Community Appraisal

INTRODUCTION
 As a result of local concern about alleged plans for building development in Plymtree, the School Governors and the Parish Hall Committee both proposed to the Parish Council that it should sponsor a parish appraisal.
 At the first meeting of the Group, four sub-groups were set up to consider Community facilities, Housing, Traffic & Transport, & the Environment, and the following "Aims & Objectives" for the Appraisal were adopted:

• To maintain and enhance the quality of village life;
• To form short & medium term views of the village and its development;
• To be ‘several steps ahead’ of change;
• To ‘inform’ old and new villagers about the village;
• To provide guidance for Planning agencies - Parish, District & County;
• To assist by providing data to support future funding applications.

Funding, provided by Rural Action for the Environment, East Devon District Council and our own Parish Council, paid for the printing of the appraisal questionnaire created by the Working Group. Volunteers helped with distribution and collection of the forms, and Devon County Council analysed the responses.

This report encapsulates the concerns and ideas expressed by you, the residents of our parish, in your responses to the questionnaire, and it includes preliminary recommendations for further action.
 
But the Report is not the end of the process. There will be a Public meeting at which it is hoped that every family in the parish will be represented, when you will have the opportunity to discuss the findings and, more importantly, to agree how the identified issues are to be dealt with, and by whom.

Representatives of relevant authorities, including the County and District Councils, South West Water, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, the CCD and, of course, our Parish Council should be present. After the meetings the task of the Working Group will be finished: but there will be a need for others - clubs, or societies, or specially-formed Action Groups - to oversee specific projects.