Contents | 1. Overview | 2. Intro to Marnhull | 3. Actions & Strategy | 4. Residents Views | 5. Data | Summary

In order to determine the key issues that concern the residents of Marnhull it was necessary to develop a process that would collect sufficient data which could form the basis of a Parish Plan for the future. It was decided that a three-phase approach would be adopted. The first phase was put into operation in July 2005 at the Marnhull Fest, this was followed by the generation, distribution and collection of a detailed questionnaire followed finally by an Open Day feedback meeting held on the 10th November at the Marnhull Village Hall.

The Fest
The committee used the Marnhull Fest to start its campaign by manning a stand, which invited comments from all residents, on the basis that those comments would directly influence the questions and format of the questionnaire. A simple questionnaire was made available to all visitors to the stall, the results of which are illustrated by the questionnaire included in this appendix. It is believed over 180 people took part in responding to the request for information and the key individual issues raised by more than 90 people included:

• Development of the Village
• Village Hall
• Playing fields
• Road surfaces and speed
• Buses
• Litter
• Recycling
• Employment and Business
• Police
• Footpaths, bridle ways & cycle paths

The Questionnaire
A sub committee was established from members of the general committee with the brief to produce two questionnaires; the first of which was divided into household and personal, the second being aimed at the age group 7 to 17. The content of the questionnaires was built upon the feedback received from the Fest. The draft questionnaires were reviewed, revised and agreed by the general committee. In order that the raw data from the questionnaires could be efficiently recoded and analysed a software package “Village Appraisals 99 for Windows” was used to produce the final version of the questionnaire. The use of a standard software package did demand certain compromises be reached regarding the wording and overall structure of the questionnaire, however this was considered acceptable. Supported by considerable local publicity the questionnaires were printed and delivered to all households in Marnhull by all members of the general committee. Over 900 questionnaires were delivered. A total of 581 (64%) questionnaires were returned which represented the views of 1289 residents. This compared with the 2001 census, which recorded 1,951 residents in 915 dwellings. Over 100 of the questionnaires contained additional comments. The overall raw data results for both questionnaires can be found at the end of this section.

Open Day 10th November
On the 10th November the general committee held an Open Day from 2.00pm till 9.00pm for all residents of Marnhull to visit and see the results of the raw questionnaire data and read all the comments included in the questionnaire responses. In excess of 130 residents visited during the day. Members of North Dorset District Council and Dorset County Council were in attendance to answer questions on planning, environment and traffic.

This questionnaire will appear here in due course. It occupies pages 36 to 52 of the Marnhull Village Parish Plan 2006.

Contents | 1. Overview | 2. Intro to Marnhull | 3. Actions & Strategy | 4. Residents Views | 5. Data | Summary