Community Facilities
Action Point 1.1 DOCTORS SURGERY
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1. The issue or Problem |
| 2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue to Ringmer People When asked in the Village Survey about medical provision 49% expressed satisfaction, 35% no opinion and only 16% identified a need for service improvement. However this minority expressed views that strongly support those of the practice itself. The main complaints were the need for more doctors in Ringmer and shorter waiting times. In all there were 52 comments requesting additional medical facilities at Ringmer, most of these being services that the practice itself would wish to provide here if space were available. A small number of respondents complained that they had not been allowed to register here and were told they must register with the Lewes branch of the practice. |
| 3. The Action Support proposals by the GP practice to expand its service provision in Ringmer. |
| 4. How it will be tackled Encourage and assist Lewes District Council is revising the layout of their land and services adjacent to the Surgery at Anchor Field so as to make the necessary land available for the GP practice to expand its surgery. Inform Lewes District Council that improvements to the surgery are included in the Ringmer Action Plan. |
| 5. Who will do it Ringmer Parish Council and Ringmer's Lewes District councillors. |
| 6. When should it be done by As soon as possible. |
| 7. Resource implications None. The Primary Care Trust is ready to cover the cost of the expansion. |
Action Point 1.2 HARVARD HOUSE
| 1. The Issue or Problem Harvard House was purpose built in 1975 as a home for the elderly. It is a highly valued public service provided by East Sussex County Council. ESCC are carrying out reviews of all their homes. Completed reviews elsewhere in East Sussex have resulted in homes either being closed or providing a reduced range of services with no long term care. Harvard House is currently being reviewed between February and July 2003. |
| 2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue to Ringmer People The Village Survey resulted in 94% of respondents supporting the home remaining open providing a full range of services, 0.6% were opposed and 6% expressed no opinion. The campaign organiser has received 225 personally written letters supporting the home to remain open. No letters expressing any other view have been received. |
| 3. The Action Support the retention of a full range of services for the elderly at Harvard House. |
| 4. How it will be tackled A private campaign, supported by the Parish Council and other local groups, has been conducted since January 2002. ESCC officers conducting the review have been informed of the near unanimous views of Ringmer residents expressed in the responses to the Ringmer Action Plan Questionnaire. |
| 5. Who will do it The campaign organiser, supported by the Parish Council, other bodies in Ringmer and our East Sussex County Councillor. |
| 6. When should it be done by It has been conducted continually since January 2002 and the outcome is due on 29th July 2003. By providing evidence of the uniqueness of Harvard House it is hoped that the outcome will be favourable. |
| 7. Resource implications Negligible to the Parish Council. |
Action Point 1.3 ADVICE/INFORMATION CENTRE
| 1. The Issue or Problem There is a perceived lack of sufficient advice/information services in the village. Advice services are currently available in Lewes and Uckfield, but this involves travel, time and expense. Link: Links to AP1.4 Single Parent Households, also possibly AP1.6 Library and AP5.2 Broadband. |
| 2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue to Ringmer People 219 people (30.9%) gave a positive response to the suggestion in the questionnaire of providing an advice centre in the village. |
| 3. The Action (a) Identify current information/advice provision available from surrounding area (including Lewes). (b) Audit current public areas in Ringmer where new services could be provided. (c) Survey advice providers to see what numbers from villages access their services and if they have any views on need for outreach provision. (d) Review use of notice boards around village. (e) Consider role of ICT services in providing service. |
| 4. How it will be tackled Short questionnaire with background to existing providers - e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau, Age Concern, Care for Carers, health centre - for action points (a) and (c). Investigate whether they could provide outreach services if required. NB ensure needs of single parent families are investigated and addressed. Contact Library, Community College, Parish Council regarding space and cost to host possible provision - action point (b). Identify gaps where notice boards may be placed or where existing ones could be used more effectively. Provide one/some public ICT access point(s). |
| 5. Who will do it (a) and (c) Parish Council/South Downs Council for Voluntary Service (b) Parish Council (d) Parish Council (e) Parish Council, AiRS and/or Sussex Community Internet Project |
| 6. When should it be done by (a) - (c) Within three months (d) - (e) Within six months |
| 7. Resource implications Possible cost of outreach services from voluntary sector groups Cost of new notice boards Cost of rental /overheads for hosting any provision Cost of PC(s) and internet provision -plus cost of set up/support Minor costs for survey(s) -stationery, mail etc |
Action Point 1.4 SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS
| 1. The Issue or Problem Living in a village means that many of the agencies, facilities, and advice that single parents need to access, are only available through repeated travel into Lewes. Some advice and help is not even available to them there, i.e. Debt and Budgeting help. Link: Link to AP1.3 Advice/Information Centre. |
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2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue
to Ringmer People |
| 3. The Action In conjunction with Action Point 1.3 for an Advice Centre, conduct some more detailed research into the needs for advice on such aspects as benefits assistance; debt advice and advocacy. Investigate urgently the possibility of re-introducing utilities prepayment facility within the village. |
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4. How it will be tackled |
| 5. Who will do it Ringmer Parish Council Action In Rural Sussex Also see section 5 of Action Point 1.3. |
6. When should it be done by Investigations and research to begin immediately. |
| 7. Resource implications Not known until more research undertaken and possible involvement from agencies investigated. |
Action Point 1.5 DISABLED FACILITIES AND ACCESS
| 1. The Issue or Problem There is a perceived need for better understanding and awareness of issues related to disability and of access in the community as a whole. |
| 2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue to Ringmer People In question 15 of the questionnaire 70 people responded that they were registered disabled. (It is now recognised that this was not a well worded question.) A significant number of suggestions were put forward by respondents to the questionnaire as to how to improve the quality of life and allow fuller participation in village life for people with disabilities. Additional comments were made by visitors to the Open Day. |
| 3. The Action To raise awareness in everyone living in, working in, or studying in, or visiting Ringmer, both of the meaning of the term disability and also of access issues for disabled people. To raise awareness of the responsibilities arising from the above as they apply to individuals, businesses and service providers. To improve access within Ringmer for disabled people. To establish and develop partnerships to fulfil these aims. |
| 4. How it will be tackled Initial discussions to be held with representatives from ESDA, Lewes Disabled People's Forum, Lewes Local Access Group and Lewes District Council Access Officer. Suggestions made in response to question 15 of the Ringmer Questionnaire and written comments from the Open Day should be included in these discussions. An appropriate, staged and practical, but challenging and imaginative plan can be developed from this. At some stage it may be appropriate to identify how many people in Ringmer consider themselves to be disabled. A programme of improvements to recreational areas is currently being prepared by the Greens Committee. |
| 5. Who will do it Preliminary discussions to be undertaken by Warren Kingston, with support from Ieuan Sherwood of AIRS. ESDA, Lewes Disabled People's Forum, Lewes Local Access Group and Lewes District Council Access Officer. Ringmer Parish Council Greens Committee. Other individuals and organisations likely to be involved following the initial discussions. |
| 6. When should it be done by Initial discussions to take place over the summer of 2003. Subsequent actions will be on going. |
| 7. Resource implications Initially relatively low - e.g. expenses for travelling to meetings. Subsequently could be quite high, e.g. associated with possible actions involving improvements to width and surfacing of pavements, accessible toilet facilities and appropriately accessible doors. |
| 1. The Issue or Problem If ESCC decide to close the library in Ringmer Village Hall, it would be important to have alternative library facilities within the village. The current position of the Parish Council is to support the continued existence of the library in the Village Hall. However, it recognises that were the latter to close, proposals for a library based at the Community College would be an attractive alternative, with potentially greater benefits. A major concern for older residents is the distance of the College site from the centre of the village. Links: Possible links to AP1.3 Advice/Information Centre and 5.2 Broadband. |
| 2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue to Ringmer People Response to the question of how important people felt it was to keep the library in the Village Hall, showed 465 (36.8%) thought it very important; 419 (33.1%) quite important and 380 (30.1%) not important. 246 people said they would use library facilities based at the College, either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. 604 said they would use them occasionally. |
| 3. The Action a) To gain up to date information from ESCC Education and library Service once merged from June 1, on funding and plans for Ringmer library provision. b) To explore the idea of a voluntary team borrowing books for housebound residents, where ever the library is situated. |
| 4. How it will be tackled a) Arrange a meeting with Library Service and Ringmer Community College to establish what is planned by ESCC and what funds are available. b) To research and obtain information on housebound residents who would value a borrowing scheme by a team of volunteers, by contact with all senior citizen clubs, residential homes, and through Community newsletter, Parish News and local papers. |
| 5. Who will do it a) Ringmer Community College (Rosemary Colebourn) b) Age Concern (Valerie King), Ringmer Community College (Rosemary Colebourn) |
| 6. When should it be done by a) June 2003 b) mid October 2003 |
| 7. Resource implications a) None b) Minimal |
Action Point 1.7 PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS
| 1. The Issue or Problem There are no public tennis courts in Ringmer. There are at present a few courts in unimpressive condition at Ringmer Community College, but the site they occupy is scheduled to be developed. |
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2. Specific evidence of the importance of the issue
to Ringmer People |
| 3. The Action Include provision for public tennis courts within the new recreational area planned on land east of Ringmer Community College. |
| 4. How it will be tackled (a) Present the case to Lewes District Council for the inclusion of tennis courts within the detailed plan for the new recreational area in the Lewes District Local Plan. Inform Lewes District Council that such provision is included in the Ringmer Action Plan. (b) Inform Ringmer Community College of the support for provision of public tennis courts. (c) Identify those who wish to use this provision, keep them informed about progress and plan for the operational management of the new facilities. |
| 5. Who will do it (a) Ringmer Parish Council (b) Village Action Plan Steering committee (c) Ringmer Tennis Club & Ringmer Community College |
| 6. When should it be done by (a) & (b) On adoption of the Action Plan (c) Ongoing |
| 7. Resource implications Not known at present. |
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