Questionnaire

Rural Ambience

This section aimed to provide a background and context to the more specific questions which followed.

Of the Medstead residents who responded to the questionnaire, strong majorities considered the Parish to be friendly and welcoming (89.1%), peaceful and tranquil (88.7%) and to have a community spirit (81.8%).

These attributes should also be nurtured: 90.8% thought we should strive to maintain and improve friendliness, 89.1% peace and tranquility and 94.1% our community spirit.

Roads

The overwhelming majority of respondents (94.0%) considered roads in the Parish need to be in a better state of repair. Almost three-quarters of respondents either very strongly (54.1%) or strongly (20.7%) agreed and there was little variation between the different areas of the Parish.

After heavy rainfall, or a few hours of steady rain, Medstead Parish suffers from flooded roads.

From the comments received, poor road drainage and the consequent frequency of flooding was seen as a significant issue, as was the state of road verges, the need to improve sight lines, the need to better maintain existing signs and improve signage at specific locations.

There is no desire to install street lighting across the Parish. Of the 72.5% of respondents who disagreed with the need for street lighting, 41.0% either very strongly (30.1%) or strongly (10.9%) disagreed. Although all areas had majorities against, there was a significant variation, ranging from 82.5% in the more rural North to 65.0% in the more developed South East.

From the comments received both street lighting and pavements were seen as unwelcome urban intrusions into Medstead's rural environment. Street lighting would also cause unwanted light pollution, destroying the spectacular views of the night sky afforded to the Parish by its hilltop location.

Overall, however, a majority (57.5%) agreed there should be more pavements, around a third (32.2%) either very strongly (21.4%) or strongly (10.8%) agreed. There was, however, a significant variation amongst the areas, ranging from a strong majority in favour in the Village Centre (67.0% / 28.5%) to a slight majority against (46.1% / 48.2%) in the West.

There was a stronger majority (79.9%) in favour of the need for a pavement on Roe Downs Road between the High Street and Medstead School, primarily to increase safety for schoolchildren walking to and from the village centre. Almost half of all respondents (49.6%) either very strongly (33.2%) or strongly (16.4%) agreed with this view, with no significant variation between the areas.

Comments received also indicated the need for pavements at other specific locations, in particular Lymington Bottom, Hussell Lane, South Town Road and Boyneswood Road. Safety factors, particularly the danger to families and children, figured amongst the concerns of many. Such pavements should also be in keeping with the rural environment.

New issues raised included safety around Medstead School at busy drop-off and pick-up times, the damage caused by off road vehicles making byways such as Jenny Green Lane impassable to walkers and cycling, which is currently discouraged by potholes and broken road edges.

Traffic

A very strong majority of respondents (88.8%) considered vehicles are driven too fast through the Parish, whilst 73.7% believe there is too much through traffic. Unsuprisingly, through traffic was considered to be a problem in those areas most directly affected by it: the South East (80.5%) and the Village Centre (78%).

Respondents were almost equally divided on whether parking in the high street should be restricted, with 51.1% against and 45.4% in favour. However, the small majority against parking restrictions is less significant when the strength of response is taken into account: 22.4% either very strongly (13.1%) or strongly (9.3%) agreed compared to 12.2% who either very strongly (5.9%) or strongly (6.3%) disagreed.

It is significant a majority of respondents in the Village Centre (53.0% / 31.0 %) supported parking restrictions, with almost one third (31.5%) either very strongly (20.0%) or strongly (11.5%) agreeing, compared to the 15.0% who either very strongly (7.5%) or strongly (7.5%) disagreed.

The emotive issue of too many horse boxes passing through the Parish saw respondents almost equally divided with 47.1% agreeing and 44.6% disagreeing. In, arguably, the area most directly affected, the Village Centre, there was a stronger majority in agreement (61.5% / 32.5%) and a majority (48.5% / 43.8%) also agreed in the South East. However all other areas of the Parish: North (44.4% agree / 47.6% disagree), South West (35.6% / 56.4%), East (40.9% / 47.8%) and West (43.4% / 47.4%) had majorities who disagreed, which reflects the strong equestrian nature of the Parish.

From comments received the volume of HGV's passing through the Parish between the A31 and A339 was also seen as a significant issue.

A strong majority (85.9%) considered the solution to speeding traffic was enforcement of speed limits, with the strongest support coming from the Village Centre (91.5%). Other solutions, such as traffic calming measures did not gain significant support, with 48.6% in favour and 46.5% against. Traffic calming measures drew stronger support from those areas most directly affected by through traffic: the South East (54.2%) and Village Centre (53.5%).

There was also strong support (72.7%) for regularising speed limits across the Parish, with the strongest support again coming from the Village Centre (80.5%). A reduction of the speed limit in the Village Centre to 20mph also drew majority support (62.2%).

Amenities

A strong majority (79.3%) of respondents were satisfied with existing activities, societies and clubs for adults within the Parish, whilst 70.3% believed there should be more clubs and activities for 11-19 year olds.

A strong majority (82.3%) also agreed there are sufficient amenities (shops, doctors, Post Office, meeting places, pubs).

However, there was a significant variation between areas: the Village Centre, where most amenities are concentrated, had the strongest support (92.0%), whilst the South East (74.4%) and South West (74.3%) the lowest.

In the comments received anxieties were raised about the continuation of Medstead Post Office, together with calls to support and maintain it.

The bus service is judged adequate by only 31.0% of respondents. 34.5% of respondents in the Village Centre and 43.0% in the East felt the service, which runs from Basingstoke, through the centre, along Hussell Lane and Abbey Road to Alton, was adequate. In the West only 23.2% felt the service was adequate and there were similar responses from the other areas which lack a bus service: the North, South West and South East.

This question also had the highest percentage (21.9%) of no replies in the questionnaire, perhaps indicating these respondents did not use the bus service, so felt unable to comment. Of the 47.2% who did not feel the bus service was adequate, 18.4% either very strongly (8.8%) or strongly (9.6%) held this view, perhaps indicating the service is important to those who use, or would want to use, public transport.

A strong majority (72.7%) of respondents considered there were sufficient schools serving the Parish.

There was, however, a significant variation in the responses. The strongest support (80.5%) came from closest to Medstead School, the Village Centre, the lowest (63.3%) came from the South East, part of which is out of the Medstead School catchment area.

Overall 48.7% of respondents agreed play facilities should be improved or enlarged, whilst 30.4% disagreed. Within these figures, 15.2% either very strongly (5.8%) or strongly (9.4%) agreed, whilst only 3.2% either strongly (1.8%) or very strongly (1.4%) disagreed.

The high proportion of no replies to questions on the school (18.8%) and play area (20.8%) may indicate these respondents did not have children, so did not feel able to provide an opinion.

Environment

This section of the questionnaire covered both broad and narrow aspects of the Parish's environment, from reducing our carbon footprint to maintaining footpaths, and contained the three highest levels of agreement in the whole questionnaire.

Overwhelming majorities of respondents agreed the village green (98.4%) and the rural environment (97.2%) were major assets to the Parish and should be protected and maintained, whilst 70.6% were in favour of reinstating and maintaining a village pond, as a focal point for the village centre.

Medstead Parish is well served by footpaths and this was recognised by 87.4% of respondents, although there was a significant variation between the areas, from 98.4% in the more rural North to 77.8% in the more developed South East.

Overall 90.7% agreed verges, hedges, footpaths and stiles should be better maintained, whilst 98.5% agreed drains and ditches should be better maintained, reinforcing the comments on roads, above.

There is also strong support (77.9%) for the Parish encouraging local initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint.

Development

Although a majority (53.5%) disagreed residents show too much resistance to change, stronger majorities felt new housing (62.8%) and back garden developments (74.6%) should be discouraged in the Parish.

Meanwhile, 80.0% of respon\dents felt there was a lack of affordable housing for younger people.

Affordable housing is housing provided for people who are unable to afford open market housing. It can either be in the form of rented housing which is normally owned by a Housing Association with a weekly rent charge or shared ownership. Shared ownership are homes which are part rent/part buy from a Housing Association.

After roads and traffic, development had the most comments, particularly on affordable housing, the concentration of development in the South East of the Parish, planning, the style and type of new developments, the threat to the rural environment and the inability of the local infrastructure to cope.

Parish Precept

To implement some of the proposals in the Parish Plan it may be necessary to increase the Parish Precept, which provides the funding for the Parish Council. A strong majority of respondents (67.7%) support an increase in the Parish Precept. Of these nearly 20% either very strongly (6.9%) or strongly (12.7%) agreed, whilst, overall, only 23.9% were in disagreement.

Young People

Of the young people who responded to our 11-17 year olds questionnaire 51.5% travel to school, college or work by bus, 36.9% by car, 9.8% walk or cycle, whilst the reminder go by taxi or motorcycle. For social activities young people predominantly travel by car (42.0%), with 17.3% going by bus, 16.7% cycle, 15.4% walk, 6.8% go by train and 1.2% go by taxi. 76.5% would use the bus service if it was more frequent, but only 48.1% would use it if it ran later in the evening.

The most popular activities were shopping and meeting friends (176 and 167 responses), followed by leisure (128), sport (99), clubs (77) and horse riding (19). Of the young people who responded, most go shopping in Basingstoke, Alton and Winchester (78.4%), meet friends in Alton, Medstead, Basingstoke and Winchester (79.0%), do leisure activities in Basingstoke and Alton (81.3%), sport in Medstead and Alton (69.7%), go to clubs in Alton, Medstead and Alresford (76.6%) and ride in Medstead (73.7%).

The most popular facilities young people would use if they were provided in the Parish were an all weather surface (58.0% yes / 34.6% no), social functions (56.8% / 35.8%) and a basketball court/rings (54.3% / 39.5%), followed by a youth club (49.4% / 45.7%). There was little demand for a skateboard area (25.9% / 66.7%), BMX track (33.3% / 59.3%), outdoor (43.2% / 44.4%) or indoor (43.2% / 48.1%) meeting places.

In response to what they would like to see changed in the Parish in ten years time, young people highlighted the need for better amenities, facilities, public transport and pavements (62.8% of all responses).

Young people would like to see the environment, current levels of development, existing amenities and facilities, the Village Green, the Parish's rural ambience and footpaths unchanged in ten years time (81.3% of all responses).

Thanks

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to complete the questionnaire and to those many volunteers who helped with the distribution and collection.

The responses gathered in the questionnaire gave us a solid set of priorities to create the Parish Plan.