Tag: Survey

  • Council moves to remove barriers to public accessibility

    Council moves to remove barriers to public accessibility

    A project that aims to help residents get around the village using the path network wants your views to help guide its next steps. The Parish Council has shared seven H&I locations where access barriers to be removed – and residents are being invited to say if they agree with each suggestion or not.

    Metal chicanes across footpath entrances, barriers at cul-de-sac ends and street links are among the challenges preventing people from moving around the village. Especially pedestrians using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs. 

    Improving accessibility

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    access barrier
    Cllr McKeown has been able to illustrate what locations with the access barrier removed with the help of an AI tool. Photo: Cllr Tom McKeown / Dall-e AI model

    Cllr Tom McKeown, Chair of the Highways Committee has been championing this project since he first joined the council. The initiative is in line with the Equalities Act 2010 and a Histon & Impington Neighbourhood Plan priority is to improve footpaths for sustainable travel. 

    He said: “All residents can take part in the survey which looks to understand the community’s views on our proposals. We are seeking views on seven locations where a safety audit has approved direct removal of an existing barrier. 

    “Locations where white lining, addition of signs, installation of bollards or other measures may be required are not being considered at this time. We hope residents will understand the primary motivation for improved accessibility and the additional secondary benefits to sustainability.”

    The seven locations

    Twenty-six barriers have been identified for evaluation. Guidance from Cambridgeshire County Council and road safety experts suggests 15 of them are completely removed, nine require more involved redesigns and one is relocated. One has already been removed as part of works on the Guided Busway. 

    Last November, HI HUB reported the Parish Council had allocated funds towards removals for the first round of works. The seven initial locations being suggested as simple removals in the survey are:-

    • The Coppice – Central
    • The Coppice – South
    • Henry Morris Road
    • Symonds Close (proposal includes metal and concrete barrier)
    • Parlour Close
    • Narrow Close
    • Parr Close

    Contributors are also welcome to add further comments to the proposals. Locations that require replacement bollards or other measures will be visited in later rounds of work. 

    The survey is available here or can be accessed via QR codes attached to barriers around the village. It will close on Monday 3 February ahead of discussions at the Highways, Drainage and Formal Spaces committee on the evening of Tuesday 4 February.

    READ MORE: Two local groups selected for Co-op Community Fund

  • Have your say on Police funding for 2024/25

    Have your say on Police funding for 2024/25

    The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambs and Peterborough, Darryl Preston, has launched a short online survey asking for views on police funding for the coming year.

    With around half (54%) of Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s funding coming from government and the remaining 46% from the policing part of your council tax, the Commissioner is keen to understand the public’s views. He has announced that if the government announces a final police settlement that is better than anticipated, he’ll review what that means locally to help minimise any additional financial burden on residents. Your responses will help inform his final decision on how much he should raise the policing part of the council tax.

    If you would like a hard copy or would prefer to give your views by telephone, please call 0300 333 3456 or email cambs-pcc@cambs.police.uk

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    The survey will remain open until 5pm on 2 January 2024.

  • Have your say on GP services

    Have your say on GP services

    Residents are being asked to give feedback on their GP service experience in a survey being conducted on behalf of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).

    The survey, which was launched on 1 November and runs until 17 December, asks respondents to answer 18 questions. The results will be used anonymously to help CPFT shape the future of local services to meet the needs of residents.

    Questions ask for views on topics including receptionists triaging needs, preferences on ways to book appointments and expectations when making urgent and non-urgent GP appointments.

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    The survey also seeks to determine the next port of call for patients who are unable to make an immediate appointment, whether respondents try again, give up, use NHS 111, use local pharmacy services, attend a minor injuries unit – or use A&E departments.

    To have your views on local GP services heard, fill out the survey by 17 December.

  • Life is good – but not for everyone, survey reveals

    Life is good – but not for everyone, survey reveals

    Photo: Mark Seton on VisualHunt.com

    Cambridgeshire County Council’s first annual countywide ‘quality of life’ survey has found that although happiness and health scored highly, loneliness in the county is much higher than the national average.

    Histon & Impington residents were among the 5,500 residents who took part in the survey, and South Cambridgeshire came out as the district with the most positive scores in eight of ten areas rated in the study. These included happiness, health, Cambridgeshire as a place to raise children, and ‘feeling connected to the local community’ – which was defined as the community within a 15-minute walk of home.

    Countywide, over 70% of residents said they feel happy, safe and have a sense of belonging, but the picture, especially among younger residents, wasn’t as rosy across the board.

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    48% of respondents said they do not trust the County Council and 56% do not think it delivers value for money – though 46% said they did not know what services the Council offers.

    Younger people, renters, disabled residents and those from ethnic minorities reported more negative views and experiences. Loneliness was especially an issue for those in the 18-25 bracket, who also reported more struggles with their mental health.

    The survey will be repeated yearly so that the impact of changes in council decisions and policies can be measured. It will also show where its financial resources need to be focussed and enable funds to be reallocated if there are changes in residents’ responses.

    Given the Council’s budget gap for 2024/25, improving residents’ experiences will be more challenging than was previously expected.