issues:

Serious safety implications of speeding traffic through the village; particularly HGV’s

Inconsiderate parking along Bulkington Road before and after school

Excessive number of HGV’s passing through parish

Safety at B4065/B4112 and B4109/B4114

Inappropriate parking in the village Square

General behaviour e.g. parking on pavements and noise at night

Comments:

Anything to slow speeding traffic; and stop HGVs coming through our village, ruining our kerbs

Take out the two mini-roundabouts and replace them with one big one, and widen the roads; it is not safe

…block Hinckley Road to through traffic between Gypsy Lane and Temple Hill. Traffic from A5/M69 must go via Axe and Compass which is a much bigger junction parking outside the school was a problem when our daughter was at primary school – no longer affects us but still concerned for the safety of others

Housing and Development

Before answering questions about housing and development, respondents were informed that Wolvey is defined in local plans as a ‘Major Rural Settlement’ in which small-scale development will be allowed. This information was included in the Questionnaire to make it clear to residents that Wolvey would not be able to avoid further development in future. Like all settlements, Wolvey has developed over time and will continue to do so. The questions for the future are not whether there will be further development but how much, what type and where.

The questionnaire revealed interesting data about whether anyone who wanted to stay in Wolvey had moved away from the parish to find suitable, affordable accommodation in the last five years. Fourteen percent of households answered yes to this question, this is equivalent to approximately sixty-five people across the whole of the parish over a five-year period. It is difficult to calculate precisely how many affordable homes to which this equates and, of course, houses cannot be simply built on individual demand, but it is clear that there is a need for more affordable housing within the parish.

18 In the last 5 years has anyone from your household who wanted to stay here, had to move away from Wolvey Parish to find suitable affordable accommodation?

Whilst, on the basis of the data, it is relatively easy to establish a need for affordable housing, it is clear that this view is not shared by the majority of residents. Only 26.9% of respondents felt that there was a need to build more houses in the parish. This is a significant minority, but a minority nevertheless. On the other hand, the figure of 56.1% respondents against the building of houses is only just over half and is perhaps less that many people would have expected. What was really unexpected was that 17% (almost 1 in 5) had no opinion on what is usually thought to be a contentious issue.

Do you feel there is a need for more houses to be built in Wolvey Parish?

Responses to a question about which types of houses would be preferred, if any were built, gave clear support to affordable homes. It should be noted that respondents were able to answer ”no more housing needed” and 227 out of 599 people opted for this choice. Nevertheless, those people expressing a view on the types of housing gave support to starter homes, small family homes, bungalows for the elderly and sheltered accommodation. There was less support for what already exists in relatively high proportions, bungalows and large family homes.

Respondents were very clear that starter home prices should not exceed £150,000, approximately half opted for the £100k to £150k price range whilst the rest opted for below £100k. Equally conclusive were the data on the size of developments, a considerable majority (69.7%) opted for groups of up to five houses whilst a significant minority (23.9%) opted for groups of up to ten houses. Views on where developments should take place can be reported with even more certainty, 77.2% supported building on brown field sites (there are few of these in the parish). There was little support for other locations with the exception of the A5 corridor which attracted votes from 22.8% of respondents.

Support for commercial development was low with only 16.6% of respondents in favour and 66.9% against. Those people in favour of some commercial development opted mostly for leisure and recreation, retail outlets and small commercial units. It should be stressed, however, that none of these types of developments attracted as much as 10% from respondents as a whole. In response to a question about where commercial development should take place, brown field sites were the clear favourite with some support for the A5 corridor but again, the numbers responding to this question were low.

The issues:

Shortage of affordable starter homes

Lack of bungalows and sheltered accommodation specifically for the elderly

21 Desire to retain ‘village’ identity of Wolvey and the high value placed on open spaces and the ‘greenbelt.’

New developments to be on ‘brown field/infill’ sites despite lack of availability

Extension of smaller homes removing them from affordable category

Submission of planning applications that fail to recognise the rural character of the parish

Conservation of important and listed buildings and scheduled ancient monument sites

The preference for specific types of development

The low level of input the Parish Council can have on the type and size of commercial development in the parish

Comments:

No houses on greenbelt land

Infill sites within the parish boundary

Object – because if many more places are built the village will lose its identity

Greenbelt development, but restricted

Not in Wolvey

Discussions on the nature, extent, cost and siting of housing would be more meaningful with a better, knowledge of demographic factors, the nature of the local community and its aspirations

Sports and Social Amenities

High levels of satisfaction were recorded for sports facilities, the Village Hall and the Millennium Building. Nevertheless, there were some constructive comments on how several of these amenities could be improved and these will be passed on the relevant bodies.

A number of suggestions were made in relation to what other recreational facilities and adult learning classes might be provided. Activities for children and young people and computing and information technology classes feature strongly in this section.

The issues:

Inadequate facilities for some age groups, particularly teenagers

Some existing facilities need replacing and/or refurbishment

Some facilities inappropriately sited

Inadequate number and variety of classes on offer locally

23 Lack of cycle paths and country walks poorly signed

Problem of applications to open bridleways to motor vehicles

Comments:

More modern play equipment. Redecorate and refurbish the pavilion. Open it in the school holidays so kids can use the toilets and buy snacks

Move play area to top of field

I personally feel that Wolvey Playing Field is severely lacking support from villagers. I find that it is the same people doing all the work. Getting more locals involved in the upkeep would be beneficial

It [the village hall] needs a major boost of money. It smells damp… better baby changing [needed]

Environment

Reponses to this section of the questionnaire show that litter is not a major problem in Wolvey Parish. Only 23.8% of respondents felt that it was an issue. However, when the 77 respondents who stated that litter was a problem were asked to state where, they named almost every street and road in the parish. There are different perceptions of what constitutes a litter problem but for a parish that prides itself in its performance in the ‘Best Kept Village Competition’ this issue cannot be ignored.

The data on street lighting was inconclusive, 295 people were satisfied with current levels, and 227 were not satisfied. From those dissatisfied residents, almost all areas of the parish came in for criticism. This is a difficult issue to resolve in an age where we should all be conscious of the threat to the environment through global warming. However, it should be possible to seek sustainable energy solutions to address the worst areas.

24 Does street lighting need to be improved?

There was considerable support for ‘village gateways’ which would clearly define the entrances to Wolvey village and, if combined with traffic calming, improve road safety. Almost two thirds of respondents expressing an opinion were in favour whilst on one fifth were against.

People valued the rural aspects of the parish with green belt, open spaces, trees and woodland, wildlife areas and public footpaths all attracting significant scores. There was considerable support for sustaining and improving all of these aspects of the parish. As a result of the planning process, the Parish Council has already established an Environmental Working Group to enhance the natural and designed/cultivated appearance of the parish. This includes the Wetland Reserve which attracted few comments in questionnaire responses but, nevertheless, is seen by the Parish Council as an area in need of carefully planned management.

The issues:

Condition of most pavements and footpaths particularly Temple Hill, Leicester Road and Wolds Lane

Dog mess on pavements

Management of Wetland

Inadequate street lighting throughout village particularly Wolds Lane, Church Hill and Bulkington Road

Unadopted road at new Church Hill development lacks street lighting

25 Litter in verges and lay-bys along main routes

Fly-tipping

Responding to energy challenges, light pollution and carbon emissions

Management of natural and designed zones to increase biodiversity

Preservation of trees, woodlands and hedgerows

Comments:

[There is litter alongside the] A5 and lead in main roads. Hedgerows are full of litter… the streetlights are tatty and need to be painted

I think the Old Cricket Field [Wetland Reserve] should be managed better

More safe places to walk with pushchairs or small children on bikes…

Crime and Disorder

Data from this section of the questionnaire produced intriguing results. Fifty two percent of respondents were not satisfied with levels of policing in the parish. Twenty two percent were satisfied but what was perhaps surprising was that a quarter of respondents had no opinion. Policing, like health care, is a service for which demand is almost unlimited. Nevertheless, the figures relating to personal experience of crime in the last twelve months were high and this needs to be addressed.

Are you satisfied with the level of policing in Wolvey Parish?

Results relating to the need for a neighbourhood watch scheme were notable for what at first sight looked like a gap between a perceived need for a scheme and a desire to get involved. However, the respondents to this question were individuals rather than households so it may be that some people not wishing to be involved knew that another member of the household would take on the responsibility.

Is there a need for a neighbourhood watch scheme to be promoted in Wolvey Parish?

If one were formed would you be willing to join?

The Issues:

52% of residents were dissatisfied with the level of policing

Level of criminal activity not reported to police

Increase level of engagement to deliver an effective neighbourhood watch scheme

27 Comments:

We never see the police in the village

Police are supposed to cover when the crossing lady is absent – usually don’t. Why… Rugby (12 miles away) when Bedworth Station [is] much closer and [is the] same force?

Church Buildings

Of what value are the churches in Wolvey Parish to you?

Wolvey Parish Church

Wolvey Baptist Church

The Future for Wolvey

Respondents were asked whether they would wish Wolvey Parish to retain its distinctive rural character or to become part of a larger urban settlement. The response was overwhelmingly in favour of retaining its rural character by being surrounded by greenbelt land.

Comments:

Wolvey should remain surrounded by greenbelt land and any development should be small scale on brown field sites

A more vibrant community atmosphere; based upon local inspired industry being encouraged i.e. cottage industries/crafts

Retain its identity – not part of a neighbouring town

I have lived in the village for over 60 years and suggest its population and building has doubled in that period. With a promised [national] population of 80 million by 2050 anything can happen and will

Mixed community with lots of young families – only likely to happen if good transport links and movement around the Parish (footpaths and cycle paths) are improved

More affordable and young family homes to enable younger families to live here

It needs to [keep] up with the needs of its residents; to embrace change and society, but should always stay a village within the greenbelt

The maintenance and development of a rural community, conscious of its heritage and identity, but responsive to changing contemporary needs

Encourage [the] promotion of green issues. ‘Peak oil’ is coming [and we] need strategies

Wind power again after two centuries

Preserve the rural community but with amenities for both the young and old

To help sustain the school and post office

29 Small residential and limited commercial development on brown field sites; but also some minor green belt development

Looking forwards not backwards, with sustainability in mind. Use of car-pooling. Local produce on sale locally. People to take more interest in local affairs. Welcome new ideas and new people

30 Business Questionnaire – Findings

Purpose and Definition

The Business Questionnaire was designed to gather information about local businesses; their views on local services, whether they were looking to expand or contract in the foreseable future and whether any improvements could be made that would benefit businesses within our community. The definition of business includes all traditional commercial and office based businesses, clubs, farms, leisure facilities and any home based businesses or home workers. The questionnaire was generic and a significant amount of the data was sought purely for information and data gathering purposes in order to create a snapshot of the business environment today.

All businesses were provided the opportunity to respond to the Questionnaire including any home based businesses and workers. The impact of broadband availability to homes and businesses reduces the need for a commercial and office based location. The ability to work from home is now a real prospect for a larger percentage of employers and employees. However, this also makes it difficult to know the exact number of businesses and home workers within the parish today. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that some people work from both home and a ‘traditional’ workplace.

Just fewer than 50 businesses and home workers received questionnaires and 22 of these were completed and returned. A return rate of fewer than 50% is statistically significant but cannot be said to be completely representative.

Findings

60% of businesses are sole traders, 35% of companies are Limited Companies and 5% class themselves as charities, clubs or other forms of business (no PLC based companies responded).

Type Of Business

Charities Limited 5% Company Sole Trader 35% Limited Company Sole Trader 60% Charities

60% have either 1-2 employee's, 15% have between 3-5 employees, 15% have between 6- 10 employees, 5% of businesses had between 11-25 employees and 5% have more that 50 employee's.

31 Number of Employee's

5%5% 1-2 Employees 15% 3-5 Employees 6-10 Employees 60% 11-25 Employees 15% 50+ Employees

Approximately 1/3rd of these employees actually live in Hinckley, Leicester, Coventry and Rugby. A further 1/3rd of employees live in Wolvey or the surrounding villages and the final 1/3rd have a more significant commute from the wider Midlands area or other areas of the UK.

Around 76% of people drive to work or get a taxi with only 24% of employees being able to walk to work. No employees take advantage of public transport to get work. This may have significant impacts when considering environmental issues and when assessing the type and frequency of public transport that is offered within the community. This is one of the most significant findings from the questionnaire that requires action. The majority of businesses also rated public transport as poor to unacceptable.

Business Commutors - How do they get to work?

24%

Car / Taxi Walk

76%

Of the business responding 56% of expected to remain the same size and did not have any significant expansion plans. 34% of businesses had modest expansion plans with a view to growing from their current location. Only 5% planned to expand within Wolvey with another 5% planning to move outside of Wolvey. There was one business that was planning to downsize or close but this was due to the owner reaching retirement. This split probably contributed to the fact that very few respondents felt the need to respond to the questions associated with the need for new office, commercial, retail or industrial locations within the village as most businesses were happy with their current location, were not planning to expand or were planning to grow from their existing location or move outside of Wolvey. Those that expressed any need for commercial property stated that only small offices, industrial units or retail premises are needed on a freehold or leasehold basis.

32 Business Expansion/ Location Plans

5% 5% Stay the same size

Modest Expansion from current location 34% 56% Plan to expand within Wolvey area Plan to move outside of Wolvey

The majority of all services supplied to businesses (utilities, road links and refuse collection) were rated excellent to fair although it was clear that not all businesses are connected to gas and there was some negative feedback around Public Transport, Street Lighting, Policing and Security.

In terms of recruitment practices a significant amount (67%) of employers did so through word of mouth with only small percentages of employers using Local Press, Regional Press, Recruitment Agencies or Job Centres. No businesses used the Wolvey web site to advertise jobs. This is interesting especially when considering the volume of businesses that were keen to have wider visibility and advertising in local newsletters, on the Wolvey Website or within welcome pack's delivered to residence. The conclusion from this is that if businesses were made more aware of local media for advertising and raising the profile of their business then this in turn may lead to increased use of these services. Businesses may then be more willing to advertise vacancies through these media to ensure they are getting the best quality employees.

Conclusions

From the above overview it can be concluded that the main actions from the Business Questionnaire relate to the feedback on poor public transport, and the need to encourage high volume of drivers and commuters to use public transport where possible and practical. In addition to this businesses are keen to advertise their services through local media (Web site, Newsletters etc) and through this increased awareness businesses may also want to advertise local jobs to ensure that they are recruiting the best possible resources from the local community rather than just through word of mouth.

45 46 Acknowledgements

In the production of this plan thanks are due to:

The Steering Group

Ruth Buswell Margaret Cartwright Andrew Dixon Roy Evans Michael Fisher Bozena Kuncewicz - Chair David Lloyd Sally Slee Jon Wiggins

Distributors and collectors

Jon Slee Angela Thompson Dianne Bates David Alford Ruth Buswell Ted Buswell Michael Fisher Andrew Dixon Zoe Wiggins Jon Wiggins Yvonne Thorpe Margaret Cartwright Les Cartwright Roy Evans Julie Lewis John Fletcher Teresa Fletcher Christine Oldham Peter Spockhill

Trial run volunteers Peter Barratt Ian Biggs Joanne Biggs Jennifer Burton Carole Court Gerry Court Michelle Dobson Roy Elliott Hilary Fisher Robyn Fisher Bob Hilliard Sid Hindmarsh Jon Slee Zoe Wiggins

47 Catering at Drop-in Day

Yvonne Thorpe Doreen Jones

IT Adviser

Simon Myers

Photography

Andrew Dixon Margaret Cartwright

Word Processing Support

Michelle Dobson

Financial support

Warwickshire Rural Community Council Supported by Rolls Royce Fund from Heart of England Community Foundation

Rural Community Council

Steve Patalong

Planning Advice

Richard Cowell Julie Warwick

Data Consultation

Warwick Networks

Design and Layout

Creative Design

Printing

C J Lewis Printers