2.7 Health and Community  

2.7.1    The following surgeries are used most: 

2.7.2    Satisfaction with Dunsford surgery opening times was as follows: 

2.7.3   Respondents expressed interest in the following health related activities: 

2.7.4   Respondents indicated the following numbers of household members with disabilities or special needs: 

2.7.5    Respondents would be affected most if the village lost the following facilities: 

2.7.6    A total of 74% of respondents thought that a permanent “History of Dunsford” exhibition / art project would be of interest to locals and tourists. 

2.7.7    Some 24% of respondents would be interested in joining a group to research Dunsford’s history. 

2.7.8    A total of 29 respondents said that they had interesting photographs or documents that could be used to build a “History of Dunsford”. 

2.7.9   A total of 91% of respondents thought that Dunsford has a community spirit, and some comments on how it could be enhanced are included below.

“It depends on the people who live here participating in local activities. This is undermined by the processes that mean the ‘community’ is no longer solely a location based concept” 

“Difficult to say – beyond encouraging a wide range of local activities, many people have so little spare time these days” 

“More newcomers could join in activities and societies in the village” 

“More outsiders, living in the village, joining clubs etc” 

“Create more opportunities for young people to be involved i.e. ‘Young Parish Councillors’ – separate meetings could feed into Parish Council meetings on issues / activities / youth organisations etc” 

“I think it’s wonderful already!” 

“More public events (Show is good). Welcoming new people rather than leaving them be, we should get to know them.” 

“By taking into account the various age ranges of the village. There is a thriving young family range and that is good but the middle age and older age ranges are left behind.” 

“The community spirit might be enhanced if there was a project that would interest all age groups and also people of the village as well as people from the village i.e. the millennium project.” 

“It has a pretty good community spirit already.” 

“By becoming a “slow” village. A slow village (or town for that matter) is a place where the quality of life is paramount where traffic development and the pressures of modern life are kept at bay. So that people can enjoy the minutes of life instead of rushing around like headless chickens.” 

“The church is an important part of the village community. 2.7.10 could have asked about the relevance of the church to this community. How could its function be improved? Do you feel that absence of the resident vicar affects its effectiveness?” 

“More social events” 

“More big group activities such as productions large quizzes.” 

“Dunsford has a good community spirit already but I’m sure there could be more events, ideas, clubs etc. that could bring people together more. It is a lovely village that I am very happy to be part of!” 

“More Community events e.g. firework displays bonfire night etc. Keep fit classes would be a good idea because it would mean people could socialise and have fun.”

“The need for more clubs, they should arrange a different club in the village hall or elsewhere in the village for each night of the week. Etc. sport and leisure, dance, art, yoga, cooking, books, and frequent discussions on the village events and what happens to it.” 

“Arrange an annual Dunsford Bonfire night/ fireworks as everyone has to travel to Exeter/ Moreton or elsewhere, in a field along the Teign valley somewhere?” 

“As newcomers we had to search out clubs/ activities. Perhaps a news sheet could be available. Or clubs be more proactive.”

“More leisure activities in the village hall e.g. film club,/ bridge, U3A lectures” 

“World downhill biking championships.” 

“There are active and healthy organisations clubs etc in Dunsford, but they appear to exist in isolation. As part of a welcome pack to incomers why don’t we create an A4 file containing, a page for each, details of what happens and where, and whom to contact? Some of our existing parishioners might benefit too.” 

“Shocked to see that the centre of the community and the village i.e. the Church does not get any mention in the parish plan.” 

“I think Dunsford has on the whole a good community spirit but it is a bit ‘classist’ I’m not sure how you can get over that.” 

“Hold a meeting in the village hall to discuss various issues and how the community spirit can be enhanced.” 

“I would like to encourage the new people that come to the village to join in the various clubs and activities that are on offer.” 

“Dunsford has lost its community spirit as, as in this case (the traffic calming hazards/eyesore) everything is decided by (in some cases) the same people in committee format – major issues regarding the village i.e. Church, the village, proposed redevelopment etc. should be done by public meeting so everyone can attend with all members of interested parties present to answer questions. This questionnaire is “Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted”.

Most events in the village are now run by the same people with the same views – a clique.” 

Other comments on health and community issues included: 

“2.7.7, 2.7.8: Many small villages have a local heritage centre / museum / information office. There is an interest in archaeology (incl. industry), architecture, history, nature and the environment. A permanent, well housed well exhibited centre would be lovely BUT NOT merely scruffy displays on wobbly notice boards! 2.7.9, 2.7.10: Of course Dunsford has a spirit – or perhaps better expressed as overlapping a mutually supporting community spirits usually based on individual aptitudes and interests – panto, cricket, Dunsford singers, church etc” 

“2.7.6: If there was a permanent exhibition / art project where could it be housed and who will look after it? We already have millennium photos, church records, old photos etc & verbal knowledge” 2.7.9: But it needs fostering 2.7.10: Try to include ‘new comers’ into societies etc. There are various people in the village who use it as a commuter belt and do not join in anything.” 

“My family have lived in Dunsford for over 75 years but it saddens me that ,although change is important and inevitable, some of the” newcomers” do not value the opinions of the “Older Generations” enough  and do not consult them. I also would like to stay in the village and bring up my future children but lack of suitable housing is a real problem.” 

“There is a split between the comfortably well off and those of us who have had tragedy in our lives making it necessary to live in houses perhaps where we would not choose because of force of circumstances. It may be me but others have said that we are frowned on because of this. We all have our pride.” 

“More locally based businesses would prevent people having to travel into town to work; this would prevent the “dormitory” syndrome: using living in the countryside as but a hobby.” 

“I would like to see Dr’s Surgeries in the evenings.” 

“Please don’t do a “History of Dunsford” exhibition etc. The joy of Dunsford is that it is not touristy, but is a proper village. Why are you considering projects to attract more people to the village if you think there’s already a problem with congestion?”