Social and Community

Information - Do people know about social opportunities? Do we need a parish newsletter or magazine or more notice boards? Is there a village website? Is the internet used as a communication tool?

Village halls/ community buildings - who uses them? What facilities do they offer? Who could use them if they were improved or adapted in some way?

Volunteering - Is this encouraged? Is it given enough support?

Young & old people - the needs of particular groups of people, for example pre-school children and their parents, teenagers, over 60s, people with hearing, sight, language or mobility difficulties, people who work shifts or long hours, ethnic groups.

Should there be a youth worker or a teenage shelter?

Services

Ambulance/fire/police response rates - Are we adequately served by the emergency services?

Carers - People caring for sick or disabled friends or relatives may be isolated and need support or needs assessments.

Childcare - Is there demand for better childcare facilities?

Community information - Access to library services, village newsletter, web site, internet access.

Communications – should there be a mobile phone mast/tv transmitter/cable television?

Crime and safety - Neighbourhood Watch, community policing. Build a village car park with tv cameras.

Education & training - Pre-school, primary school, secondary; vocational & adult education. Could the school be used for other purposes? Could more use be made of the school bus? Can there be a walking bus, a bigger playground, a nursery? Should we be in the Skipton catchment area for secondary schools?

Health and personal care -Access to GP surgeries, drop-in clinics for the young and the elderly, chiropody, dentistry services.

Housing - Is there an adequate supply of rented and privately owned accommodation? Is it affordable? Do we need a housing needs survey?

Lighting - Is there enough? Too much? Is it in a style sympathetic with the character of the village?

Water – Should there be mains water?

Public telephones - Are there enough and are they reliable?

Public toilets-Are there enough and are they maintained adequately?

Public transport - Who needs transport? Where do they live and want to go to? Consider doing a transport needs assessment, maybe with a view to accessing help from other Vital Villages schemes and tying with the Market Towns Initiative.

Refuse collection/provision of litter bins - Is it collected often enough? Are there enough bins for public use?

Should there be a cash machine, extra post boxes, better pavements?

Economic

Employment needs and opportunities - What exists already? Is more needed? Is there a shortage of skilled labour? Does the community make the most of its home-grown skills and products, crafts etc.? Should there be small business units?

Food - Access to supplies and the origins; is it locally- produced, are there delivery schemes? Is it fresh and of good quality? Are there organic alternatives?

New technology - Is there a public internet terminal? Faxing facility!

Not-for-profit enterprises-Are they adequately supported and promoted?

Recycling and energy efficiency - Are there recycling facilities? Are they well-used? Could homes and community buildings be made energy efficient?

Retail services - Where do people shop? Which banks and post offices do they use? Can everyone get to them? Are services under threat of closure? Are there mobile services?

Land & environment

Built environment - Traditional and modern styles. Village form and layout. Opportunities and prospects for new development. Would a village design statement be helpful?

Historic sites and heritage features - Are they well managed, appreciated, promoted? Do they contribute to the quality of life in the village? Do visitor numbers create a problem or an opportunity?

Landscape - Are there local or national landscape designations? Has a Landscape Character Assessment been produced for the area? Could landscape be improved? Is it likely to change?

Parish assets - Historic buildings, places and features that might be used to promote local tourism/ business.

Traffic speed and volume - Road safety, parking and access.

Wildlife and natural habitats - Which sites/species are important and why? Do people visit and appreciate them? How are important sites being managed?

Leisure

Access to the countryside - Is the Rights of Way network well signed, waymarked and maintained? Is there provision for walkers, horse riders and cyclists? Is it accessible to wheelchairs, people with pushchairs and others of limited mobility?

Children’s interests - Are there safe and interesting places for children to play and explore?

Sport, recreation and social activities -What do people do in their spare time? Is there sufficient provision for all age groups and interests? Should there be a bowling green, cricket pitch or nets, new tennis court?

Visitors and tourism - Who visits and why? What are their accommodation, refreshment, transport and information needs? Should there be an arts festival?