Our first project is to draw up a Community Plan for Culham, after full consultation with village residents.
Here are some informal comments people have been making about what's good and what's bad about Culham, and what improvements they would like to see:
Here's a first attempt at combining the above (but not yet Katie Davis' or Sam Casey-Rerhaye's survey results) under general headings:
Community buildings and gardens
Don't like:
No village hall or meeting place (2)
No shop
Limited use of Church
Would like:
Community building (18)
Community garden (3)
Community orchard
Community allotments
Community shop and cafe (32)
Community market and stalls (4)
Post Office
Sports hall and facilitiesa (2)
Church for other community use (4)
Toilets in the church (3)
Warm room in the church for meetings etc
Space for teenagers/community dance space/family celebration space/
snooker table/darts/place to watch football (3)
Open up area of Green around old Lion pub
Grazing on the Green
Encourage use of existing buildings
Place for rock bands to practice
Playground and sports facilities
Don't like:
Secluded location of playing field (2)
Would like:
Sports hall and facilities (2)
Sports teams including football and cricket (4)
Tennis court (4)
Improved play equipment on the playing field
Different play equipment on the playing field for older children (1)
Skate park (3)
Running club
Gymnastics club (2)
BMX circuit
Zip wire
Small floodlight on the recreation ground
Badminton Club
Road safety and traffic
Do like:
The darkness of the village (limited street lighting)
That it has pavements and a 30mph speed limit
Don't like:
Too many large lorries - need weight restriction on bridge (2)
No predestrian crossing at Waggon and Horses and/or end of Burycroft (8)
Rat run through village
Speeding though village and Tollgate road (10)
No traffic calming (5)
Parking on grass verges and footpaths especially near school
Bikes on pavement
Narrow footpath from Tollgate road to Lock car park
Would like:
Widen the footpaths to the lock from Tollgate Road
Increased street lighting
Increased street lighting at Tollgate Rd end of High St
Culham bridge closed to HGVs
Traffic calming measures (including outside Europa and Culham Schools,
and white 'gates' on entry into village)(12)
Improved roads around the Green
Car park for people coming to private lessons/events on the Green
Toll on Culham Bridge
Schools and playgroups
Do like:
Having an active village school
That the village school has been saved
That the village has a playgroup
Don't like:
Little involvement of European School in village
Would like:
After school child care
Services
Do like:
Near to good transportation links
Don't like:
Infrequent bus services
Would like:
Mains gas (10)
Use of village website to advertise local expertise and interests (2)
Better use of village website
Programme of events throughout year including organised walks (2)
Improved Internet speed (10)
Improved bus service including more frequent service to Harwell (2)
Bus Shelter
Whole village email system
Local dentist
Welcome Pack for new residents (2)
Social
Do like:
Lots of children and young people
Peaceful and friendly (3)
The community events that are held
That it is community spirited (2)
Having a pub (2)
Would like:
Youth group (3)
Teenager groups
Mother and toddler group
Lunch club
Cheese and wine party
More community events (2)
More editors for Mouthpiece
Other
Do like:
The darkness of the village (limited street lighting)
Being a village but close to the town (3)
The sound of the clockhouse bell
That our community feels safe
That it is in a good location
Having walks along the Thames (2)
Quiet country location
Free Newsletter (Mouthpiece)
German baker
The Mobile Library
Carboots
Don't like:
Overgrown hedges and footpaths
Rubbish dumping along Burycroft and around river
Excessive solar panels around the village (2)
Dilapidated garages along Thame Lane
Morrells and Adkins not pulling their weight in the village
Some perceptions that parts of the village are not part of the community
Dog poo (2)
No community spirit (2)
Would like:
New river bridge crossing/cycle bridge to Abingdon
Housing/workshop development on site of old mushroom farm (2)
More housing for families including affordable housing (2)
Clean pond behind churchyard
Additional dog poo bin near the 'donkey' bridge
Signs to pub, school and church in the village, and pub sign on river bank
Clearing of footpaths during summer months (4)
(suggestiong of a white line at edge of path)
Being warned when crops are sprayed
Lots of solar panels showing that people care about the environment
LETS system for doing stuff for no payment
Encourage use of milkman (2)
Water turbine on river
Twinning with villages in other countries
A zoo
Allotments
Village Christmas tree
Group of people who help elderly with shopping/getting medication/
regular visits/companion
Baby sitting circle (2)
Voluntary sitting service for residents with sick spouses or relatives
Here's a draft budget for the preparation of the Community Plan.