Sustainable Community Strategy Consultations

Between May and October 2006 we carried out a wide-ranging public consultation to inform the development of the Sustainable Community Strategy. We would like to thank all those who got involved: we were overwhelmed by your enthusiasm for taking part and sharing your views.

So, how did we do?

• Over 1100 people aged from 8yrs-80yrs+ took part
• Over 350 young people were involved
• Most areas of North Somerset were covered
• Over 5,500 comments have been collected

What activities did you get involved in?

• Community Snapshots
• Schools Art Competition
• Questionnaire
• Online questionnaire
• Plant your Ideas
• Photo displays
• Sustainability Wheel
• Maps and Flags
• Key Issues and Solutions
• Young People's Diary Room Project
• Young People's Audio Interviews
• Local Democracy Week

Where did we meet you?

• North Somerset Show
• Portishead Youth Sports Day
• Portishead Flower Show
• Clevedon Lions Day
• Banwell Community Event
• Nailsea Community Event
• Pill Rag Week
• Change 1 Think Event, Weston-super-Mare
• Youth Parliament
• Weston, Clevedon & Nailsea Libraries
• Pill Resource Centre
• Youth Bus in Wrington, Blagdon, Pill, Winford and Weston
• Weston Community Cafe

What did you tell us?

We have collected a vast amount of evidence from our communities that can be used to help shape the new Sustainable Community Strategy - due to be launched towards the end of 2007.

We have been able to collect evidence about what people value in their areas and communities. These inlcude:

• Protecting the natural environment & preservation of heritage sites
• Maintaining & improving access to local services and community facilities/resources
• Supporting the local economy & encouraging variety in the retail offer
• Well designed built environments
• Maintaining open spaces
• Well designed highways & pedestrian access for all
• A sense of belonging & feeling comfortable and safe

Throughout all our consultations young people have been keen to share their views and shown a real community spirit. Priorities for young people include:

• Being involved in shaping local services for young people
• Transport issues
• Environmental issues
• To feel safe using local facilities such as parks
• Wishing to bridge the generation gap
• Improving the retail offer in towns across North Somerset
• Improved access to local health services
• Increased amounts of affordable housing
• Better information about what is happening in their area

For more information about our consultation programme please see the overview (pdf, 78k)

 

Although the consultation was about informing the developiment of the new Sustainable Community Strategy, the results are being used to support other initiatives and projects. These include: developing delivery partnership action plans, the development of the Local Area Agreement, the Play Strategy lottery bid, Nailsea School application, the Older People's Strategy, the Gateways Project and informing Parish Planning Teams across the district.