1. Arlesey Neighbourhood Plan Survey 2015 Results

2. Who completed the survey?
A survey was sent to every household in the parish:
597 households completed the survey
25% of all households in the parish (based on 2,344 households, 2011 Census) or
11% of Arlesey residents (based on 5,521 people, 2011 Census)

3. About you

4. Q1: Which best describes your situation?

5. Q2: What is your home postcode?
Surveys returned from 90 distinct postcode areas
Most frequent postcode areas:
Postcode
Number of times cited
SG15 6UF 20
SG15 6ST 17
SG15 6XX
SG15 6XZ
SG15 6RA 16
SG15 6YB 15
*Surveys will be plotted against map to illustrate distribution

6. Q2: Distribution of survey responses across Arlesey

7. Q3: How long have you lived or worked in Arlesey?

8. Q4: In which age group do you fall?

9. Comparison of ages, census v survey responses

10. Housing & Heritage

11. Q5: How do you rate the historical importance of these?

12. 32 Responses provided in ‘other’
Moorlands Farmhouse and Edgeware House
Most are listed so you can’t touch them.
New here so only know some of these
not heard of most of these places, if residential should be kept by owners
old co-op building is on map but not on list but quite important
Old St Peters School
Should have kept the fountain pub that my grandparents had many years ago.
The Arlesey houses with the White bricks
The Old School House
They are all part of Arlesey's history
Tidy Time needs listing
Vicars Inn - very important
War Memorial very important.
Where are those not ticked?
Where is Arlesey House?
Willow tree on Stotfold road
Would have liked to have known you were seeking comments on my home! I live at the old Wesleyan chapel!
79 Church Lane
All historic buildings are important and should not be ruined by inappropriate development.
Also West Lodge, Tidy Time (Art Deco building), Edgworth House and Chase House I feel are very important
Biggs Hall building is unique
Biggs Wall 'Very Important'
Church farm is the best!
Don't know area so can't comment
Don’t know enough about other buildings - may be important.
Don’t know other places (also Q6)
Have not lived here long enough to know
Health centre etc
I do not know the ones I have marked unimportant
I do not know the ones I haven’t marked
I don't know any of those places
I haven't even heard of most of these!

13. Q6: How do you rate the following in terms of importance?
Taking Very and Quite important together, the top 5 are:
War heroes
Fairfield Hospital
Agricultural history
Three counties station
Etonbury
Note: not everyone had heard of all the places

14. Q7: If you could replicate some of the following as a feature or in artwork, which would you support?
Taking Very and Quite important together, the order is:
Arlesey white bricks
The water pump
The old clock
Market charter
The onion barn
Note: not everyone had heard of all the places hence the high returns of no opinion/no response

15. Q7: 19 Responses provided in ‘other’
A white brick sign on the way in to the village
Arlesey Lake
Arlesey Siding School
Arlesey's footballing history
Barn at Moorlands Farm which had really old carved writing in it.
Bury Lodge
Co-op/Post Office in House Lane
Don't know any of the above
Have to be careful of pastiche design
I don’t know enough about these
Iron weighbridge at top end of West Drive (see separate letter).
New here so cannot offer an opinion
Open spaces and fields.
Primary School
The Old Clock is in store.
The old station
The Silo
what is a market charter?
Which old clock do you mean ?

16. Q8: Domestic car parking should be off-road, to the side or at the front of houses
86% agree with this statement

17. Q9: Storage areas for waste bins should be provided such that they are less visible on the main streets
78% agree with this statement

18. Q10: New houses should be built around squares with fenced-off parks in the centre to ensure children are safe
74% agree with this statement

19. Q11: The public footpaths around Arlesey are well liked and should be connected with the new development
81% agree with this statement

20. Q12: New development should be a mix of housing styles rather than a consistent look and feel
79% agree with this statement

21. Q13: Arlesey needs more affordable housing
55% agree with this statement
27% disagree
18% Don’t know/did not answer

22. Q14: Arlesey needs more affordable housing as bungalows
47% agree with this statement
24% disagree
29% Don’t know/did not answer

23. Q15: Affordable housing should be…
70% opted for affordable housing to be integrated

24. Amenities

25. Q16: How do you rate the importance of the following amenities in Arlesey?
Top 3 based on Very
Important:
Railway Station: 11%
Pharmacy: 10%
Shops: 9%
Top 5 combining Very and
Quite Important:
Railway Station: 8%
Pharmacy: 8%
Village Hall: 8%
Shops: 7%
Rec Ground: 7%

26. Q.16. 33 Responses provided in ‘other’
Need a bank
Need more shops
Needed at both ends to be in walking distance.
Needs free cash points
No facilities at all in Arlesey
No idea what the Trim Trail is
Parking at station ridiculous to have to drive to Henlow to park
pedestrian only centre of village
Petrol station and free cash machines
Public Houses
Some new themed restaurants would be good!
St Peters Church
Supermarket
Surgery and Health Centre - yes please
We need a cafe!
we should be encouraging new business into the village
Whilst a desperate eyesore, the Car Wash is a very useful amenity
Best facilities for children of all ages
Better restaurants are needed
Can't WI use the village hall
Communal focal point as an open space to accommodate small gatherings
Co-op would be useful
Could do with mini-Tesco/Waitrose and coffee place.
Did not fill in
Doctors
Doctors surgery
Football Club
I would like to see a small supermarket selling fresh produce
Improve library with hub area and gothic mede (?)
Independent shops selling local produce please
Independent shops vital. Not Tesco
More railway parking at Church End side of railway

27. Q17: How do you rate the importance of bringing the following new/improved amenities to Arlesey?
Top 3 based on Very
Important:
Parks/green spaces 16%
Indie food shops: 14%
More for older/ youth/young: 12%
Top 5 combining Very and
Quite Important:
Parks/green spaces 12%
Indie food shops: 12%
More for older etc:11%
Sports facilities: 10%
Supermarket: 9%

28. Q17: Graph of those selecting ‘Very Important’

29. Q17. 33 Responses provided in ‘other’
Keep it a nice quirky village and don't over load it as a new town.
Large supermarket required
More bins for dog poo, larger notices.
More doctors in surgery
Much larger Doctors practice
need a building with small rooms for hire e.g. committee rooms say 40 people in size
Need better access to / more Doctors
nice to see a dog park so we can walk places without mess on the path.
Parking would need to be provided.
Rent a scooter/bike centre
Skate park should be re-done to a higher standard
Some shops needed up Church End. Better cafes and restaurants - more high end.
South end of village has no amenities at all
swimming pool
Tennis courts
there is a need to protect the countryside around arlesey
Water park area like the one in Letchworth would be good!
We have a brilliant Nisa shop plus 3 others - no supermarket needed.
workshop where people can make things
Youth club/centre with longer opening hours.
A dog park alongside much restricted access for dogs to other areas, fed up with dog mess everywhere.
Activities for special needs adults.
Any Cafe or tea room should be run by local people rather than a chain, there is no call for a Costa Coffee for example.
Arlesey needs major modernisation, in fitting 2015
Be careful not to create a separation of old and new
Can we have resource centre serve tea and coffee again. Spurious Health and Safety reason for not doing so is rubbish. It massively drove use of resource centre when they did.
car parking banned on public transport routes
Coffee shop to encourage all ages to socialise.
Compulsory Car Park to be used by Commuters
Develop Leisure Centre at Football Club
Disability information counter.
Doctor's surgery; Vet
Either supermarket or independents but not both as independents couldn't compete
i find the level of dog fouling is unacceptable
It would be nice to have a fenced in field for dogs to run and walk in.

30. Q18: If there was money to be invested in Arlesey’s amenities, on which of the following would you prefer it to be spent?
‘Other’ responses listed on next slide

31. Q18. 36 Responses provided in ‘other’
See comments on separate word document

32. Q19: Which of the following would you be likely to use if it was in Arlesey?
Top 3 based on Very
Important:
Baker: 16%
Butcher: 14%
Supermarket: 13%
Top 5 combining Very and
Quite Important:
Baker: 14%
Butcher: 13%
Indie shops: 13%
Greengrocer: 13%
Supermarket: 12%

33. Q19: 17 Responses provided in ‘other’
Charity shop.
DIY Store
FARM SHOP OPTION?
Garden counter.
Hotel
I cant see how the current plan provides for a central shopping area. It appears to be at the North end.
I only want independent shops, no supermarket chains
Large supermarket required
Need Tesco Express
Not in favour of Supermarket
opinion on supermarket depends on which company. I would also support a hardware store in the village.
Perhaps one of the new restaurants can put in a soft play area?
Petrol station, bank
Police contact within shop
Setup like Fairfield Park
Would like tesco.
Yarn shop!!

34. Q20: Do you feel there is a need for more shops/amenities in Arlesey and, if so, where?
44% want them spread throughout the village
‘Other’ responses listed on next slide

35. Q20. 38 Responses provided in ‘other’
A town centre would be awful.. No way
Anywhere with parking
As planned on the High Street south of the War Memorial
As proposed
Both ends.
Church End
Closer to the Stotfold side of the village - but needs to have better parking!
Dont need any more
High St is fine
I don't think it matters where, providing it's accessable
I Like the idea of a village square with cafe and shops around it
I think parking is going to be a major factor in the success of any shops, especially if grouped together
I think that the new development should have a town square which includes shops meeting place and war memorial a place were the hole village can get to gether
In existing high street
Near 'The Cross'
Near the War Memorial; near the Station
Near Village Hall also Hitchin Rd South end of High St.
Needs to be central so majority can use them, rather than one end.
New Town Centre, High Street south of war memorial
No more amenities needed
No need
No need for additional shops.
No other shops
No preference
none
Nowhere
on high st south of war memorial
Parking must be available off road
People need to support local shops
Redevelop the existing Village Hall complex as a Town Centre. This makes much more sense as its central
Shops near the Village Hall and throughout the village
The Chase
there are enough shops in Hitchin Letchworth etc
Village Square
War Memorial to Railway Station.
Where it is suggested would be ideal
Within the new development

36. Q21: If relevant, do you think more places should be made available for Arlesey’s children in the following?
Respondents could choose more than one option
51%
people answered this question

37. Q21. 15 Responses provided in ‘other’
All schools
cheap play scheme like there used to be in the 80's/ early 90's in the youth club
Gothic mede
lower school
More primary school places needed. GM at capacity.
N/A
N/A
no comment
Not applicable
Nursery school open to 19:00 to cater for London commuters
Outside school activities.
Primary Schools
swimming pool
Teenager friendly activity centre

38. Businesses

39. Q22: Which of the following type of business premises does Arlesey need to provide more employment?
Respondents could choose more than one option
89% people answered this question

40. Q23: Does the village need more of the following?
86% people answered this question

41. Q24: How often do you shop in Arlesey?
93% people answered this question

42. Q25: How do you most often find a local business to provide goods or services?
93% people answered this question

43. Q26: What would make it easier for you to access businesses in Arlesey?
90% people answered this question

44. Environment

45. Q27: How do you rate the importance of these green spaces?

46. Q28: Where development takes place, which of the following features would you like to see included within the built-up area?

47. Q29: How important are the following relating to energy conservation/green energy?

48. Q30: How important are the following relating to low pollution impact?

49. Q31: How important are the following relating to surface water and flooding?

50. Q32: If there were opportunities for new natural green spaces, how strongly would you support the following?

51. Transport

52. This shows how people are currently making journeys
Car %
Bus
Cycle
Walk
Work
291
82% 21 6% 13 4% 28 8%
Station
102
26% 11 3% 10
262
68%
School 72
44% 8 5%
Local shops
172
36% 5 1% 15
286
60%
Further shops
404
85% 49
10% 9 2% 14
People are most likely to use their cars for travelling to work and accessing shops/facilities further afield.
The buses are not well used – why might this be? Lack of routes? Poor timetabling?
Cycling score fairly low across the board – are there routes in place? Do people feel unsafe cycling?
People appear to be content to walk for more local journeys, which is a good start. How can we make routes more pleasant?

53. On the whole, where people are already walking, cycling or using the bus for local journeys, they would continue to do so
For example, those going to work charts below: (similar trend for other local journeys):

54. When it comes to car users going to work, fewer would move to a more sustainable mode of transport 72% would not wish to change

55. 68% of respondents already walk to the station
68% of respondents already walk to the station. Of the 26% who drive, 64% of these would change, with 37% wanting to use a bus

56. School journeys already have the fewest car users, with as many walking as driving. 61% of those car users would opt for a different mode
Does the local school have a travel plan in place to encourage non-car use?

57. 60% of respondents already walk to the local shops
60% of respondents already walk to the local shops. Of the 172 people driving (36% of total) , just 1 third would continue to drive. How can you encourage more people to walk?

58. Inevitably most people drive when shopping further afield
Inevitably most people drive when shopping further afield. Two thirds would not want to change but 18% might opt for a bus

59. Q34: Would you support these traffic calming measures?
506 people gave an opinion
503 people gave an opinion

60. Q34: Would you support these traffic calming measures?
508 people gave an opinion
509 people gave an opinion

61. Q35: Do you have any other comments?
56 additional comments – see separate document for full detail. Most frequently cited comments relate to:
Need to slow down traffic – House Lane, Hitchin Rd, Hospital Lane etc (lots of people don’t like speedhumps) – links to concerns about development bringing in even more traffic
Build necessary infrastructure/services to support new development eg. primary school, adequate sewers etc
Parking – more off-road, more restrictions to deter commuters parking in square/main roads, more parking, dedicated car park for the school, residents permits as a solution?
More cycle friendly routes called for; wider pavements
Access across A507 to get to fields
Ban HGV traffic – often rides onto the pavement
People again flagging that they weren’t aware of some of the assets listed in Q5, Q6