Village Plan Questionnaire
- Questionnaires are to be completed by hand and dropped off at the Village Shop for collection.
- We want everyone who can to complete a questionnaire independently, and to answer every question. In practice some children may need help from their parents and they may not feel able to answer every question however we encourage folk to do their best.
- If folk have any queries on the Questionnaire, The Village Design Statement or the Village Plan please contact me Harry Sharp, t 01206 348737, e harry.sharp@fairwinds.uk.com
Many thanks for your help.
We will be collecting completed questionnaires during the week after delivery.
Alternatively questionnaires can be dropped off at the Village Shop.
Spare copies of the questionnaire are available at the Village Shop.
If you have any queries on the Questionnaire, The Village Design Statement or the Village Plan please
contact Harry Sharp, t 01206 348737, e harry.sharp@fairwinds.uk.com
EAST MERSEA VILLAGE QUESTIONNAIRE
This questionnaire is intended to get the opinions of village residents, private and business, young and
old, on what issues should be borne in mind for any changes or future development of the village and
ideas that could form part of the Village Plan. Your participation is essential to ensure that we get the
views of the majority of villagers, which will give greater authority to the plan. Colchester Borough
Council are obliged to take our views into account, as expressed in the Village Design Statement and
Plan, when they prepare plans for the Colchester area.
Volunteers will deliver questionnaires to each house and business. We want to have separate
questionnaires from each house occupant young or old, who is able to complete the questionnaire, and
one from each business.
You need not answer every question however it would be most useful if you did.
We will then collect the questionnaires for collation and analysis.
The results of Section 2 will be set out in the Village Design Statement. Suggested actions which receive
strong support in Section 3 will be developed and put in the Village Plan.
A downloadable copy of the questionnaire is available on the village website -
http://www.essexinfo.net/east-mersea-parish-council/
The Questionnaire is in 3 sections -
1 - GENERAL INFORMATION
2 - VILLAGE DESIGN ISSUES
3 - VILLAGE PLAN ISSUES
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 1 of 11
Please tick relevant boxes.
1
Private
resident
Business
resident
2 Male Female
3 Age
15 to 25 25 to 40
Are you currently -
4 Working from home
5 Working on the Island
6 Working in the area (15 miles)
7 Working outside the area
8 Studying / training
9 Unemployed
10 Homemaker eg housewife/husband
11 RetiredWhich means of transport do you use for the following purposes?
Tick all that you use more than once a week.
SECTION 1 - GENERAL
YES NO
40 to 60 Over 60
On foot
By bike
By car
By bus
Community bus
12 13
14
15
16
OPTIONAL -
17 Name
18 AddressTo go to college / training
Other journeys on Mersea
Other journeys off Mersea
To go to place of work
To take children to school
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 2 of 11
SECTION 2 - VILLAGE DESIGN ISSUES
Your answers to these questions give you the opportunity to have a say in the
future design of any development in the village and will allow us to prepare a
Village Design Statement.
A B C D E
GENERAL
1 It is important that the village retain its current character as a rural community.
2
The existing community would be damaged by substantial expansion of the
village.
BUILDING FORM, STYLE AND LAYOUT
3
Only infill development sympathetic in scale and design to surrounding
buildings should be allowed.
4
Extensions to existing buildings should be allowed as long as they are in scale
and design to surrounding buildings.
We should allow redundant farm buildings to be converted into :-
5 - dwellings
6 - light industrial units
7 - holiday / leisure facilities
8
Changes to houses using modern materials, such as UPVC, to replace
traditional materials are acceptable as long as the style and character of the
building is retained.
ACCESS AND SURROUNDINGS
9
There should be well designed and consistent signposting to local leisure sites
and businesses.
10
Footpaths should be well signposted and there should be maps at key locations
showing footpaths and places of interest.
11 East Mersea footpaths should be improved.
12
Hedgerows should be well maintained and replanted where missing or
damaged.
13 Projects that create natural habitats for wildlife should be encouraged.
14
Road signs should be provided to encourage safe and considerate driving taking
into account walkers, cyclists and horses.
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 3 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
There should be better access to the sea for -
15 - wet bikes / jet skis
16 - sailing dinghies
17 - motor boats
18 - walkers
19 - other sports / activities
LOCAL BUSINESS
I would like more employment opportunities for myself in East Mersea in -
20 - farming / agriculture
21 - fishing / boating
22 - shop / pub / restaurant
23 - sport / leisure / tourism
24 - industry / workshop
25 - work from home
26
Local business should be allowed to expand with the support of more
sympathetic Planning guidelines.
27
Local business development should be encouraged as long as it does not
detract from the peaceful rural character of the village.
28
Agricultural diversification schemes should be encouraged where they do not
adversely effect private residents.
29 We should allow expansion of the existing tourism / holiday / leisure sites.
30 No business expansion should be allowed in East Mersea.
31
Business expansion should only be encouraged where it will provide
employment opportunities for local people.
32 Amenities such as the village shop and pub should be preserved.
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 4 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
HOUSING
33 We need more housing in East Mersea.
34
A member of our household / family needs alternative accommodation in the
village.
35 I would support an affordable housing development near our home.
New housing should be allowed as -
36 - replacement only
37 - infill only
38 - individual houses
39 - small clusters of 2-5 houses
40 - developments of 5 + houses
The number of extra / new dwellings that East Mersea can absorb over a ten
year period is :-
41 - none
42 - 1 to 5
43 - 5 to 10
44 - 10 to 25
45 - over 25
The following types of housing should be allowed in East Mersea :-
46 - first time buyers / low cost
47 - accommodation for the elderly
48 - family housing
49 - executive housing
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 5 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
Housing should be encouraged for :-
50 - existing residents or residents' families
51 - young people
52 - families
53 - key professions such as teachers or nurses.
54
I would support some development in East Mersea if this enabled
improvements to the village, such as cycle paths and new footpaths. This could
be achieved through Section 106 Planning Gains whereby developers would
agree to make improvements to the village as a condition of their receiving
Planning Permission.
55 I would oppose any further developments in East Mersea.
ROADS AND TRAFFIC
56 The traffic on the roads in East Mersea is dangerous.
Measures must be taken to reduce the speed and calm the traffic on East
Mersea roads such as -
57 - fixed speed cameras
58 - flashing electronic signs
59 - police monitoring and prosecution
60 - traffic calming measures
61 - other (please specify below)
62 Present speed limits should be reduced.
63 There are major danger spots on the roads in East Mersea
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 6 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
64 If you agree please tell us where.
65
There should be more passing places and appropriate road signs on our narrow
roads.
66
Roadside ditching and drains need to be improved or better maintained to
reduce flooding.
67 There should be more designated parking for visitors.
68 If you agree please tell us where.
69 There should be more street lighting.
ENVIRONMENT
70
The existing environment and wildlife are very important and must be
conserved.
71
All new developments on East Mersea should have the minimum possible
carbon footprint.
72
Environmental improvements to homes and businesses should be encouraged
and be made a requirement of permission to alter or extend a property.
73
East Mersea should support an offshore wind-farm in the sea near Mersea
Island.
74 A new Bradwell nuclear power station should be built.
75 There should be no discharge of waste from Bradwell power station.
76
Street lighting / flood lighting of properties in East Mersea should be restricted
to reduce light pollution
77
Please state below any other design issues that you believe should be included
in our Village Design Statement.
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 7 of 11
SECTION 3 - VILLAGE PLAN ISSUES
Your answers to these questions give you the opportunity to give your opinions
about actions that we should take to improve our village, to be taken forward
to our Village Plan.
A B C D E
VILLAGE AMENITIES AND EVENTS
1 I use / attend events at the Village Hall.
2 There should be more events in the Village Hall.
3 I would make more use of the Village Hall if the facilities were improved.
4 If you agree what events would you like to see?
5 We need better information about what is happening in the village.
I would like to be able to find information about village events and news in -
5 - the Courier
7 - The Community News
8 - Essex Gazette
9 - Local Radio
10 - Parish Council notice boards
11 - West Mersea library
12 - The MICA Centre
13 - The village website
14
We should arrange for a monthly surgery at the Village Hall dealing with local
council, legal and consumer advice issues.
15
I think more sports and recreational facilities should be made available in the
village or local area.
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 8 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
16 If you agree what facilities would you like to see?
17
We need better information about sports and recreational facilities that are
available in the village and local area.
18 We need to support the village shop.
19 We need to support the church.
20 We need to support the pub.
21 I regularly use Cudmore Grove Country Park
22
Charges for parking at Cudmore Grove Country Park should be reduced for East
Mersea residents.
23 There should be more facilities at Cudmore Grove Country Park.
24 If you agree what facilities would you like to see?
25
There should be more opportunities for East Mersea residents to use Mersea
Outdoors youth camp.
26 If you agree what would you like to do at Mersea Outdoors?
TRANSPORT
27 There should be better public transport in East Mersea
28 We need better transport access to the Doctor’s Surgery / pharmacy / hospital.
29 We need better transport access to school / college.
30
The Community Bus should be made more available for any East Mersea
resident to use.
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 9 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
31 If you agree how would you like to use the community bus?
32 East Mersea roads are not sufficiently gritted in winter.
33 East Mersea roads are not adequately maintained.
34 If you agree please tell us the specific problems you have.
35 There should be a safe cycle and pedestrian path to link East and West Mersea.
36 There should be a cycle and pedestrian path round the whole island.
SERVICES AND SUPPLIES
37 The local electricity supply is unreliable / insufficient.
38 The water pressure in East Mersea is insufficient.
39 The telephone system and internet connection in East Mersea is inadequate.
40 The mobile phone connection in East Mersea is inadequate.
41 Television and radio reception in East Mersea is inadequate.
ENVIRONMENT
42
Houses and business in East Mersea should be encouraged to reduce their
energy use and impact on the environment.
43 We need better facilities / collection services for waste recycling.
SECURITY
I have been affected by the following in East Mersea -
44 - personal intimidation
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 10 of 11
A B C D E
Questions – Please tick the box which best reflects your opinion.
A = Strongly agree B = Agree C = Don't know D = Disagree E = Strongly disagree
45 - anti social behaviour
46 - theft / burglary
47 - vandalism / damage to my property
48 - fly tipping / litter
49 There is a need for increased policing in East Mersea.
50 We need a good neighbour type scheme in East Mersea.
51 Criminal / antisocial behaviour is not a problem in East Mersea.
EDUCATION AND YOUTH ISSUES
52
A member of my family has had a problem getting a place at the school or
college of their choice.
53 There should be more facilities for youth in East Mersea.
54 If you agree what facilities would you like to see?
55
A meeting place should be created that our young people could use near the
Village Hall.
56
Mersea Outdoors should make facilities and activities available for East Mersea
young people.
57 If you agree what facilities and activities would you like to see?
58
Please state below any other ideas for improvements to our village that you
believe should be included in our Village Plan.
East Mersea Village Questionnaire
Page 11 of 11
