Strong support for the Neighbourhood Plan has been expressed by the people of Liskeard, according to the analysis of last summer’s community engagement activity prepared by Professor Lynne Butel of the Plymouth Graduate School of Management, which is part of the University of Plymouth. ‘Respondents consistently argue that the Neighbourhood Plan should be an opportunity to improve the town, building upon its current strengths and making good any weaknesses’ she says.
Professor Butel’s report finds that there is a remarkable degree of agreement in the responses from the nearly six hundred people who completed the questionnaires and also a general acknowledgment that the issues are complex, inter-related and therefore difficult to consider in isolation.
The top four themes which people consider to be most important to include in Liskeard’s Neighbourhood Plan are ‘a place to live’, ‘a place to meet, to shop and do business’, ‘a place to work and learn’ and finally, ‘a place to relax and enjoy’. The three other themes, Transport, Energy and the Environment and Design and Heritage also all received the support of over 90% of the respondents.
The theme people feel most strongly about is probably Employment and Training, with ideas on the subject coming through under Housing, Town Centre Regeneration as well as Employment and Training. People would like there to be more work, for themselves and for their friends and relatives, but they were less sure how to create and maintain jobs.
The role of Liskeard as a market town serving a hinterland of farms and villages is seen to be changing. Whilst people may shop on-line and work, for example, in Plymouth, there is also a very strong belief that Liskeard has a role to play beyond being a dormitory town, and they still want Liskeard to be a social and leisure hub for the old market town and its hinterland. In fact they would like there to be more social and leisure opportunities locally. They are clear about what was good (heritage, greenspaces, walks), what could be improved quickly (litter, baby swings, cycle paths) and what they would really like (cinema, family friendly restaurant). There is a strong feeling that the key strengths of the town should be identified and secured for the future.
People are also very clear that the requirement to build more houses should not be done at the expense of all the core strengths Liskeard currently has. The requirement to build more houses in the town is seen by the overwhelming majority to be a threat to the town, a threat to the social and physical infrastructure provision; from schools and doctors to drains and roads. Respondents to the questionnaire are saying, quite consistently, housing if we must, but not at the expense of all Liskeard currently offers. New buildings should be of a high quality, similar to the better properties in town, infrastructure and greens spaces should be included in the plans.
The full report can be found here: Liskeard Neighbourhood Plan Consultation and Engagement Response Report
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