Hendy & FforestCommunity Survey Results November 2019

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Table of Contents

Contents

1. Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................3

2. Homes and Housing................................................................................................................................ .4

3. Community..............................................................................................................................................7

4. Facilities and Amenities.........................................................................................................................12

5. Working, Travelling & Prosperity...........................................................................................................16

6. Healthcare.............................................................................................................................................20

7. Countryside and Greenspace.................................................................................................................21

8. Roads and Safety...................................................................................................................................23

9. Council Feedback...................................................................................................................................26

10. References...........................................................................................................................................27

11.0 Profile of respondents to questionnaire............................................................................................28

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1.Executive SummaryLlanedi Community Council, having an annual income of over 200k has a legal requirement under the Wellbeing and Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 to ensure that services and developments (within the council's remit) are both sustainable and meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations. This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current and prospective services, environmental and housing developments, cultural and social experiences of the residents of Hendy and Fforest based on a the community consultation of 2018 and subsequent consultation in 2019 LDP workshops and a Survey Monkey survey).. The results from this report will be used to draw up our Wellbeing Plan.Data was collected from local residents (adults and children) through a paper questionnaire (42 responses), an LDP consultation event, an imaginative storytelling event and an on-line survey (41 respondents and still open).

1.1 KEY FINDINGSHendy and Fforest have a strong, well established sense of community with good access to countryside and green spaces. However, locals identified key areas of concern as well as a vision for how their community can improve:

- Residents do not want to see any further large scale housing developments - Traffic is a major concern- They would like a community centre that would help the village to socialise- They feel that local health care provision is inadequate- Opportunities to help develop local business/networks need to be explored- There is an interest in developing community green spaces such as Orchards or

Allotments- There is a need for better footpaths/cycle paths and pedestrian crossings- The council should be better at communicating with residents and councillors should

raise their profiles.- There is a need for more education/recreation classes/clubs in the community 

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2.Homes and Housing2.1 Current Homes and Housing Needs

Most respondents to the questionnaire live in detached/semi-detached houses and 97% owned their own homes. Only 7% of the respondents rent their properties.

2.2 Housing Development

Locals were asked to consider housing needs, now or in the future. Only 10% of questionnaire respondents felt there was any need for new homes in the area. This was borne out by the LDP workshops where out of over 70 comments, only one was in favour of additional housing development.

However, when the question was expanded upon, respondents to the questionnaire were more in favour of:

Conversion of existing buildings for housing (78%)

Conversion of existing buildings for flats (70%)

Affordable housing for people with a local connection (59% of those who answered this

question either agreed or strongly agreed). NB this was not reflected in the LDP

workshops

Sheltered housing (again, 59% of those who answered this question either agreed or

strongly agreed)

The following types of development all received less than 50% support from those who responded to the questionnaire:

• In-fill development – i.e. gaps in existing rows of housing (49%)

• Development on brown field sites (45%)

• Care homes (45%)

• Housing for key workers (44%)

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• Small scale developments of 4-9 units (43%)

• Large scale development of 9+ units (22%)

• Houses for rent (39%)

• Small homes for purchase (36%)

• Larger homes (31%)

• Flats (22%)

• Mixed developments (15%)

• Developments all on one site (9%)

• Development on Greenfield sites (9%)

Conversio

n for h

ousing

Affrdab

le housin

g/lo

cals

In-fill

develo

pmen

t

Care h

omes

4-9 units

Houses f

or ren

t

Large

r hom

es

Mixed dev

elopm

ents

Develo

p gree

nfield

0.00%10.00%20.00%30.00%40.00%50.00%60.00%70.00%80.00%90.00%

% in support

Residents have clear priorities when considering future housing developments, which should include the following (in order of preference).

1. Off-street parking (95%)2. Have a garden (94%)3. Have pavements/kerbstones on the roadside (94%)4. Use modern efficient energy and eco-friendly technology (92%)5. Be innovative in design (88%)6. Be limited to two stories (82%)

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2.3 Locations for HousingGiven the responses to the questionnaire and the strength of feeling amongst attendees at the LDP workshop (70 + responses were recorded) the residents are not in favour of any large housing development. As such, it is difficult to identify space for housing in the area at present, unless it is infill development or redevelopment of existing buildings.

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Based on the consultation, our residents are concerned about new residential development in the area. As we will see later in this document, this is due to a number of issues including traffic congestion, lack of services, pollution and the threat to the sense of community and its traditional values and culture.

The Community Council has shared these issues with the County Council as part of its response to the LDP, on order that these can be considered in future development plans.

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3.0 Community3.1 Community ‘Spirit’

“Everyone looks out for each other”

A ‘sense of community’ is a psychological definition which focuses on the experience of a community rather than its structure or setting.

The questionnaire responses suggest that what people value most are the friendly environment, followed by the sense of community and the local parks.

As the graph shows, residents also highly valued the rural character of the village, its green spaces, and its wildlife habitats. Facilities such as sports and the school were also appreciated, but perhaps due to the demographic of the respondents, to a lesser extent.

Friendly

enviro

nmen

t

Sense

of com

munity

The par

ks

The rura

l char

acter

of the v

illag

e

Open an

d gree

n spac

es

Local w

ildlif

e/hab

itats

Sports

field

s

The sch

ool

Churches

/Chap

els0%

30%

60%

90%

What People Value

Overwhelmingly, people seem happy with their community. 95% of respondents also reported that they feel safe (those who didn’t feel safe mostly cited traffic as the concern) and 62% didn’t feel that there were any particularly unpleasant features in Hendy/Fforest. Those that did mention unpleasant sites were concerned about Calfaria Chapel and the Old Red Cow as well as derelict buildings. Dirty and damaged road/welcome signs were also mentioned.

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3.2 Community Weaknesses

The main concerns for the community relate to traffic and include:

• Volume

• Speed

• Parking

• Pedestrian safety

These are looked at in more detail in Chapter 8.

As is borne out by section 2 (above), overdevelopment was another major concern.

Dog fouling was recognised as an issue but people were less concerned about litter, signage and light pollution.

3.3 Community Spaces

A sense of community is multifaceted and includes the need for membership and belonging. Within a geographical community this sense can come from opportunities to socialise with others. Historically, Hendy has had a small number of locations where locals can meet and socialise such as the pub, the Rugby Club and the park. However, we have also lost a number of venues in recent years including the Urdd Hall and the Cricket Club.

Residents were asked about the potential for a community facility and what it should be used for. 86% of respondents stated that there was a need for such a facility.

They were also asked what should take place there. Their answers were put in to a word cloud (where the most commonly used words appear larger): As can be seen, yoga/keep fit classes featured strongly as did the need for a youth club and for activities for the elderly. They also wanted a party/function venue as well as a range of classes.

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Allied to this, an open question asked them what kinds of groups were needed in the community. The responses (in no particular order) included:

• Neighbourhood Watch

• Mother and baby/crèche

• Senior citizen’s groups

• Family and friends groups

• Traffic monitoring groups

• IT

• Crafts

• Local history

• gardening

• Flower arranging

• Quarterly community meeting to discuss planning and developments

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3.4 Events

There are a few events which bring the community together. These include the Christmas lighting ceremony and the Carnival. Unfortunately, the latter is unlikely to take place in future. Home rugby games also have a strong local following and result in good numbers gathering in the park on match days. The Rugby Club also runs a number of social events throughout the year as well as a regular bingo night. The school and the PTA also run events such as discos, book sales and Christmas events. The school also hosts the annual Hendy Eisteddfod.

50% of respondents to the questionnaire said they often attend local events, with 45% stating that they rarely attend events, whilst the remaining 5% said they never attend local events.

Respondents were asked: ‘Please tell us what kind of community events you would like to see in Hendy/Fforest?’ The word cloud below summarises the ideas that came forward (NB the larger the word, the more times it was stated):

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3.5 Barriers to Community Participation

There can be many barriers to community participation such as poor physical health, low confidence, and choice of venue or a lack of information. The principle barrier at present would seem to be lack of opportunity.

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

● Create a Community Forum

● Develop ideas for community get-togethers

● Begin to foster new groups

● Provide the community with information regarding obtaining funding and support for events.

● Continue to pursue the idea of creating a ‘fun day’ in Hendy Park

● Develop a new community facility.

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4. Facilities and Amenities4.1 What do people use?

The questionnaire asked whether or not the respondents used a range of local facilities. As the graph shows, the Post Office and the local shop are amongst the most widely used facilities by those who completed the forms.

Local s

hops

Post offi

ce

Notice b

oards

Rugby pitc

h

Rugby Clu

b

Football

field

Multiuse

games

area

Local p

ub

Public tr

ansp

ort

Chapels

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

Use facilities oftenUse facilities sometimes

The chemist and the chip shop were also noted as local facilities. In terms of retail services, individual comments included the need for a butcher, baker, greengrocer and more clothes shops. Just as many suggested that there were enough shops and that they looked to Pontarddulais for their needs.

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The majority of respondents supported the need for other facilities within the community, as shown in the graph below:

More outd

oor sports

facil

ities

Public to

ilets

and bab

y chan

ging

Bench

es

Litter

bins

Dog bin

s

Herita

ge in

form

ation poin

ts0

102030405060708090

100

% in support

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4.2 Parks and Recreation

Play parks offer local children opportunities to engage in social, emotional and intellectual activities within a relaxed outdoor environment. Play parks also allow children a place to visit and meet other children outside school time. Parks are also an important meeting place for parents and grandparents, and offer increased social participation and engagement. To bear this out, 90% of respondents said they use the local parks.

All parks in the area have been taken over by the community council as asset transfers from the County Council. Hendy and Bronallt parks have since benefitted from popular refurbishments. Talyclun Park consists of one ageing slide and is in need for investment.

Participation in organised sports is widely regarded important for mental and physical health. Other benefits include improved self-esteem and social interaction. The rugby pitch and football field are valued local assets (see chapter 3), despite less than half of those replying stating that they use them regularly/sometimes (see graph above). This is probably down to the age profile of the respondents and should not be seen as a negative. In fact, when prompted, respondents supported the need for more outdoor sports spaces (see the graph above).

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OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

● Continued maintenance and development of Hendy and Bronallt parks

● Redevelopment of Talyclun Park - Talyclun Park will need some funding in order to finance its redevelopment. The Community Council may wish to apply for funding.

● Further consultation with Children. Consultations with local children will be an ongoing process. Their input in to the redesign of Hendy Park play area was vitally important to deliver a park which met their needs and aspirations.

● Review opportunities for more outdoor sports spaces as part of the development of a community centre (see chapter 3).

● Explore opportunities for installing more bins and benches in public areas.

● Explore the potential for developing a heritage and history club/ heritage interpretation project.

● Develop opportunities for more outdoor recreation, e.g. nature and heritage trails (see also chapter 7).

● Explore opportunities for providing public toilets in/near Hendy Park.

● Support local sports clubs to develop teams (from minis up to veterans) and facilities.

● Support a series of summer-time taster sports initiates at the MUGA

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5. Working, Travelling & Prosperity5.1 Improved Prosperity

No one in the sample ran a business within the village. 63% of respondents have to travel to work – all of them by car.

Residents were asked ‘what would improve your experience or chances of working, training, or studying in the community, OR would support the growth of your business, career or service?’

Faster broadband was noted as either needed (64%) or helpful (28%) by most respondents.

Nearly 70% felt a local skills directory would be helpful (47%) or is needed (21%).

Nearly 80% felt that dedicated space for networking and development was felt to be helpful (53%) or needed (26%).

There was no support for shared or private offices, and workshops were felt unnecessary by 94% of respondents

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Faster Broadband and mobile telephone signal can be an important element of running a business, or developing skills in career. Better broadband is also transforming lives by cutting down on household bills, finding paid work and also reducing social isolation issues and thus improving health.

Develop a local skills directory so that the benefit is kept within the community Provide space/opportunities for networking and business training opportunities – e.g.

offering the Reading Room (and the planned Community Centre) as a venue.

5.2 Adult Education

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There does not appear to be any provision for individuals to attend evening classes or adult education within the village at present. Furthermore, only 5% of respondents reported that they currently attend any adult education courses. When asked, locals said they would like to see the following types of sessions developed within the area.

This should be looked at in parallel with their ideas for the community centre highlighted in section 3 above.

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Continue consultation with the community in order to assess the impact of a lack of classes in the area.

Provide more training opportunities in the Reading Rooms and in future in a new community facility.

Invite educators into local spaces via advertising or links, informing of opportunity to develop sessions within the community.

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5.3 Business Development

There appears to be some clear opportunities for business development in the area. When given a list of potential opportunities, respondents gave their views on the following prospective enterprises.

Business ideas % Supporting

Breakfast club/after school club for childrenNB Hendy School already provides this service. 97

Care services for the elderly 94

Childcare for babies, toddlers and preschoolers 93

Arts, Crafts and Creative industries 82Restaurants and cafes 81Small scale horticulture 81Domestic and garden services 77Agriculture 71Financial and professional services 64Pubs 59Offices 52Shops 52Takeaway restaurants 40

When asked – “If there is something else that would improve your experience of working, training or studying in the community, please tell us”, the answers were:

Improvement and increase in public transport and train network links. The bus service to Llanelli / Carmarthen has been cut off drastically over the last few years. Train service to Swansea / Cardiff is completely irrational.

Pontarddulais train station to go on Swansea - Cardiff line. Better public transport to avoid car journeys.

Faster connection to motorways and main road. Improving the rail networks to encourage train commuting to Swansea/Carmarthen. More definition of cycle ways to remove the need to cycle through. Such roads as the Hendy and Fforest to Tycroes & beyond.

Working outside community.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEINGThe council may wish to support local people to develop business ideas. This could be achieved by improving access to information about initiatives such as Business Wales and funding opportunities. The Council could achieve this through:

● Improving information sharing in the area via email, website, notice boards and

newsletters.

● Supporting digital inclusion.

● Approaching Business Wales/other bodies re developing local advice.

surgeries/mentoring schemes for would-be entrepreneurs.

● Developing a small business club.

● Speak to Sustrans and the County regarding cycle ways.

● Speak to train providers re potential to improve services.

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6. HealthcareThere are no doctors or dentists Surgeries within the village. In terms of doctors, residents’ needs are served by Pontarddulais and Llangennech. Residents’ dental needs are provided by a range of surgeries all outside the immediate area.

People’s comments on these services included:

“Llangennech doctor’s surgery is down to one doctor, Pontarddulais surgery is failing to cope. No NHS dentist in the area”.

“The doctor’s service is good but sometimes a struggle to book appointments as they are extremely busy”

Asked if there were adequate health services in the community, the responses were as follows:Adequate Inadequate

Doctors Surgeries 20% 80%Mental health help 11% 89%Social services 23% 77%Dentists 21% 79%Care for elderly 36% 64%Care for children 32% 68%

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Residents are clearly concerned that there are inadequate health care facilities available to them.

There is a need to work with health care providers to improve these wherever possible.

This could include better signposting to services and offering the Reading Room/planned community facility as a venue for peripatetic clinics etc.

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7. Countryside and GreenspaceResidents were asked how satisfied they were with access to countryside and greenspace. 65% of respondents report being satisfied.

However, those who report being unsatisfied highlighted a number of issues: Lack of footpaths (84%)

Poor condition of existing paths (63%)

lack of signage and information boards (42%)

When asked an open question, other concerns included:

o The width of footpaths/lack of footpaths beyond the immediate built up area

o Some paths are not suitable for disabled/elderly

o Lack of adequate areas to walk dogs

o Traffic making verge walking (where paths don’t exist) difficult

o Lack of information about existing footpaths and Rights of Way.

On further questioning about the use of green and open spaces:

88% of respondents said they would support the development of Sports Facilities (67%)

83% would support a community orchard

64% would support allotments

60% would support the development of green energy

55% would support the creation of better car parking

In terms of ideas for the use of green and open spaces, a few responses were received:

o Splash Park

o Outdoor gym equipment

o Riverside walk

o Open up old paths/ develop more walkways

o Return to a managed state to encourage the return of natural wildlife

o Car sharing facility would be useful

o Park & Ride doesn't work (i.e. Fforestfach)

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There was also a note of caution “Some green energy sites deny public access e.g. windfarms, thus reducing access to open areas.” 

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Facilitate closer working with the County Footpaths Officers regarding improving

existing footpaths and exploring the opportunities for footpaths from the community

out in to the green spaces around us. In particular explore the opportunities for opening

up the river corridor.

Explore the opportunities for a community orchard, perhaps on land to the side of the

Cricket Pitch.

Explore the opportunities with local landowners for allotments.

Explore the opportunities for developing more green energy opportunities.

Explore the opportunities for developing walking clubs.

Explore options around car parking/car sharing.

Help the community to establish a litter-picking group. 

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8. Roads and Safety8.1 Sense of Safety

95% of respondents feel safe living in our community. However, they do not feel safe on the roads and pavements.

8.2 Roads and Pavements

The areas of most concern which were highlighted throughout this consultation were traffic related.

The key areas of concern appear to be the speed of traffic through the village, traffic congestion to and from the local school, insufficient public crossings, the state of the road surface and access to/from the M4.

● 98% were concerned with the car parking around Hendy Park

● 86% were in favour of using yellow lines to control traffic

● 87% were in favour of resident permits

● 82% were in favour of ‘no parking’ signs

However, people felt that if these were implemented then they needed to be ‘policed’ regularly.

The M4 and the amount of commuter traffic through the village was raised as a major concern by many respondents. The point that there is no safe crossing point on the main road through the village was raised by a number of people.

Other issues included; potholes, general poor road condition, double parking, faded road markings, parking on pavements, lack of cycle paths and narrow/non-existent pavements in places. Heol-y-Parc and Fforest in particular, were singled out by numerous respondents as being in need of improved footpaths, better parking enforcement and traffic reduction/safety.

Residents were divided on the usefulness of speed humps and cameras in the village.

 

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When asked, respondents had a number of specific suggestions on how road safety should be improved in the area.

o Reduce the traffic passing through Fforest / Hendy

o 20 mph speed limit through the village, 20mph is plenty

o Fixed speed cameras only work locally to them. Mobile cameras are more effective

o Lighting up speed aware signs indicating the speed of approaching traffic (as installed on

the Pwll Road, Llanelli)

o Possibly some crossing points such as a zebra crossing with humps, but we need to be

clever about where they go. One by main entrance to park and one by the school

o Need for designated path for walkers along Llannon Road

o Pavements along Heol Y Parc and along Llannon Road

o Pedestrian barriers at stations/locations such as the school. Where children come close

to the road

o Lack of pavement in some areas (Fforest leading to Geibren and back to Hendy)

o Llanelli cycle track stops outside village with no plan for bikes through village

o There is no room for alternative cycle/pedestrian routes/No room for cycle routes

without narrowing already narrow roads.

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Road safety appears to be, by far, the most cause of concern for local people. Individuals feel unsafe for themselves and their children, and some fear that without improvements there is a risk to life in the future.

o The Community Council may wish to liaise with the County on this matter in order to investigate future plans on how these issues could be further remedied.

o Ask County Councillors to liaise with the neighbouring County (Swansea) re their future plans and how they will impact upon traffic/seek out mitigation.

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o Community Council to relay information to locals and support public to communicate issues with the local police and County.

o The Community Council maintains footpaths within their remit; however public roads are maintained by the County Council. Llanedi Community Council may wish to ensure that the public are aware of what paths are within their remit, and support locals to notify them of issues with these via easy routes of communication such as online complaints form and feedback via the Community Forum once established.

o Investigate how to improve air quality in the village.o Investigate the potential for cycle paths.

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9. Council Feedback

Residents were asked “Do you think your council is doing a good job?” 78% felt they were.

Whilst residents, on the whole, believe Community Councillors are doing a good job, residents were invited to offer suggestions on what the Council could do better or differently. Their comments can be summarised by the word cloud below:

As can be seen, the main concern was a perceived lack of communication with the public.

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP WELLBEING

Keep the community better informed through newsletters, notice boards, a new web site, social media etc.

Encourage Councillors to build their profiles on-line/at public events

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10. ReferencesMcMillan David W.,Chavis David M, (1986), Sense of community: A definition and theory. Volume 14 Issue 1

John Bynner.,Risks and outcomes of social exclusion, Insights from longitudinal data. Institute of Education University of London. http://www.oecd.org/education/innovation-education/1855785.pdf. Accessed 10.01.19

Eime, RM, Young JA , Harvey Jack T et al. Published: 15 August 2013. A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 201310:9

Why play is important. http://www.playengland.org.uk/about-us/why-play-is-important/. Accessed 10.01.19

Government Digital Inclusion Strategy., 4th of December. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-digital-inclusion-strategy/government-digital-inclusion-strategy. Accessed 10.01.19

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11.0 Profile of respondents to questionnaire

The community consultation is a snap shot of what the community thinks and is based on a small proportion of residents - only 42 out of over 3000.

Those who responded have the following profile:

52% male and 48% female

53% were aged over 58; 38% between 47 and 57 and only 11% were aged under 47

57% lived in a detached house, 36% in a semi and 7% in a terrace

93% owned their own home

40% were retired, 33% were employed full time and 15% part time, 5% were self-employed and 8% were unemployed

49% could speak and read Welsh satisfactorily

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