Survey Conducted by West Horsley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
On behalf of West Horsley Parish Council

55% RESPONSE RATE - 615 respondents out of 1121 households
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HERITAGE & ENVIRONMENT

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• 87% regarded green open space as the most important key feature of the village

• 80% supported retention of green spaces at Ripley Lane, East Lane and Long Reach

• 76% supported protection of historic buildings

• 95% wish to see return of the post office, 60% wish a chemist West Horsley

DEVELOPMENT

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• 90% supported brownfield site development, 43% within existing village settlement area, 23% infill development.

• 63% support an integrated mix of homes with 47% favouring 2/3 bed homes

• 67% supported a small dwellings policy for downsizing, written comments revealed dissatisfaction with the current practice of developing existing single storey homes on good sized plots into executive homes

• With regard to housing numbers, a 15 year supply of 76-100 homes received 25% support with 4% in favour of >200 homes over 15 years, neither of these figures approximates to the projected GBC figure of 652 homes for West Horsley over 15 years.  

• 69% of respondents favoured similar density to the present (1-4 per acre) GBC favours 30 per hectare.

EDUCATION

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• 87% of respondents agreed that local children should have priority attendance at Raleigh School

• 77% agreed that a similar priority applied to Howard of Effingham

• 50% of respondents considered that Raleigh School should be extended whilst 25% thought a new site should be found in West Horsley

 

MEDICAL SERVICES

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• 90% of respondents use the East Horsley Medical Centre, 70% think that the existing site/service should expand

• 75% did not feel the medical service would cope well with a significantly increased population

• 62% thought an increase in doctor numbers would be required to meet such a demand

• 72% thought that weekend opening would be required with late evenings and early mornings for commuters

PUBLIC TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

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• This part of the survey revealed little regular cycle or bus use with 15% of respondents commuting by rail

• Comments revealed that the bus service is too infrequent for viable regular use with poor connections

• The local lanes/roads are deemed too narrow for safe co-existent cycle lanes

• The commuting rail service is presently adequate but station car parking is the most likely future rate limiting step

POLICING AND ROAD SAFETY

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• 90% of respondents consider West Horsley is a safe place to live with low crime levels

• 63% of respondents expressed concern about speeding, written comments revealed this to affect many local roads, limits are reasonable but not enforced

• 56% of respondents were concerned about narrow/dangerous/poor condition or absent pavements

• 42% of respondents agreed that HGV use Sat/Nav to reach the A3/M25 on narrow local roads which is dangerous

• 56% of respondents noted inadequate/inconsiderate parking by shops, schools, medical centre and football pitches

• Written comments revealed concern about the recent removal of cats eyes & central white lines – East Lane, Ripley Lane & The Street

• Written comments also showed division of opinion as to whether West Horsley needs street lighting

RECREATION

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• Cycling, running and walking are chief among leisure activities for Horsley residents

• The library is popular and considered to offer a good service

YOUNG PEOPLE

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• 70% of respondents agreed that facilities for young people are limited

• Written comments revealed that this is in part due to lack of advertising/communication

SENIOR RESIDENTS

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• 50% of respondents knew little about the available services for senior citizens especially

• 85% did not know of any respite care facilities

• 77% were unaware of care home facilities

• Wheel of Care is a greatly valued service both by recipients and those working for it

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

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• 10% of respondents recorded living with a disability

• 70% of respondents felt that local buildings facilitated disability with the exception of the railway station

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT WEST HORSLEY?

 

• SHOPPING – restore the post office

• ROADS – infrastructure, drainage, flooding, surfaces, pot-holes, central white lines, cats eyes

• SPEEDING – enforcement required

• PARKING – schools, medical centre, station, shops

• PAVEMENTS – narrow, tree roots, uneven, overhanging hedges, lack of pavements

• TRANSPORT – rail network and connections, more regular bus services and connections

WHAT WOULDN’T YOU CHANGE ABOUT WEST HORSLEY?

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• Rural/semi-rural village feel

• Green Belt status

• Green open spaces

• Its charm and character

• NO street lighting

• Community feel