The principal objectives of the working group are:
a. Understand and document the demand for community facilities
throughout the Parish
b. Document the range of facilities currently available
c. By comparing the supply with demand for facilities identify
and quantify any shortfall
d. Review possible options to make good any shortfall
e. Propose preferred solutions to provide community facilities
that will truly meet the needs of the community into the future.
In the questionnaire 41 per cent of respondents said that with
the loss of facilities such as Ford House and the Scout Hut remaining
facilities would not be adequate to meet the needs of the Parish
and a further 36 per cent believed that remaining facilities would
need improving. These answers indicate a clear prima facie need
to look for new and/or improved facilities.
The term "community facilities" should be interpreted widely to
encompass all existing known voluntary organisations, clubs and
societies, activities provided for the community on a commercial
basis (eg dancing classes, keep fit, Pilates etc, etc) as well as
the church organisations. The Working Group will need to understand
the needs of all such groups now and into the foreseeable future
and the extent to which they are satisfied with their current arrangements.
Much of this information should be provided in the results of the
comprehensive survey of local businesses and organisations carried
out by the Plan for Prestbury steering committee in parallel with
the householder questionnaire.
Current facility shortfalls have resulted in a number of separate
initiatives already under way. These include a review by the Parish
Council of possible future uses for the old Scout Hut building/site,
a feasibility study by the Tennis Club, Youth Club and Scouts looking
at possible joint development of the tennis club and adjacent sites
and the Parochial Church Council's own review of their options following
the closure of Ford House. The Working Group will need to work closely
with these and any other similar projects and it is hoped that members
of these groups will be members of the Working Group.
In carrying out its tasks, the Community Facilities Working Group
will need to work closely with the Sports Activities and Facilities
Working Group to avoid duplication of research effort and to prevent
either group wasting time in evolving ideas too far which would
be at odds with each other or which would not work well together.
