Barham Parish Council would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete and return the planning survey questionnaire.  The Parish Council took the view that a survey would not only help to understand the views of residents, but also wanted to look behind an in-principle objection and understand to other reasons for objection. We also wanted to understand what infrastructure and services the community feels are needed to support new housing.

600 households were surveyed and 100 responses were received, 92% of which do not support the application.

Main concerns were as follows:

Traffic - 84%

Loss of Rural Character - 76%

Disbelief the promised facilities will be delivered - 73%

Lack of Services and Facilities to support new housing – 68%

In terms of additional facilities and services desired, the three most popular choices were:

-        Community Hall

-        Village Green

-        Café

A nursery and additional shops were close behind with workspace, gym and sports hall being seen as less important.

Specific comments included requests for play areas and an improved bus services to Ipswich.

 Finally, respondents were presented with the following scenarios and asked to rank them. Here they are in order of preference:

• ALL PROPOSED HOUSING IS REJECTED
• THE PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED BUT ONLY IF IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL THE DOCTORS SURGERY, MORE NEW FACILITIES AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED
• THE PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED BUT ONLY IF THE SCHOOL AND SURGERY ARE TO BE PROVIDED
• THE PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO DELIVER THE MUCH NEEDED HOUSING

There is therefore clear and ongoing opposition to any new housing. However, if housing is imposed on Barham, it is clear that the vast majority of the community are demanding to see more services and facilities to support that new housing.