Village plans are encouraged by all the local and government departments so that Councils can have a road map of where they are and how far they have got.
All journeys begin with a first step, and this is several strides down the path. If we do not know where we are starting from, how do we know how far we have gone?
A full computer analysis with about 60 pages of detailed tables is available, if required. The following results are a summary of the main findings.
Only 5% said that the main reason for choosing to live in Beare Green was because of ‘retirement’. A minority, 3%, said they chose the area because of a ‘better environment’ and 6% gave no particular reason for choosing to live in Beare Green.
The overall demographic of length of time indicates that most householders are relatively new to the area - 36% have lived in Beare Green for less than 5 years (average length of time in Beare Green for this group of people is 2.5 years). Only 12% have lived in the village for 30 years or more (average duration 44.4 years).
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At Q.4, respondents were asked to say which type of property they lived in. There were 7 categories to choose from and the distribution was relatively even across all types. Detached and semi-detached properties were the most often mentioned at 19% each. Mobile homes at 15% are an important sector. Terrace/end of terrace houses, together with Bungalows were recorded at 14% in each of these two categories.
46% of all respondent households do not have a garage. This was high for those with a post code in the Western side of the village where 7 out of 9 respondents said that they did not have a garage. All 7 respondents on the Eastern side of the village reported having a garage.
Roadside parking mainly due to residents in the Central area of the village. Respondents living in mobile homes report using the car park, but this was discounted as it is off-road. 2% did not answer this question (Q.6).
Mains gas supplies are least likely to be available in the North and South of the village (86% connected). The figures for Central are skewed by one respondent who did not complete this question. Even so, over 10% claim not to be connected to mains gas in this area. (Q.7). Mains drainage is particularly low on the Eastern side of the village (43% of those replying are not connected).
The base for this goes up to 208 because the questionnaire covered all members of each household. No verification of the classifications was possible. However, the overall result shows that there is a highly significant section of retired householders in Beare Green.
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Of those who are working, most (40% of the total sample) work away from the Beare Green area. 16% of the total work within 10 miles of Beare Green. Only 5% work mainly in the Beare Green area. (Q.9).
1 person walks to work and another goes by taxi. Only 2 people (1%) share a car. 3 respondents (2%) go to work by bus. (Q.10).
The dominance of the car is evident. (Q.11).
Over half the respondents listed Dorking as their principle place to do shopping. Tesco has stores at Broadbridge Heath and Hookwood which are included with Horsham and Crawley. The high response for these two centres shows the importance of this supermarket. Local shopping at Beare Green and Capel is confined to a minority of respondents. A sign of the times is that one respondent listed the Internet as her principle shopping place. Other single mentions included Reigate (Morrisons), Cobham (Waitrose), Redhill and Kingston. (Q.12).
The order of priority is a crude measure based on the total number of people who answered each of the questions. There were 14 topics covered, the remaining six topics are shown on the next slide.
Each of the topics will be dealt with in more detail in the rest of the report.
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Many of the respondents indicated that because of their age they were not interested in education or youth development. There is a reasonably high level of satisfaction with the provision of healthcare, but those who are not satisfied have a number of concerns, especially about the provision of hospital care and access to the major hospitals.
The introduction of the green bin/black bin has a high approval rating, offset by those who find the fortnightly collection of black bin rubbish unacceptable, especially in the summer months. In addition to the 52% who say that it is a good service, another 9% commented that the green bin introduction is a good idea.
One in 10 mention the need for recycling garden waste and that this could be done by encouraging composting.
Other minority comments included requests for a wider range of recycling facilities (3%), the need for a Textile Bank (also 3% mention). Some wanted tougher measures on those who do not co-operate by fining them (one mention) and a couple of respondents complained about the bins being left on grass verges looking unsightly.
Interest in aspects of waste disposal in the future is high, with most opposing an incinerator being built in the vicinity. A minority of respondents appear to be resigned to the use of incineration, as shown by the 14% who said that it will have to be used. In addition, 10 respondents (8%) said that they would prefer incineration. A substantial minority (5%) pointed out that there is a need for greater personal responsibility, whilst 8% said that the need was for greater recycling. 3% were in favour of banning junk mail, as well as encouraging suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging. This was linked with the need for more recycling of plastic and helping people by installing facilities for the recycling of glass.
Traffic calming means many things to different people. Some want traffic calming in the village (6%), others do not want any new traffic calming measures (8%). Some want traffic lights on the A24 (4%), a similar percentage (4%) want improvements to the roundabout access at the A24/A29 junction. In a similar vein, others suggest putting in filter lanes for traffic going into Newdigate road, or down to Capel. People who walk along the A24 at the southern end point out the narrowness of the pavement and the speed at which traffic comes along that stretch. They suggest (3%) putting in protective barriers along that section to prevent possible accidents in the future.
Another bone of contention, repeated under other sections, are the difficulties presented by large vehicles parking in the village and cutting down the width of road available, especially near the shops (2%). Three respondents said that many of the problems will be overcome if the Council would implement the road improvement proposals that have already been aired. A minority (3%) do not want speed humps or not to have any changes (1%), but overall people are concerned and think that traffic should be calmed to a greater or lesser degree.
Based on the comments elicited by this question and its responses, there is no major demand for more housing, and 21% say that there should be no changes. The only comment to exceed 10% incidence indicates satisfaction with the current situation. Three respondents point out that the existing infra-structure in Beare Green precludes any major development. Only a minority (2%) specifically say that they want to move in the next 10 years. Of those who do comment, most indicate a need to ‘downsize’ (6%) or ‘move to sheltered housing’ (3%).
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Some people do get concerned about walking at night where there are no lights, while others want to keep the village rural and to stop the spread of neon lighting. On balance, most would like to see some additional lighting, especially in the central area. Four respondents suggested the use of low level solar powered lights for footpaths. With about 3 mentions each, a total of 11% of the responses centred on improving lighting along the A24, particularly at junctions and turnoffs.
The congestion caused by large numbers of vehicles parked outside the shops in Beare Green, both cars and commercial vehicles, is the most mentioned comment under this heading. Lack of use of the Village Hall car park, resulting in parking along the pond and Merebank is considered to be a problem by 16%. 5 respondents suggested that roadside parking could be reduced if residents were encouraged to park in their own driveways. An additional suggestion is to put in double yellow lines along the road up to the shops from the A24. Other suggestions included allocating parking areas with local permits (3%), adapting the verges for additional parking (2%), and removing abandoned vehicles (2%). 8% said that there are no roadside parking problems, or are not affected (5%).
Some respondents (3%) see the need to have affordable housing to help keep younger people in the village, another 3% say that there is not enough infrastructure to support more development. Together with the main comments, the responses indicate a split of opinion within Beare Green as to the desirability of more affordable housing development.
More frequent buses (13%) and late evening service from Dorking (11%) were the most frequent individual comments. There is an underlying concern about large buses going through the village, and 5% mention that smaller buses should be used while 3% said that the route through the village should be stopped. Free services such as the Tesco bus are wanted by 2%, and another 2% would like to see more Dial-A-Ride services. Train services also were mentioned to need more weekend trains (6%) as well as later trains from London to Holmwood (also 6%).
4% said that they were satisfied, and another 4% commented specifically that they do not use public transport (mentioning as well that it was unreliable and expensive). A ticket office/machine at Holmwood station was requested by respondent.
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At one point in the questionnaire, the comment was made that the ‘heart’ of Beare Green had been ripped out, all those years ago, when the A24 dual carriageway was put through it. Many of the needs for elderly facilities arise from that basic point. The need for a social centre, or day care where the older generation can meet, as in a Post Office, the lack of a retail chemist shop or even a GP surgery (4% mention) all indicate the lack of facilities for those who are less mobile. Consequently, the importance of a good public transport system (9%) that is affordable (3%), especially to hospital and library facilities, are of concern to the elderly. Other interesting but minority comments were to have a mobile greengrocer (2%), extend the free Tesco bus from Capel to Beare Green, and to have a community policeman who lives locally (1%).
Dog fouling is of importance to 3% who were very strong about this. Otherwise, most people want to see a tidy village, and note difficult areas such as litter collection along the roadside, around the Esso Garage/Weald School areas, and by Turner House. Single mentions were made for better litter collection, ensuring bins are fox proofed, and that graffiti is a problem.
8% said that no change was needed for parking improvements, supported by a further 6% who said that the parking is adequate. Of the 53% who did respond to this question, most wanted additional parking at specific points, notably at the Weald School that is recognised as a problem at morning and afternoon collection/drop times. A minority (4%) think that residents should be encouraged to use existing parking spaces. Following the comments about traffic calming, 3% suggest restricting parking to one side of the road outside the shop area. One suggestion was to reduce the A24 dual carriageway, and to use the additional land as a parking area.
This was the first open ended question in the questionnaire and was not answered by 53%. The implication is that the majority of respondents are reasonably content with the current provision of healthcare in Beare Green. However, quite a few (14%) made specific mention of the difficulty in getting to local hospitals, the lack of local Accident & Emergency facilities within a reasonable distance, and the suspected closure of the Epsom Hospital. The lack of primary care cover at the local GP surgery over the weekend was noted by 2%. Two respondents miss having a dental surgery in the village.
Marginally more people answered this question than the least answered question (on facilities for the elderly). Most of those who answered indicate that a Youth Club would be useful, but no suggestions were forthcoming as to how it should be organised, and 2% said that there was a lack of leaders. One person thought that encouraging membership of the Young Farmers would be a good development. Three respondents (3%) said that any development should incorporate a wider age range than just teenagers. A further 3% thought that upgrading Oak Corner to provide a tennis court or skateboard area would help develop facilities for the youth of Beare Green.
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There is considerable apathy towards the needs for youth facilities by most people in Beare Green, unless they have children. It is suggested that the Weald School could be used for greater outreach (3%), and that there is a need for under 3 pre-schooling, although St. Mary’s pre-school was specifically mentioned by 3% as being very good.
The parking problem at the Weald School at collection time was again mentioned (1%) in terms of needing additional parking.
With no prompting, there are no other major environmental issues for the majority of respondents (76% did not answer this). Those who did tended to have their own agendas and made suggestions such as improving infrastructure by having additional services such as a Post Office, as well as making life easier by slowing traffic in the village. Others wanted the road surface to be improved and to install the original type of cats eyes (so that they would not get stolen as the the more modern ones appear to be lost this way). Maintenance, not only of the paths but also public places and the pond, is another additional issue for a minority.
Three questions on attending worship were asked. The third question, on the suitability of the Beare Green Community Hall as a place of worship, was only completed if the respondent considered that there is a need for a place of worship in Beare Green. It should be noted that the Beare Green Village Hall used to be a Roman Catholic Church until it was deconsecrated several years ago, due to falling congregations.
Less than half of the respondents are people who claim to attend a place of worship. No questions were asked about frequency.
One elderly respondent wrote movingly about the difficulty found in having to go to Dorking as a committed Roman Catholic, and the concern that they have about this as they get older. Others suggested that it would be useful. The majority did not think it was necessary. Those who wrote additional, unsolicited comments, pointed out the availability of places of worship in Holmwood and at Capel.
