Community Appraisal Summary

The summary is divided into ten section, covering the main aspects of the Community Appraisal carried out in 2000.

People and Population : Castle Donington people use its services daily. High proportion of old and/or disabled people need more health provision, social services, and activities/venues.

Leisure and Recreation : Local facilities are inadequate. Over 50 % of respondents said a Leisure Centre including a swimming pool was essential. Play areas needed better maintenance, safety, and wider range of equipment.

Health Services : 67% said we had good health facilities. 42% were concerned with the poor Doctor numbers. 80 % condemned the out of hours system.

Shopping and Services : 55% said there was an adequate range of shops. Why not use them ? Poor range, expensive and poor access. We need a greengrocer and Social / Welfare Centre.

Communications : 90% said NuNews was their main source of information. 88% wanted a Village magazine. Local councils and service providers need to do more to make information more freely available.

Local Government : There is a widespread perception that local government does not recognise, or respond to, residents views. A high percentage expressed dissatisfaction. A feeling that the further away the Council, the more remote the Village becomes.

Transport, Traffic and Roads: Unsatisfactory conditions require urgent action. High dependency on public transport needs matching services. Traffic calming measures are desperately needed.

Crime: Improve police presence, retain the Station, and improve response time. We need more activities for youngsters to keep them off the streets. Improved street lighting would help allay fears.

Environment : The Village Centre particularly is dirty and shabby. The conservation area needs proper funding and care. 97% said the countryside had changed for the worse. 96% were opposed to further development on greenfield sites.

East Midlands Airport and Donington Park : Noise reduction is a priority, and strict enforcement is needed. Concurrent events at Donington Park should be strictly controlled to alleviate traffic issues. Testing / Race days need monitoring to ensure compliance with agreed figures.

Young People :
Summer School and the Scout Movement are well supported, but there are insufficient other activities in the village. A Youth Forum would allow young peoples voices to be heard.

Conclusions :
The people of Castle Donington care about their community. They are proud of the village and like living here. Changes and improvements should be made, but not at the expense of the village identity, or adversely affecting the quality of life. Much can be done now. Several existing plans are in direct contradiction to the wishes of the residents. Please, please listen !

We are now doing something with the Village Appraisal results. Please have a look at our Working Groups section.