The following comments were made on issues around Local Business & Tourism. This is raw data and has not been altered from what was put down on the postits we collected after the 2 consultation days.
- If the city of Portsmouth can have 20mph speed limit perhaps Stoke Gabriel could consider it.
- Who is going to take responsibility for the tatty flower beds.
- No more grave like flower beds over the village. Agree X3
- Stop putting flower in every available space.
- Whole area should be preserved for lovely wildlife we already have.
- No street lights to obscure night skies, stars, owls etc
- When we came to Stoke Gabriel in 1990 the millpond was drained every year to stop it silting up, why was this stopped? The top end is now very shallow.
- Bus to Totnes more frequently. I would like to use public transport more but the children don’t want to go to Paignton.
- More public transport to Totnes would be good we could leave the car at home.
- Cycle paths into and out of the village please.
- Shopping buses to Totnes or bring back ferry. Would use car less.
- Rail link helpful. Would cycle ore if possible. Want all space protected. All orchards, spaces, woods about visual character. Recreation in broadest sense.
- Would encourage an environmental audit of the village – to see if sustainable energy sources are available – e.g. hydroelectricity – Bellstone in North Devon has got funding for this and also support from Plymouth University as Community Development.
- I think it would be very good to have a village scheme to purchase or supply renewable energy systems for homes e.g. solar panels, heat pumps and wind turbines.
- I would like all our green areas preserved use brown field for housing whenever we can.
- Extension of local conservation areas and inclusion in visitor information.
- Hoyle copse is brilliant, congratulations to all involved.
- Like to be a community more open to wider opinions and views and not just the minority views of the few key strong personalities in positions of key decision making.
- Aim to make Stoke Gabriel self-sufficient and oil independent.
- Cycle-path and footpath to Totnes, one that is actually viable – you could break an ankle on the present.
- More woodland, more orchard, more local organic horticulture.
- Important to maintain at least current bus service to Paignton, good to be able to go to Totnes at least once a week.
- Parish woodland is vital for wildlife and managed as such.
- The parish orchards are the few remaining characteristics of the village and are vital, the orchards should be managed as orchards – recreational use second.
- A big swimming pool. Agree X2
- No street lights – use low level energy lights with solar power where necessary.
- No over bright security lights.
- Rydon acres – no more concrete block planters – remove unsafe sticking up stones, plant trees, position some benches, make a beautiful area again.
- Make Stoke Gabriel a viable community that is a vibrant one – cottage and community industry are vital, manage our own resources and requirements, deal with our own waste, grow and make locally, share skills and share land.
- Wind turbines to power the village. Love to see them on the hill. Agree X2
- Be nice to have some public art e.g. sculptures around the village and in Hoyle Copse.
- Protection order on trees. Care of stone walls. No street lights. Protect Area of Natural Beauty, larger conservation area, no to reopening the Wood’s footpath it never was a public footpath.
- More pay phones.
- Love the wassailing – hope it continues.
- Put preservation orders on all prominent trees in the parish.
- Please keep an enthusiastic and lively village.
- I’d love to have a community tool store for use of all.
- It would be great if we had recycling facilities for glass in the village.
- Keep outlying areas green. We do not want to be part of Paignton. Agree X2
- Better bus service i.e. run at times to suit children coming out of school at Paignton college.
- Buses to rail links please. Agree X2
- It would be great if we could have a supply of locally produced wood for heating.
- Post-office newspapers vital. If it fails can we have a community shop.
- Hotel, pubs important, church vital for village life.
- Entrance to Rydon acres to be properly landscaped so it can be used. It is an eyesore.
- Dredging millpond is becoming vital + pontoon river entry. Agree X1
- I’d really like to see the weir/river used to generate electricity for the village.
- Enhance and extend the unique village orchards.
- Subsidise essential village centre businesses by means of council tax rebate.
- Village guide showing all open spaces. Agree X1
- Attending to the side by the graveyard. The millpond side does need attention to stop erosion.
- Landscaping – encourage minor improvements in keeping with an enlarged rural village’s changing population profile.
- Millpond needs to be dredged as is filling up with silt.
- Wildlife and conservation – detailed plan needs to be set up.
- The work that has been done in Hoyle Copse – how many people are aware that it is a public space, it needs advertising – not just for the few.
- It would be great to see this beautiful village further enhanced with art. Like Moretonhampsted e.g. artist designed railings where needed. 3D sculpture, Stoke Gabriel sign on side of a building. There are many artists here but this is not reflected in the environment.
- Coastal protection area and areas of natural beauty are sacrosanct.
- Planters and displays to be more consulted on so efforts are appreciated by all.
- Alternative power sources wind, hydro, solar – individual houses encourage and support homeowners and community projects.
- Name and shame people who do not pick up their dog-poo.
- Bus services must be kept into Paignton.
- What we can do is stop proposals such as 800 houses in Yalberton valley.
- Would like to see planting of new native trees.
- Plastic bag free village. Agree 3
- Riverbank clearance could be village activity rather than just SGBA. Agree X1
- This village ceased to be a village in the true sense of the word about 30 years ago, in many ways we are too late it is already spoiled.
- Transport to Churston Grammar to be included in the Stagecoach route – 8am and 4pm. Will save lots of cars ploughing the same route every am and pm.
- Performing art group needed in the village, amateur dramatics. Agree X3
- No street lights. AgreeX2
- Public flower beds need to be in keeping with local stone walls.
- Keep all recycling facilities out of the village.
- Village orchards should remain for wildlife and enjoyment for people of the parish and visitors, they are a national treasure.
- Footpaths have been lost over the years + ability to walk through fields i.e. out to Ham and opposite Sharpham.
- Why don’t we generate our own electricity with a turbine on the millpond.
- Communal apple press in the orchard.
- No more graves for plants. Agree X2
- Protect Hoyle Copse from any more clearance and please no more recreations added.
- No mobile phone masts.
- No more flower beds on grass verges.
- Millpond needs dredging – must be affecting wildlife.
- Open up walking areas – do not allow local landowners to close them down. Agree X1
- If you want a village and not a suburb – no more street lights. Agree X1
- No to seats in Rydon acres – they would only attract undesirables after dark.
- P.O., shops, pubs, schools and carnival are vital for community.
- Causeway to be made safer.
- No dog fouling on public footpaths.
- Maintain public footpaths.
- Conservation area extended to include Old Vicarage.
- Get rid of the monstrosities at the entrance to Rydon Acres/Long Rydon. And those jagged stones to. AgreeX1.
- No more concrete planters.
- Collect grass in churchyard and verges after cutting instead of just leaving in brown unsightly clumps.
- Water park wanted. Agree X2. Disagree X2
- Cut back the hedges in the lanes as they keep getting narrower and narrower.
- Don’t stop home developments on buildings in a conservation area so that homes of required size can be created allowing village children to stay.
- No wheelie bins that have to be kept on the street.
- An environmental programme for the children encouraging them to learn about and become involved in their immediate environment. Walks around the mill pond – bird identification etc.
- Keep the causeway clean so its not slippery. Agree X1
- Stoke Gabriel in Bloom to plant more in keeping with rural village not Torquay seafront.
- Yes to protection of all open spaces.
- More public transport – less cars.
- Village orchards as open spaces to wildlife.
- Better bus services i.e. more frequent.
- Rollercoaster (small but fast) or zip-wire around Stoke. Or Ferris wheel.
- Open the sluice gate annually to clean mill pond of mud build up – it always used to be done. Agree X1.
- Keep footpaths open – walk the bounds.
- The trees etc along the millpond need to be cut back etc – I understand there is a tree preservation but it still needs maintenance.
- Keep coaches out of the village, local bus only.
- No street lighting.
- Need to be more protective of the natural beauty and prevent any more concrete block planters being built with regimented lines of plants. Encourage some natural features , plant more trees , more drought resistant plants. Leave the pretty “weed” tumbling from the walls.
- Coppicing managed in Hoyle Copse – woodland products.