Dear Residents
Parish Councillors are working on a plan of what we want to do in the parish over the next
five years. For this we need your opinion on what matters most to you about living here.
Also we want to know from you what our priorities should be. This is important because the
devolution of services and responsibilities from the Isle of Wight Council to towns and
parishes has already started. We need to be ready to respond to this and take control of
work that will benefit us all.
Our first survey was in 2008. At that time, above all else you wanted the Parish Council to
maintain a quiet and rural environment. The thing you most disliked about the parish was
traffic speed and the lack of a pavement in Chillerton.
Since then the results of the 2011 National Census have been published, and from that we
know there have been some changes in the profile of residents compared with the last
census in 2001. These include:
• A small increase in the number of households and residents in the parish (422 in 2011)
• A large increase (52%) in the number of people aged 65 and over
• An increase in the number of people living alone
• A small decrease in the under 15’s and a large increase in the 15-25 age group
• More people in part time employment
• An increase in homes owned outright
Compared with the Island as a whole, the parish has more households with more than one
car. Also very few people use public transport to go to work, school or college. However we
have significant numbers of people, especially in the older age ranges, relying on public
transport to get around.
We will be putting a lot more detail about the 2001 and 2011 census data in an appendix to
the plan, which we will publish in May. So we really need to know your views on where you
feel the Parish Council should be making a positive difference over the next few years. We
will put the results of the survey and the plan in the parish newsletter, on noticeboards and
the parish website.
I am therefore asking you to take ten minutes to complete the survey on behalf of everyone
in your household. You can get extra copies from any of your parish councillors. We will be
knocking on your door to collect it over the next few weeks. We have also put a copy on our
website so if you prefer you can complete a digital copy – click here – and email it to maxyule@gmail.com
Many thanks Gillian Belben
Acting Chair
