Market Overton Parish Plan
Introduction
Parish Plans are part of a Government-sponsored initiative to help breathe new life into rural communities, and to help local people to develop their own villages in the way they want. The key to the project is that every person in the community has their say. Questionnaires were prepared to try and identify the main areas of interest.
The results of the questionnaires have provided a collective view of the village which has been documented in this Parish Plan. The Plan will be used by Parish and County Councils and other relevant groups.
The Parish Plan started in the late autumn of 2003 when the Parish Council hosted an open meeting in the Village Hall, during which the benefits of carrying out a review of the village were discussed. The Parish Plan process, a Countryside Agency initiative, was explained by a Community Development Officer from the Rural Community Council (Leicestershire and Rutland).
Following a decision to proceed with the project in the Parish, volunteers were sought to form a Steering Group. A Committee of 9 people was formed as a sub group of the Parish council and has collectively worked hard and enthusiastically to carry out this project to its conclusion.
The principal objectives of this exercise were as follows:
- To identify local opportunities and problems in the Parish, representing a vision of how residents want their community to develop in the future.
- To involve the community as a whole to ensure that local concerns and needs are properly considered before planning decisions are taken.
- To prepare an Action Plan that will provide a framework for the Parish Council to achieve the needs identified.
- To provide information on local opportunities and needs.
In July 2004 every resident in the village was issued with a comprehensive questionnaire to complete and return. An information stall was manned in the Village Hall during the Feast Weekend to further explain the Plan. From a total of 461 adult and youth questionnaires issued, 58% of adult and 48% of youth questionnaires were returned. The views expressed within this document are therefore representative of the people currently living in the village. The Parish Plan Questionnaire has been answered by roughly a 50:50 split on the gender of respondents, a good balance. Almost 60% of these fall into the 22-59 age bracket. As might be expected, many households had either none or 2 children. Almost 50% of the respondents have lived in the village for over 10 years. The support these respondents have already given by completing this questionnaire probably also indicates support for any resulting plans.
The purpose of the report which follows is to provide a summary of the results obtained. Several interesting aspects of the village have been added, both as a reminder of our history, surroundings, the facilities available and to provide an informative directory document for residents and newcomers to the Parish.
Actions have been recommended at the end of each section and more detailed comments revealed by the questionnaire have been forwarded to the bodies or groups responsible. To address many of the action points it is necessary to involve not only the Parish Council but higher authorities, for example Rutland County Council and the Leicestershire Constabulary. However, it remains the Parish Council's responsibility to pursue these items with those bodies and report back to the community.
Priority codes shown in the Action Points are as follows:
- A - High (Requiring immediate attention)
- B - Moderate (Important to many people)
- C - Low (Less important by comparison but nonetheless desirable)
Responsible parties
- PC Market Overton Parish Council
- HTD Rutland County Council Highways & Transportation Department
- LPS Leicestershire Police Service
- RCC Rutland County Council
- RIO Relevant Individual Organisations
It is hoped that this whole exercise will nurture the community spirit within the Parish as well as encourage increased participation in village affairs in the future.
Market Overton Location & Plan
The map below shows the location of Market Overton relative to other villages, towns, cities and the roads linking them.
This map shows the location of several facilities and areas in Market Overton. See the key below.
Key (See village plan above)
- St Peter & St Paul Church (Next to Church Lane, off Teigh Road)
- The Black Bull (On Teigh Road)
- Village Hall (On Main Street)
- Surgery (On Thistleton Road)
- Play Area (On Pinfold Lane)
- The Green (Where Berrybushes meets Main Street)
- Cricket Club (On Thistleton Road)
- Bowls Club (On Pinfold Lane)
- Teigh Road
- Industrial Estate (Off Thistleton Road)
History
Market Overton is an ancient village with plenty of history. There have been archaeological finds ranging from a Roman pottery kiln found in a field to the north of the village to an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and an Anglo-Saxon water clock. The Parish covers approximately 1806 acres.
The village is recorded in the Doomsday Book as 'Overtune', from the Saxon word 'Tun', meaning 'house on the hill'. The first documented mention of a market in the village was in the year 1200 when the original site was probably on or near to a Roman Temple near to Thistleton. Later a market was held on a field to the east of the church. "Marketedes Ouerton" appears in records from 1238 as a village. In 1267 the Lord of the Manor was empowered to hold a weekly market on Thursdays and a yearly fair in late June, to mark the Saint's Day of St Peter. These dates have now become the annual Feast Weekend. The weekly market day was changed to Wednesdays. The yearly fair continued until 1914 and involved activities such as parading around the village, roundabouts and a shooting gallery, donkey rides and a feast in the yard of the Three Horseshoes Pub, now a residence, on Main Street.
The market was popular and the village of importance. In 1276 Edward I was a visitor as was Edward II in 1315. In the fourteenth century Market Overton served as a market town for a rich agricultural area, a Manor House stood from as early as 1337. The Church of St Peter and St Paul has some of the best examples of Anglo-Saxon and Gothic architecture in the county with additions from the 13th and 14th centuries. The stile in the wall of the churchyard is believed to be made from a stone carving originating from Roman times. The sundial on the church is said to have been given by Sir Isaac Newton, whose grandmother lived in the village.
A gentleman's reading room was built in Berrybushes in 1902 for the men who worked in the ironstone pits to the North of the village. It became a school in the 1920's which closed in the mid 1970s. There have been 2 pubs and 2 blacksmiths, the most notable of the latter being based in the Old Forge opposite the green in the Main Street. There were 2 bake houses, 2 butchers, a slaughterhouse and a dairy. Little of this once busy commercial activity remains today.
The Village
The village now consists of a Church, Surgery, Village Hall, Pub, Post Office, Hairdresser and 202 domestic buildings, housing some 430 adult residents. There is also a charitable home, the Lodge Trust, referred to later in this report, accommodating 37 adult residents and staff. These establishments can be identified on the accompanying plan of the village. From the questionnaire the majority of villagers are either retired or employed with few falling outside these categories. This would indicate that the village needs to try to cater equally for the needs of both older people around in the day and those who are only there in the evenings and weekends. These 2 groups are likely to be different ages and have very different needs. The number of self employed is significant and it may be worthwhile considering whether local services could offer this group any specialised service.
| Occupation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Retired | 33% |
| Employed full time | 28% |
| Employed part time | 18% |
| Self employed | 13% |
| At home | 6% |
| In full time education | 1% |
| In part time education | 0.5% |
Many people are able to gain employment within the village, although it can be assumed this is mainly the self employed who often work from home. Again, this data probably reinforces the need for the village to be catering for this group. Most of the part time employed find work in Oakham, leaving the full timers to travel further afield, Peterborough being the favoured large town/city. It is reasonable to assume at least some level of commuting to London.
The village is valued for its amenities, community spirit (with friendly people) and the peace and quiet of being in a picturesque rural location with plenty of lovely walks available on the doorstep. Practically each village amenity receives an individual mention however the Post Office/shop and pub are particularly highly valued, followed by the doctor's surgery and play area. The church, cricket and bowls clubs also get significant mention. The village is felt to be a 'good place to bring up children', with lots of ongoing activities. Also significant is the convenient location of such a village to market towns, cities and the transport network. It also should not be forgotten that many villagers were born and bred here or have lived here for many years, one comment being 'have lived here for 50 years can't think of living anywhere else'.
By far the largest complaints about Market Overton are the aircraft noise and vehicle / traffic issues. There is not much that can be done about aircraft noise, although it should be expected by newcomers to the village with its proximity to RAF Cottesmore. The village is very favourably located since it is not an obvious through route for traffic, although speeding issues were frequently raised. Traffic related to the Industrial Estate was also seen to cause problems. Other traffic related issues concerned Bowling Green Lane and parking.
Next came an issue about the rural location and lack of facilities, especially for youth - probably these comments could be attributed to younger respondents, possibly who were raised in the village. The number of unsolicited negative comments related to the County Council however, (especially rate of tax compared to neighbouring counties) and the quality of the services received (e.g. number of power cuts, poor phone lines, invisible police service, poor gritting ) will certainly be fed back to them. 'Non sociable activities', for example, dog fouling and bonfires might be something the village as a whole could discuss at a meeting, this perhaps could be taken together with a stated 'lack of community spirit' although it should be remembered that this is also seen as one of the village's great strengths!
Amenities
Market Overton boasts a wide variety of amenities and services: a pub with restaurant, a post office and stores, a village hall, a dispensing doctor's surgery, hairdresser, various mobile services (eg butcher, fish and chips, and library), an industrial estate with some retail outlets, a play area and a large assortment of sporting and recreational activities.
It is clear that most villagers use both the Black Bull pub and the Post Office/shop and were content with the services offered. All the mobile services are used to varying degrees, with many respondents commenting on their value for residents without transport. This also applied to the permanent facilities.
The village hall is considered an important amenity to the village and most villagers are happy with the facilities offered. The events held generally attract a significant number of people; however there is always scope to hold additional events.
The features mentioned all contribute to make Market Overton a popular place to live (or, in the words of the estate agents, "highly desirable") and, of course, add value to any property in the village. However, to maintain this equilibrium, all must do their bit to ensure the continuance of these amenities. This applies not only to residents of the village, but to the Parish Council, County Council and higher authorities.
For the Black Bull, there were 2 main suggestions - a) become non-smoking or include a non-smoking area b) try to cater more for people (locals) just wanting to have a drink and not a meal, perhaps by having more 'drinking only' seats. All suggestions have been passed on to the Landlord.
The Post Office/shop is obviously seen as an essential element within the village with almost 100% of respondents using it, 70% of them regularly. Over 75% of people feel the facility is good. Suggestions made in significant numbers included cheaper prices, wider range and fresher produce / local produce and deli style food. These are probably unrealistic expectations of a small village shop and perhaps reflect a population brought up on supermarket shopping. Other suggestions included longer opening hours, ability to renew car tax, a lottery terminal, cash machine and video/DVD hire.
The fish and chip van is by far the most used mobile service (45%), although nearly everyone considers themselves 'occasional' rather than 'regular' users. Comments specific to this service mainly hoped that it might be able to call earlier in the evening.
Twenty one percent of respondents use the milk service regularly - comments suggested that more might do so if the milk was delivered earlier (before people leave for work) and a couple of people felt that the cost of the milk was high.
These services are seen as particularly important by those who find it hard to travel to shops or those who see themselves as being possibly less mobile in the future. This may have implications for those attracted to the village in the first place or to allow people to remain independent in the village for longer than otherwise.
The other services are not used by the majority of the respondents - at least 75% never use them. However, no service was totally unused. These usage rates could possibly be increased very easily if more information was made available about what services stopped when and where - 50% of all people who commented requested this. Most of the other comments suggested evening or weekend services to cater for those not able to use them during the day (that is, those at work). The comments indicated that respondents recognise the value of these services for those who are less mobile.
A third of respondents claim to use the hairdressers at least occasionally. As the salon caters for men, it should advertise this better. Some humour was seen with reference to people wishing they had hair to have cut!
Most people seem to be open to the idea of the village supporting more shops or services, although it is not clear how much these would be used. However, there were more than 100 suggestions for at least 16 types of shop or service - by far the most popular suggestion was for a butchers. The other popular ideas were bakers, greengrocers and a farm shop or organic or deli type food.
For groceries, it appears that nearly everyone uses Oakham for at least some of their grocery shopping but that they also have another commonly used location - of which Melton and Stamford are the most popular. For 'other items', people travel to multiple locations - usually Oakham, Peterborough or Stamford.
It can be surmised that the convenient location of Market Overton and lack of good public transport to any one location results in the villagers selecting a location for shopping dependent on where they feel will serve them best for the item they require. Stamford obviously competes well with Oakham for non grocery goods and of the nearest cities, Market Overton appears to 'look' to Peterborough.
Three quarters of the village use the Doctor's surgery. Comment was made that there is no footpath all the way to the surgery (see Section on Highways). Those who use the surgery were complimentary about the facility and service.
Village Hall
Over 90% of respondents feel that the village hall is important to the village with over 80% happy with the facilities provided and 30% prepared to consider booking the hall for private parties. As could probably be expected, most people (75%) are not prepared to help out by joining the committee, although maybe a few villagers would consider helping to run single events. Top of the list for improving the village hall is improving its appearance - both outside and in, followed by other improvement works - revamp the kitchen, improve the parking and driveway, provide outside lighting, update inside lighting and sound and also consider a permanent bar facility. Coming further down the list, but possibly worth considering, is fencing off part of the front area to provide a safe play area for children during events. The events run last year were well supported. This would indicate that there is sufficient interest to warrant them being run in 2005 and subsequent years. Some events obviously target a smaller, more specialised audience. Villagers are looking for a number of things:
- Common activities that have wide appeal and allow socialising - toddler groups, youth club, coffee mornings.
- Regular events - especially those that would attract a wide range of age groups e.g. dances, race nights, fashion shows.
- 'Village' events - to complement the feast weekend e.g. bonfire night, Pancake Day, Christmas fair.
- Entertainment - more theatre and also film.
- Low key sports - keep fit, badminton, table tennis.
- Talks - which would probably appeal to smaller audiences e.g. from RAF Cottesmore, Rutland Museum.
The questionnaire reveals that some villagers feel that they would benefit from some children focussed services, the most popular being a parent and toddler group, playgroup, after school care, holiday club and youth group.
Overall, the respondents feel that the amenities within the village are very good, especially considering the size of Market Overton. Although the notice board/window at the Post Office is praised, it is strongly felt by respondents that nearly everything on offer could be better advertised. This is something that should be relatively easy to achieve.
Detailed analysis concerning the utilisation of the amenities has been given to the relevant parties.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Relay negative perception of County Council | PC | C - Low |
| Support future additional alternative shops and services - butcher, baker, grocer, farm shop, deli | PC | B - Moderate |
| Request better information about and change of visiting times for some mobile services | RIO | A - High |
Recreation
The knowledge of the village's various clubs and activities is fair, although there is certainly room for improvement and better marketing in some cases. It is slightly worrying that some villagers are not aware of the cricket club, bowls club and play area even though they all have a relatively large physical presence within the village. Only half of respondents are happy with the range of clubs available. It would be unrealistic to expect a village to be able to satisfy all needs, but the comments do reveal that there is one age group that is felt to be particularly poorly catered for - youth. This refers particularly to teenagers but also includes babies / toddlers (and their parents), children and young adults. A youth club is specifically requested.
There were many different suggestions for additional recreational activities. After youth related activities, the most common suggestions were for dance and exercise classes (especially yoga) followed by badminton and better tennis facilities. Other suggestions included football, reading group, walking group, cinema club, swimming pool, beetle drives, talks/lectures and demonstrations. Respondents were also interested in being able to take up lifelong learning opportunities, the most useful of which is seen to be computing courses. Other suggestions reflect an interest in where we live - archaeology, local history. The full range of comments included suggestions on many themes including languages, history, art, flower arranging, gardening, cooking, literature, pottery, poetry, DIY skills, photography, accounting, wildlife. A possible way forward would be to have a luncheon club or similar which included guest speakers who over an extended period covered many of the suggested topics.
Bowls And Cricket Clubs
The Bowls and Cricket clubs have been long established in Market Overton - about 1945 and 1900 respectively. Both have moved locations, with the Bowls Club moving to its present green with 6 outdoor rinks in 1955 and the Cricket Club from old Stamford Road to its present ground in 1962. Both had to wait a long time to be able to afford clubhouse facilities with the Cricket Club's clubhouse being built only 3 years ago after much hard work from members. Both clubhouses are available for hire and are used for activities such as bingo, birthday parties, BBQs, whist drives, quizzes and dominoes.
Both clubs have enjoyed many successes over the years - with the Bowls Club winning various County competitions and the Cricket Club winning the first division of the league on multiple occasions, the most recent achievement was as runners up in 2003. Each club therefore attracts significant membership of 40-50 adults, with the Cricket Club also having a strong youth following. The Cricket Club is the better known of the two and is seen as more important to the village (60% versus 30%). Significant numbers have booked the clubs for other uses and these facilities obviously complement those offered by the village hall.
For the Bowls Club, there is a positive feeling that villagers could make more use of the facility than they currently do and more information was requested about what is held there. It is generally felt that the current activities are aimed at an older age group and individual suggestions include children's activities, refreshments and redecoration. Also suggested was the following: 'Pub & MOCC playing bowls v MOBC, & MOBC & Pub playing cricket v MOCC, & MOCC & MOBC playing darts v pub. A triples competition with a different venue each week and a percentage of money raised going to village funds.
Play Area
The Market Overton Play Area Association was set up to source land and equipment to provide a safe play environment for the children of Market Overton and the surrounding area in which to develop learning skills. The award winning Play Area in Pinfold Lane was opened in 1998 with a grant from the National Lottery and other fundraising. The Play Area Association is now responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the play area and continues to fundraise to pay for insurance, maintenance and equipment repair and renewal. Fundraising activities include bingo nights, cake sales, sponsored runs, an annual dance and raffles.
Nearly all respondents are aware of the play area and believe the facilities are good. Children between 0-11 all use the facility - it may be slightly less suitable for very young children but really does not appear to favour any particular age group. Suggestions for improving the play area can be grouped. The largest grouping is 'more' - more for older children (basketball, tennis, skateboard, shelter, and bigger climbing frame), more for younger children (tunnel, roundabout), more for adults (seating) and more for disabled children. Provision of new equipment should be a priority for the play area. The other significant group of comments referred to improving access, parking and signposting and also maintenance issues such as uneven surfaces, mowing, litter and speed of repairs.
It is the view that the play area should continue to be funded as is presently. Respondents feel that there should be some contribution from the rates, for example for fixed costs and insurance, but that money for new equipment should come from external grants and fund raising. There is awareness that many people from outside the village use the facility but often do not contribute to upkeep. Most respondents showed little enthusiasm for helping to run the play area.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bull to be requested to consider no smoking policy | RIO | B - Moderate |
| Village Hall Committee to consider suggested improvements | RIO | C - Low |
| Village Hall Committee to consider suggested events | RIO | C - Low |
| Trial parent/toddler group | RIO | B - Moderate |
| Chairs of various groups to meet regularly and share information | RIO | C - Low |
| Lifelong Learning opportunities to be made available - eg computer courses | RCC | B - Moderate |
| Interest on where we live - suggestion of luncheon club or similar with guest speakers | PC | C - Low |
| Suggested triples competition (Pub, MOBC, MOCC) to raise awareness and funds. | RIO | C - Low |
| Explore use of Play Area with group outside 0-11 age group | RIO | C - Low |
| Provision of new equipment for the Play Area to be considered | RIO | B - Moderate |
The Environment
Market Overton is 150 metres above sea level which accounts for the fine air quality. The surrounding countryside is predominantly arable with well maintained copses and hedgerows. The oldest buildings in the village are of limestone which date back to medieval times and there is evidence of Roman occupation locally, shown by field walking and geophysical research carried out recently.
The wildlife is considerable and varied (68 different species of birds have been recorded within 2 miles of the village including raptors such as Osprey, Red Kite and Buzzard all of which had been absent for many years) and the countryside can be enjoyed by using good public footpaths which are well situated in the picturesque landscape. The predominant species of tree is Ash but there are two fine Elm trees opposite the Black Bull. The churchyard has some fine Lime trees and the village green has a Sycamore, a Lime and a Horse Chestnut which overhangs the village stocks. The hedgerows are mainly Hawthorn and Blackthorn interspersed with Elder, Dog Rose and Bramble. More trees such as Birch, Rowan, White Poplar and Yew are expected to be planted in the near future. Sadly there is a dearth of interesting wild flowers but plans are afoot to remedy this situation.
There is a tranquil atmosphere to the village. Sixty five per cent of respondents believe the green areas and verges to be well maintained, with a similar number liking more trees to be planted through the village. However, almost 85% would like to see more wild flowers planted. This suggests that possibly more could be done to maintain public areas but the emphasis should be on a natural look, keeping the rural feel of the village. One respondent commented 'so far unspoilt . not over-planted with flowers urbanising the village'.
There is generally thought to be a bigger problem with dog fouling (43%) than litter (23%) with many people believing these to be a general problem especially on footpaths and grass verges and taken altogether, naming most of the main roads through the village. Sadly, a number of respondents thought these problems extended to private property. Analysis of the comments revealed some 'hotspots' for both litter and dog fouling. With the litter, it appears that the problem areas are focussed around the village's amenities or 'gathering' points - Play Area, Cricket Ground, Bowls Club, and Village Hall. In particular, the area around the Black Bull, shop and bus stop was seen to be a problem together with the section of road between this area and the school bus stop - this could possibly be attributed to users of the school bus stop. Also, garden waste in Church Lane was mentioned. Possibly some targeted and innovative action could make some inroads to reducing the litter problem in these areas. For the dog fouling, the lanes and bridleways surrounding the village are the key problem areas, especially beyond the Play Area and off Berrybushes. Provision of suitable bins was suggested as a solution. Overall, by far the most frequently mentioned offending road for both litter and dog fouling was Pinfold Lane. This is probably due to the location of the Play Area and the green lane beyond.
Footpaths
Most people are content with the local footpaths and bridleways, with a couple of comments about them being muddy or poorly marked to the north of the village. There is obviously a problem however with the footpath leading from Spring Close to Barrow with respondents feeling it is overgrown and currently impossible to use. Others mentioned the rough state of the bridleways around Church Lane and the Wharf to the wood.
Recycling
At present there is not a recycling facility in the village. Results from the questionnaire suggest that either a fixed facility or a doorstep/kerbside recycling collection service would be very popular within the village, with 80% of respondents saying they would use such services.
RAF Cottesmore
Happily for the RAF, almost 60% of the village have no issues with the proximity of RAF Cottesmore. Of those who do, the over-riding concerns are of noise, low flying aircraft and aircraft flying directly over the village. Of secondary concern were night flights. Many of those who commented feel these problems are caused by the aircraft not keeping to agreed flight paths. Some felt that the RAF could invite the Market Overton OAPs to Christmas lunch as they do for other villages close to the airfield! Other comments suggested that liaison with RAF Cottesmore should be maintained and that since the airfield has been next to the village for a very long time then it should be accepted - 'The base is important to the area'. There were only a couple of comments related to environmental risks e.g. an aircraft accident.
Conservation
There is overwhelming support (95%) for retaining the stocks and red telephone kiosk within the village. Villagers are less sure whether other conservation measures would be worthwhile.
Environment Improvements
Responses to the general question on improving the environment covered a broad range of subjects. Some reiterated responses are given in questions covered elsewhere. Speed related responses were the largest category. These nearly all referred to introducing measures to reduce the speed of traffic through the village - 20mph zones, traffic calming, 'slow down' village signs. Related to this, were some comments requesting limits to be put on HGVs (connected with the Industrial Estate).
The next category covered comments that related to improving the look and feel of the village. Villagers would like to see the removal/disguising of ugly village features - lamp posts, bins opposite the pub, some houses. Use of a minimal number of road signs - perhaps heritage style would also help. Increased planting was also suggested - more trees and in particular, replanting of the bulbs on the village green. The last main category covered a desire for more community feeling and consideration - for example lawn mowing and bonfires, support of church and neighbourhood watch, more activities and get togethers.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Review provision for recycling in the village | RCC | A - High |
| Consider planting wild flowers within the village | PC | B - Moderate |
| Target action to reduce litter in hotspots | PC | B - Moderate |
| Provide suitable bins to deal with dog fouling in identified areas | RCC | B - Moderate |
| Feedback concerning poor state of footpaths and bridleways | RCC | C - Low |
| Request OAPs in village invited to RAF Cottesmore Christmas lunch | PC | C - Low |
Communications
There are many different methods by which villagers can find out what is going on within the village, and most are well used. The exceptions are the internet and library (which can't really be expected to carry any detailed information of particular village activities). Each method should continue to be used with clubs being strongly encouraged to always utilise the top four methods (posters in the shop, door drop leaflets, word of mouth and Outreach).
There were some suggestions for improving communication, although there was no strong view that any changes would make a huge difference. A separate village notice board, possibly located by the village hall was suggested. A significant number of respondents would like to see Market Overton featured regularly in the local papers and the questionnaire results indicate that such information is likely to be read. An internet cafe is not seen to be essential. An information and welcome pack would be appreciated. One suggestion was for the chairs of all the various village groups and clubs to meet regularly and share information. A number of respondents indicated that they would like to be provided with more regular information from the Parish Council - minutes on the web, regular update in Outreach (the Village newsletter). They feel that they used to get this information but do not any more.
Outreach is well received with over half of respondents reading it from cover to cover and there is general opinion that it would be worthwhile expanding - content, pictures, format and also having it monthly rather than bi-monthly. Most suggestions were for it to be developed into more of a magazine type format with personal interest articles, villager achievements, club notes, historical articles, adverts (from businesses ), what's on information, Parish Council updates, competitions, jokes. However, it is possibly read so thoroughly because it is brief and this should be taken into consideration if any changes are to be made. Currently, Outreach is funded through the Church and put together on a voluntary basis. This may need to be reviewed if it were to change substantially.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pack to be formulated | PC | A - High |
| Advertisement notice boards to be improved | RIO | C - Low |
| Identify possibility of having Market Overton report in local paper | PC | C - Low |
| Minutes of Parish Council Meetings - to go in Outreach and/or Web | PC | A - High |
| Funding and compilation of Outreach to be reviewed | RIO | B - Moderate |
Housing Needs
A large proportion of houses in Market Overton are made of stone with thatch, slate or stone roofs. Social housing was added after the war and a small development of more modern houses and bungalows was built in the 1970s.Villagers generally do not want to see much development within Market Overton (43% would like none) and that if there is any, it should be either of affordable (39%) or small family (24%) homes. Council or rented homes may also be popular. Comments also indicated that any development should be carefully planned and gradual, slowly accommodating expansion needs. The preferred type of development would be of single dwellings in controlled locations, for example infill or conversion, that retain the character of the village. Although the emphasis is for 'affordable housing' this should include houses on all rungs of the ladder - for example, families struggle to buy a bigger home once they grow out of their starter home. There was some concern shown that more development would increase current traffic and parking problems.
| Housing Type | Percentage |
|---|---|
| No further homes needed | 43% |
| Affordable housing | 39% |
| Small family homes | 24% |
| Homes for people with disabilities | 9% |
| Homes for single people | 9% |
| Large family homes | 7% |
| Executive homes | 3% |
| Other | 1% |
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Development to be Infill/Conversion | RCC | A - High |
| Housing to be affordable or small family homes | RCC | A - High |
Transport And Highways
Market Overton is situated in the northern part of Rutland, within 2 miles of the Leicestershire border, 6 miles from Oakham, 10 miles from Melton Mowbray and 13 miles from Stamford but conveniently, only 5 miles from the A1. The nearest cities, Peterborough and Leicester, are 29 and 33 miles away respectively.
The location is relatively isolated, which means that most people have to have some form of transport for the purpose of going to work, school or shopping. There are only 3 access roads for traffic to enter the village, these lead to the adjacent villages Teigh, Thistleton and Cottesmore. With the exception of Cottesmore these are all small and without amenities thus adding to the overall attractive rural nature of the area in general. Public transport in the form of bus services is somewhat limited as would be expected for a small village. For Oakham and Melton Mowbray the service is several times daily. For the larger town and cities such as Stamford, Leicester and Peterborough the service is once weekly. The limited destinations and infrequency of the bus services has made it necessary for the majority of households to have one or more cars to meet their transport needs. The only real exceptions to this are walking to social activities and the doctor's surgery within the village.
Very few people commented on the bus service and those who did hadn't a strong opinion. There is possibly slightly less satisfaction with the route, timetable and stops/shelters than other aspects. For route, services to Grantham and a Saturday Peterborough service were mentioned. Opinion was mixed on how to increase the timetable, although more afternoon services were the least popular option and late evening services might be used. Generally, it is felt that there are insufficient buses for the service to be really useful, but this is with an understanding that it is unlikely to be viable to have more buses. The bus service to Oakham is felt to take too long as it is very indirect. On bus stops/shelters respondents feel that it is not helpful that the "bus shelter is not on the bus route"! One interesting suggestion was to have a communication method to enable car sharing and others suggested similar themes, for example, replace the bus service by a taxi service.
Most people do not see a need for either more streetlights or pavements. Of those who do, the responses of where more streetlights should be located were very mixed and no particular black spot was highlighted. Indeed, many respondents simply wrote 'all around the village to avoid dark areas' or similar. Many places on most of the main roads were named, although Main Street is possibly felt to be a darkish area in general. The response on where more pavements should be located was, in contrast, very precise. Villagers would like to see pavements on:
- Thistleton Road from the end of Bowling Green Lane to the Surgery.
- Bowling Green Lane from the Pinfold Lane crossroads to Thistleton Road.
Both of these are requested to mainly assist pedestrian traffic to the surgery. This is further evidenced by the number of people who do walk to the surgery.
Sixty six percent of respondents feel that there are sites of major safety concern on roads within the village - over half feel that Bowling Green Lane falls into this category. The 2 other areas mentioned by over 10 respondents are the junction between Main Street and Thistleton Road (poor visibility due to parked cars) and Thistleton/Teigh Road in general (speeding and parked cars). Suggestions for tackling these latter 2 areas include yellow lines, designated parking bays, (occasional) speed cameras, traffic calming, lower speed limits and warning signs. For Bowling Green Lane, there were both many problems and possible solutions identified. These have been passed to the Parish Council.
Respondents were split as to whether traffic calming would improve the quality of village life. Particular emphasis was, however, put on all the entries and exits to the village. Respondents were less keen on changing the traffic speed restrictions (60% against), where they were in favour, the same roads were suggested as for traffic calming and most wanted a reduction of the speed limit to 20 mph and consideration of moving the 30 mph signs further away from the village.
There was also some concern that solving the problem on Bowling Green Lane would simply transfer the problem elsewhere in the village. Bowling Green Lane is possibly highlighted in particular throughout the questionnaire due to the recent council survey asking for views on a one-way system.
Only 24 respondents claim that they have to park their vehicles on the road and 84% do not feel that they experience any problems parking. Asked for any further comments regarding highways, however, the only issue raised by any significant number of respondents (27) related to parking. Thistleton Road, Main Street, the Main Street/Thistleton Road junction, Bowling Green Lane and Berrybushes were all named as problem areas. Respondents particularly dislike people parking on bends, destroying verges and blocking pavements. Other issues mentioned include gritting of roads in winter, resurfacing of Main Street, HGVs and commercial vehicles ruining verges and speeding, extending cycle routes from Oakham to the village and youths racing around the village and down Pinfold Lane on mopeds.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Review possibility of car sharing | PC | C - Low |
| Consider replacing bus service with taxi service | RCC | C - Low |
| Ensure current school bus provision continues | RCC | A - High |
| Consider additional school transport schemes e.g. encourage car sharing | RCC | A - High |
| Traffic issues related to Industrial estate to be addressed | HTD | B - Moderate |
| Identify ways in which to provide footpath to Doctor's surgery | PC/HTD | A - High |
| Consideration to be given to making some areas in the village 20mph | HTD | C - Low |
| Consideration to be given to moving 30mph signs further out of the village to reduce speed | HTD | B - Moderate |
| Safety concerns in Bowling Green Lane to be addressed | HTD | A - High |
| Parked car hazard at junction of Main Street and Thistleton Road to be considered | HTD | B - Moderate |
| Move Bus Stop to be on the bus route | HTD | B - Moderate |
| Consider removal of extraneous signs from village | PC | B - Moderate |
Safety And Security
About a quarter of respondents would be interested in learning more about the village's Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. This will be followed up.
Almost 30% of respondents feel that there is a problem with cars parking on verges or obstructing footpaths, this is probably significant, especially considering comments earlier in the questionnaire. This could possibly be tackled within the village. Most other comments about safety and security related to problems with parked cars, specifically on Bowling Green Lane, and, to a lesser extent Thistleton Road and Berrybushes but also elsewhere in the village.
Villagers would like to see a policeman on foot occasionally or have more contact with the police. Otherwise, there were only a couple of other comments, for example, one villager was concerned about travellers coming to the village, another about badly driven farm machinery.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Address concern about cars parked on pavements and verges | LPS | B - Moderate |
| Provide occasional visible policeman on foot. More contact with police | LPS | C - Low |
Religion
There are 2 churches in Market Overton; the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul and the Market Overton Free Church. The Parish Church has existed in the village for centuries. In 2003 an Appeal was launched to raise £150,000 for repairs to this building. This is still ongoing.
The Parish Church is always open during daylight hours. There is a service every Sunday, Evening prayer on Wednesdays in Church and a Bible Study group that meets once a fortnight in people's homes. The choir is available to sing at weddings and other special occasions.
Market Overton Free Church was formed in 1994 in response to a need for an Evangelical Church in Rutland. Worship started in the village hall in 1995. It is an independent Evangelical church which meets every Sunday and at various other times in people's homes.
Two thirds of respondents attend one of the churches in the village at least occasionally, although only 10% are regulars and 10% travel outside the village to a place of worship. All aspects of the church (regular worship, weddings, baptisms and funerals, historical building, bell ringing, community facility) are considered important by all respondents. Weddings, baptisms and funerals are seen as the most important function followed by the historical nature of the building. Respondents are less keen to help maintain the building however, with only 15% offering the provision of manpower or fundraising, legacy is not thought likely. Most respondents are aware that the churches offer coffee mornings and are also supportive of them being used for concerts and meetings as well as for worship. Just under half of respondents expect the churchyard to be their final resting place, with burial being just slightly more popular than cremation.
| Final Resting Place | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Buried in St Peter & St Paul's churchyard | 25% |
| Buried elsewhere | 10% |
| Cremated & interred in St Peter & St Paul's | 18% |
| Cremated & interred elsewhere | 18% |
Over 70% of respondents would like to hear the church clock strike the hour, preferably in daylight hours only. Further comments reveal that the church is felt to be important and that more should be done to encourage attendance and support families. Many thought the 2 churches should work together more.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Allow Church Clock to strike daylight hours | RIO | B - Moderate |
| Increase use and support of church buildings | RIO | B - Moderate |
The Lodge Trust
The Lodge Trust was established in 1984 to make a Christian provision for adults with learning disabilities. The Charity is generally seen as being an asset to the village, although it is thought that it probably shouldn't expand beyond its current size and should be integrated with the village as far as possible. An occasional newsletter may help with this. Its current level of contribution to village life is seen as about right with some room for expansion if desired. Most respondents are aware of the various facilities offered by the Lodge Trust (shop, caravan site, day service, job opportunities, paddocks and tennis court), although only the shop and tennis court are really used or are likely to be used. Half of respondents attend the twice yearly sales.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Request improvements to condition of tennis court | RIO | C - Low |
Youth
Market Overton provides good services and facilities for under 18s. It has thriving family based events happening at the village hall, cricket club and bowls club and the excellent play area provides a safe play environment for all ages. However, there are no regular child or teenage activities or organised clubs for young people in Market Overton. The Youth Questionnaire specifically targeted questions to discover what additional facilities were required and what concerns were held by younger members of our community.
Almost half of respondents noted the Play Area was one of the good things about living in Market Overton; also many children prized the shop, the village community, the countryside, and the safe environment. Other activities in the village such as the Cricket Club, Cottesmore Village Players productions, Feast Weekend and Play Area fundraisers were also mentioned as being good about Market Overton. Overall the children gave similar answers to those in the adult questionnaire and they clearly enjoy the benefits of living in a rural location although they may feel their independence is limited.
The local catchment primary, Langham CE Primary School, was the most popular school with 11 children attending (12%); Stamford schools also attracted 10%. The local secondary, Vale of Catmose, only attracted 3 pupils - the same number as Uppingham, although it is not clear if children attending Uppingham are attending the community college. Other primary schools attracted 8 children and this is mainly split between Whissendine and St Nicholas, Cottesmore. Both of these schools are geographically closer than the catchment school but do not benefit from school transportation.
The numbers of children at Stamford and Oakham would indicate that the majority of Key Stages 3 and 4 children in the village attend independent, fee paying schools. This is reflected in the number of children who rely on cars to be transported to and from school. Obviously with no village school no child walks to school. Half of all children rely on a car to get to and from school, a further 40% use a bus and one child relies on a taxi. The figures clearly demonstrate a need for the current school bus provision to be continued and if possible additional schemes considered, particularly car sharing. This could be incentivised in association with the schools and the road safety initiatives in Rutland and Lincolnshire.
Generally social events that involved the whole village were most likely to be attended with almost 50% of youths answering that they would like to attend a New Year's Eve party. All activities were well received and would be attended again, however, interest in the Feast Weekend is only slight and perhaps a more youth friendly approach to the stalls in the village hall should be considered by that committee. Other new activities that were suggested were a summer disco (69%), Halloween party (45%) whilst the free format answers included cookery classes, art and craft club, and Christmas party for over 10s, craft day, shows and concerts.
The popularity of the Play Area seen in previous answers is reinforced in its usage. Over 55% of youths use it daily or weekly and a further 20% use it through the summer. The main reasons for not using the area are that the equipment is aimed at a perceived younger age group and that there has not been new equipment installed for some time. Suggestions for improving the play area generally include a "more but bigger" attitude; this is a problem with any fixed equipment. Other requests are better maintenance of football area and making it non-smoking.
| Action Points | Responsible Party | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Provide Youth Club | PC | B - Moderate |
| Consider additional activities of Summer disco, Halloween Party and New Years Eve Party | RIO | B - Moderate |
And Finally
At the end of the survey the following open question was asked - "If you had £5000 to spend on improving the village or village life, on what would you spend it or contribute it towards?" To this, 149 respondents made proposals, sometimes with more than one option. The most popular suggestions, and number of people who made them, were:
- Improve the general appearance of the village - mostly by cutting verges and grassed areas more often and planting trees and flowers around the village. (42)
- Improve or add to the facilities provided for children and young people. Improve the Play Area and provide a Youth club. (32)
- Upkeep of the church. Particularly mentioned were the church clock, wall and the maintenance of the graveyard. (27)
- Improvements to the Village Hall - these included internal and external modifications. (24)
- Resolve the parking issues in Bowling Green Lane and outside the Black Bull pub. (24)
- Provide more sports facilities within the village or upgrade existing ones. Amongst the suggestions were basketball nets as well as upgrading the tennis court at the Lodge Trust and improving the facilities at the Bowls Club. (9)
- Improve community spirit within the village. Suggestions varied from holding street parties and balls within the Village Hall to providing a Beer Garden in the Black Bull and spending the money on the Feast Weekend. (8)
Chairman's Conclusion
This document summarises the thoughts of those who took the trouble to react to our questionnaire. The scale of the response showed how much we care for our village and want to keep our environment as attractive as it is. The Parish Council exists for the benefit of the residents of Market Overton and to address their concerns as far as possible. It is important that the Parish Plan should not be seen as an end in itself but rather as an ongoing process through which each one of us can become involved. In the end we all have a responsibility to play our part, however small, in maintaining the excellence of where we live for our families and neighbours.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this report which, hopefully, will be the basis of constructive action to preserve and improve the environment which we all enjoy. Your committee was made up of the following enthusiastic and hardworking members:
- Robin Dean
- Lynn Lane - dep Chairman and Treasurer
- Alona DeHavilland
- Rebecca O'Neill
- Maggie Hanley
- Lin Ryder - Secretary
- Drew Lamb
- Fiona Lamb
- Hugh Lester
My grateful thanks go for their kind support, conviction and sense of humour during our many meetings, without which the report would not have been possible. Thanks also go to the Rural Community Council (Leicester and Rutland) and in particular to Adele Stainsby for her unstinting support and direction. The bulk of the funding for this report was received from the Countryside Agency.
Andrew Stewart
