The Town Plan Survey
We would like to thank the 2,632 people who live, work, attend school, shop regularly, or own businesses or land in Knutsford, who took the time and trouble to answer the Town Plan Survey Questionnaire. This is by far the biggest survey ever carried out in the town.
Survey Summary
Survey Period. 11 February to 27 April 2009 (75 days)
Eligibility. Everyone who lives in Knutsford, everyone who works in Knutsford, the owners of Knutsford businesses or land, pupils and teachers at Knutsford schools, and regular Knutsford shoppers.
Availability of Questionnaires:
1) Between 11th February and 27th April 2009 (75 days), the Questionnaire could be answered on-line via Town Plan websites www.thetownplan.blogspot.com/ and www.knutsfordtownplan.info/ There were also links to the online Questionnaire from five other well-known Knutsford websites.
2) By 3rd March and until 27th April 2009 (55 days) 6,500 questionnaires had been hand-delivered to residences within the Knutsford parish boundary, for completion.
3) From 27th February 2009, 1,500 Questionnaires were distributed to and a stock was maintained at the 8 Knutsford schools for collection by pupils, parents and/or teachers.
4) Between 27th February and 27th April 2009, 1,000 Questionnaires were positioned at nine pick-up and collection points around the town. These were at the following popular locations: Booths Supermarket, the Public Library, the Visitor Information Centre, the Cinema & Civic Centre, the Cooperative Late Shop, the Heritage Centre, Welcome Café in Longridge, and the Cooperative Shop, Parkgate – stocks of Questionnaires were replenished daily.
5) In addition, Questionnaires were available in Braille, Audio and in Large Print.
Hence, the Survey was well advertised and readily available to absolutely everyone!
Survey Respondents
1,131 people answered the Survey on-line via the Town Plan Blog / Website
1,258 people who completed the Survey manually, delivered forms to one of the 8 delivery / collection points around the town, another 177 were returned via schools and 66 more were mailed to the Town Clerk. Daily collections of completed forms were made by the Town Plan team.
The total of 2,632 completed Survey Questionnaires represents approximately 25% of the Knutsford parish population aged over 16 years, and equates to about 45% of households.
Survey Analyses
Questionnaires answered online were automatically and instantaneously analysed by the survey analysis software system, Survey Methods (see http://www.surveymethods.com/).
All hand-written Questionnaires were transcribed into the Survey Methods system by 27 volunteers over two months. This included re-typing all text as well as multiple-choice answers. All Survey data are now being evaluated by six volunteer Working Groups. They and the Steering Group will produce a Draft Report and Action Plan early in Year 2010. This will be trialled for comment by the Knutsford community. A Town Plan Final Report and Action Plan will follow in spring 2010. Thereafter, the Steering Group will maintain a dialogue with Councils and closely monitor implementation of recommended Town Plan actions.
Any Data Queries: please contact the Data Co-ordinator by email: derek.empson@ntlworld.com or 01565 651737
Eligibility. Everyone who lives in Knutsford, everyone who works in Knutsford, the owners of Knutsford businesses or land, pupils and teachers at Knutsford schools, and regular Knutsford shoppers.
Availability of Questionnaires:
1) Between 11th February and 27th April 2009 (75 days), the Questionnaire could be answered on-line via Town Plan websites www.thetownplan.blogspot.com/ and www.knutsfordtownplan.info/ There were also links to the online Questionnaire from five other well-known Knutsford websites.
2) By 3rd March and until 27th April 2009 (55 days) 6,500 questionnaires had been hand-delivered to residences within the Knutsford parish boundary, for completion.
3) From 27th February 2009, 1,500 Questionnaires were distributed to and a stock was maintained at the 8 Knutsford schools for collection by pupils, parents and/or teachers.
4) Between 27th February and 27th April 2009, 1,000 Questionnaires were positioned at nine pick-up and collection points around the town. These were at the following popular locations: Booths Supermarket, the Public Library, the Visitor Information Centre, the Cinema & Civic Centre, the Cooperative Late Shop, the Heritage Centre, Welcome Café in Longridge, and the Cooperative Shop, Parkgate – stocks of Questionnaires were replenished daily.
5) In addition, Questionnaires were available in Braille, Audio and in Large Print.
Hence, the Survey was well advertised and readily available to absolutely everyone!
Survey Respondents
1,131 people answered the Survey on-line via the Town Plan Blog / Website
1,258 people who completed the Survey manually, delivered forms to one of the 8 delivery / collection points around the town, another 177 were returned via schools and 66 more were mailed to the Town Clerk. Daily collections of completed forms were made by the Town Plan team.
The total of 2,632 completed Survey Questionnaires represents approximately 25% of the Knutsford parish population aged over 16 years, and equates to about 45% of households.
Survey Analyses
Questionnaires answered online were automatically and instantaneously analysed by the survey analysis software system, Survey Methods (see http://www.surveymethods.com/).
All hand-written Questionnaires were transcribed into the Survey Methods system by 27 volunteers over two months. This included re-typing all text as well as multiple-choice answers. All Survey data are now being evaluated by six volunteer Working Groups. They and the Steering Group will produce a Draft Report and Action Plan early in Year 2010. This will be trialled for comment by the Knutsford community. A Town Plan Final Report and Action Plan will follow in spring 2010. Thereafter, the Steering Group will maintain a dialogue with Councils and closely monitor implementation of recommended Town Plan actions.
Any Data Queries: please contact the Data Co-ordinator by email: derek.empson@ntlworld.com or 01565 651737
Achievements & Present Work
• May to July 2008 – Town Plan Mini Surveys identified more than 100 topics of concern
• August 2008 to January 2009 – preparation of online and paper Community Survey Questionnaire
• February to April 2009 – Survey launched. 25% of the population completed the Survey Questionnaire. 271,000 items of answer data were collected. In addition, more than 7,000 text comments are being digested.
• This was the most comprehensive impartial survey and the largest data sample of community views ever gathered in Knutsford
• May to June 2009 – A statistical analysis was completed of all responses & written comments
. July to September - on 13th July, Cheshire East and Knutsford Town Council were briefed by the Town Plan on progresss to date and the planned way forward. Working Groups are holding discussions with stakeholders, specialists & Councils, as necessary.
• August 2008 to January 2009 – preparation of online and paper Community Survey Questionnaire
• February to April 2009 – Survey launched. 25% of the population completed the Survey Questionnaire. 271,000 items of answer data were collected. In addition, more than 7,000 text comments are being digested.
• This was the most comprehensive impartial survey and the largest data sample of community views ever gathered in Knutsford
• May to June 2009 – A statistical analysis was completed of all responses & written comments
. July to September - on 13th July, Cheshire East and Knutsford Town Council were briefed by the Town Plan on progresss to date and the planned way forward. Working Groups are holding discussions with stakeholders, specialists & Councils, as necessary.
Future Timetable
• September to October – Working Groups will draft section reports & their follow-up action proposals
• October to November – The Steering Group will prepare the Report & Action Plan in draft form for consideration by the community
• November to December - Prepare presentation & display material summarising Town Plan conclusions, recommendations & proposed actions
• January 2010 – 2nd round of consultations on the draft Action Plan – obtain and consider feed-back from the Knutsford community
• February - Finalise Town Plan Report & Action Plan
• March – Distribute Final Report & Action Plan to the Town Council & Cheshire East Council Local Area Partnership for Knutsford
. April 2010 – Town Plan Phase 2 will commence. The Steering Group will maintain a dialogue with Cheshire East Council and the Town Council in order to monitor progress and continue pressure to implement actions recommended in the Town Plan Report.
• October to November – The Steering Group will prepare the Report & Action Plan in draft form for consideration by the community
• November to December - Prepare presentation & display material summarising Town Plan conclusions, recommendations & proposed actions
• January 2010 – 2nd round of consultations on the draft Action Plan – obtain and consider feed-back from the Knutsford community
• February - Finalise Town Plan Report & Action Plan
• March – Distribute Final Report & Action Plan to the Town Council & Cheshire East Council Local Area Partnership for Knutsford
. April 2010 – Town Plan Phase 2 will commence. The Steering Group will maintain a dialogue with Cheshire East Council and the Town Council in order to monitor progress and continue pressure to implement actions recommended in the Town Plan Report.
We Welcome your Help!
We warmly welcome three new volunteer members of Working Groups. They are:
Norma Dawson
Doug Henry
Mike Tolchard
We would still like to hear from people who are interested in working with the Town Plan team of volunteers in any capacity.
Please contact the Communications Officer by telephone on 01565 650300 or by email at bobquin1@btinternet.com if you are willing to help.
Thank you!
Norma Dawson
Doug Henry
Mike Tolchard
We would still like to hear from people who are interested in working with the Town Plan team of volunteers in any capacity.
Please contact the Communications Officer by telephone on 01565 650300 or by email at bobquin1@btinternet.com if you are willing to help.
Thank you!
Calling all Young People!
We urge all young people to take an interest in the Town Plan. Questionnaires were sent to all Knutsford schools, and young people both at these schools and who are members of youth groups (e.g. Scouts) were asked to complete the survey. Although the Survey has ended, the Steering Group are always ready to receive or listen to your ideas about how to improve Knutsford for young people of all ages. Simply email the address, below.
You might wish to contact us about sports, hobbies, music, games, cafes, clubs; or about cycling, road safety, bullying, litter, drugs, pedestrian crossings, confidential advice and services, careers advice, after school activities and facilities; in short, anything!
If you're under 16 you will need the permission of your parents or an appropriate responsible adult before you contact us either by letter or on this Blog Site.
You might wish to contact us about sports, hobbies, music, games, cafes, clubs; or about cycling, road safety, bullying, litter, drugs, pedestrian crossings, confidential advice and services, careers advice, after school activities and facilities; in short, anything!
If you're under 16 you will need the permission of your parents or an appropriate responsible adult before you contact us either by letter or on this Blog Site.
What is the Town Plan?
Town (and Parish) Plans are a form of community-led planning aimed to give those living and working in rural villages and semi-rural towns such as Knutsford, a way of deciding for themselves - and letting local Councils know - how they would like their village or town to develop over the next five to ten years. Knutsford Town Plan is a blueprint for the future of the town. The Plan can address all factors that have an impact on the quality of life including social, transport, housing, recreation, town facilities, planning issues, etc.
A Town Plan is not produced by the local Council but by a Steering Group of volunteers from the local community. While working independently, the Group of nine members includes three councillors, to enable the two bodies to liaise in a co-operative way.
A Town Plan is not produced by the local Council but by a Steering Group of volunteers from the local community. While working independently, the Group of nine members includes three councillors, to enable the two bodies to liaise in a co-operative way.
How did the Town Plan begin?
Parishes and towns all over the country began producing their Plans in 2001, funded by Government grants. In Knutsford, following persistent public requests, an initial consultation took place at a Public Meeting held in the Civic Centre in June 2007 when a large number of topics – well over fifty – were identified by 75 members of the public who attended. A second meeting took place later in 2007 to identify people who were willing to consider volunteering as members of the Steering Group or Working Groups. An inaugural meeting at which potential Steering Group members met for the first time to commit their support to the Town Plan took place on 7th February 2008.
The Steering Group has met formally every month or more frequently, since then. Its members cooperate on a daily basis between monthly meetings, working on the Town Plan project. Six Working Groups, all volunteers, address specific issues and the views of the community expressed through the survey; they will ultimately report to the Steering Group on their findings and recommendations for the future of the town. The Steering Group will write and approve the Final Report and Action Plan.
When Government funding ran out in March 2008, Cheshire County Council agreed to provide finance for Town and Parish Plans through Cheshire Community Action, a charity it supports to assist and oversee all Town Plans within the County. On 18th July, our request for a Development Grand (to cover the cost of printing, survey distribution, the hiring of meeting rooms, etc.) was approved and further necessary funds were provided by Cheshire Community Action. The Town Plan then also received additional financial grants for its work from Macclesfield Borough Council and the Town Council. The expenditure of these funds is strictly controlled and properly authorised. We also receive advice and assistance in kind from Bron Kerrigan, the Community Action facilitator, and from Diane Smith, the Knutsford Town Manager within Cheshire East Council. Until it was superseded by Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Borough Council had also been very supportive.
The community questionnaire was compiled in winter 2008 and the Survey was distributed, and collected between February and April 2009. Analysis of the results and follow-up work then commenced.
For any further information, please contact the communications officer, Bob Quin by email:
bobquin1@btinternet.com
The Steering Group has met formally every month or more frequently, since then. Its members cooperate on a daily basis between monthly meetings, working on the Town Plan project. Six Working Groups, all volunteers, address specific issues and the views of the community expressed through the survey; they will ultimately report to the Steering Group on their findings and recommendations for the future of the town. The Steering Group will write and approve the Final Report and Action Plan.
When Government funding ran out in March 2008, Cheshire County Council agreed to provide finance for Town and Parish Plans through Cheshire Community Action, a charity it supports to assist and oversee all Town Plans within the County. On 18th July, our request for a Development Grand (to cover the cost of printing, survey distribution, the hiring of meeting rooms, etc.) was approved and further necessary funds were provided by Cheshire Community Action. The Town Plan then also received additional financial grants for its work from Macclesfield Borough Council and the Town Council. The expenditure of these funds is strictly controlled and properly authorised. We also receive advice and assistance in kind from Bron Kerrigan, the Community Action facilitator, and from Diane Smith, the Knutsford Town Manager within Cheshire East Council. Until it was superseded by Cheshire East Council, Macclesfield Borough Council had also been very supportive.
The community questionnaire was compiled in winter 2008 and the Survey was distributed, and collected between February and April 2009. Analysis of the results and follow-up work then commenced.
For any further information, please contact the communications officer, Bob Quin by email:
bobquin1@btinternet.com
