Introduction

The purpose of this questionnaire is to seek your views, opinions, ideas and wishes for the future of our village. The information gathered will be used both to create a new Parish Plan and to update the Village Design Statement (VDS) of 2001. A group of volunteers – the Parish Plan Group – has created this questionnaire and will prepare the subsequent reports.

It is important that we create these documents if we are to be in a position to influence the future of our parish over the next ten or more years, including input to Winchester District plans.

There are both opportunities and potential threats ahead. Under the forthcoming Winchester District Local Development Framework, Curdridge will continue to be considered a rural village and changes will be guided by criteria agreed for such villages throughout the district, as well as by our own Parish Plan and up-dated VDS. Curbridge, however, is likely to undergo major changes. A new settlement of North Whiteley is being planned, which could involve building about 3000 new homes plus associated infrastructure. This new settlement would occupy the area immediately to the east of Curbridge (and Burridge) and the A3051. It will include a new link road from Whiteley to the A3051between Curbridge and Kings Corner. Most or all of North Whiteley would be located within the existing boundaries of the Parish. Other proposed large scale housing developments nearby – 2700 homes in Botley and Boorley Green (Eastleigh Borough Council) and up to 7500 homes North of Fareham (Fareham Borough Council) – would also impact on the Parish over the next years.

However, the creation of North Whiteley could also bring opportunities for the Parish as there might be funds available for various improvements, to roads and footpaths for example, especially if this questionnaire produces evidence of a need that we can put into the Parish Plan and VDS. The topics chosen and the questions asked in this questionnaire have come out of responses by Curdridge and Curbridge residents to the Blueprint Consultation carried out by Winchester City Council last year; from a couple of small public consultation exercises run by the Parish Plan Group; from the knowledge and concerns of the Group members themselves; and from the Parish Council. However, the questionnaire also gives you the opportunity to add your own new concerns, ideas and wishes in addition to those we have covered.

Thank you for giving the time to reading and filling in this questionnaire. We look forward to hearing what you have to say. You can answer anonymously if you wish.

Questions were compiled by Eric Bodger, Kevan Bundell, Elaine Flower, Joanne Furby, James Hillyear, Lesley Millard, Duncan Murray and Henrietta Taylor. You can make contact with the group through the Parish Clerk: clerk.curdridge@parish.hants.gov.uk

The Parish Plan Group