12 Jul 2008 - APPENDIX ONE

 

A first Public Consultation on this Design Statement was carried out in November and December 2007 in which every house in Skelton was circularised with a Questionnaire. There was a good response by over 80 Respondents from all parts of the village.

 

In answer to the question ‘What physical features of Skelton make it special to you?’ there were over 150 observations summarised as follows:-

 

1.       The green open spaces, heritage buildings and a variety of architectural styles and materials.

2.       The Church.

3.       The village being separated from other places by fields but with convenient access to outside amenities.

4.       Its restrained and compact scale and its quiet and safe village ‘feel’.

5.       The benefit of having pathways throughout and across the open spaces.

 

 

In response to the question ‘Are there any changes/improvements you would like to see?’ there were well over a hundred suggestions:-

 

Those occurring most frequently related to improvements to road, footpath and traffic management, to lighting, to dog fouling, to hedges and trees (trimming back the former, increasing the latter in newer parts of the village) and children’s play facilities. All the suggestions will be passed to the Parish Council for its consideration

 

 

When invited to comment on the statement ‘Skelton benefits from being separated by green fields from neighbouring communities’ on a scale of 1 – 10 where ‘1’ marked ‘Agree strongly’ and ‘10’ ‘Disagree strongly’, the result was:-

 

Category 1               -    79

Category 2               -      3

Category 3               -      4

Categories 4 –10     -     0

Not stated                 -     3

 

 

When invited to respond to the question ‘Do you think Skelton should stay broadly as it is in size or be allowed to grow via development?’ on a scale of 1 – 10 where ‘1’ marked ‘Stay as it is’ and 10 ‘Whatever demand decides’ the result was:-

 

Category 1           -  69

Category 2           -    6

Category 3           -    9

Categories 4-6    -    0

Category 7           -    1

Category 8           -    0

Category 9           -    1

 

 

Finally respondents were invited to make ‘Any other comments’.

 

There were over one hundred suggestions including a small number from those respondents who believed some judicious low scale development might be appropriate.

 

However, the overwhelming majority opined development should not be permitted ‘just because there is a demand. It has to be weighed against the effect on existing aspects and amenities’ and on the availability and greater suitability of other locations and opportunities.

 

The result of the public consultation was succinctly and movingly summarised in the words of one respondent:

 

 

‘Skelton is a village and should stay that way. It is a beautiful place to come home to.’