Before we report the survey findings please note that the General Meeting scheduled for Thursday 11th December at The Hub has been cancelled.  Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 18th March 2026.

Following on from our first survey of residents in 2024 we recently asked again for your views to see how things have changed in the last year.

In 2024 around 34% of homes took part.  This time it was only 16% so our sample is not as rich as before but we can still draw some conclusions.

The first thing to say is that a lower response rate could indicate that residents are generally less concerned about issues.  Perhaps completion of the roads and pavements on Herdwick Fold has reassured people that we are heading in the right direction.

In this report we give an overview of your latest responses and compare them with last year’s survey findings.

Ratings

We asked you to rate how happy you were with a number of things on the development. 

Colour key: Dark green - Excellent; Light green - Good; Amber - Fair; Pink - Poor & Red - Very Poor.

Roads

Last year 70% said our roads were either Poor or Very Poor.  This year 74% say Excellent or Good.  A clear reflection of getting the Herdwick Fold roads surfaced at long last.

Pavements

Similarly, last year 62% said our pavements were either Poor or Very Poor.  This year 70% say Excellent or Good.

Maintenance of Public Open Spaces (POS)

The year on year change is only moderate.  Last year it was 9% positive, 25% in the middle and 65% negative.  In 2025 it’s 13% positive, 49% in the middle and 38% negative.

This would suggest you’re slightly happier but not exactly over the moon.  This could reflect the fact that we did see some remedial planting take place this year, but there is still work to be done to get us to where the original landscaping plans show we should be.

Play Areas

There has been a slight improvement in your ratings here, moving from 12% to 26% positive, but most of those who had an opinion on this are in the middle.

Rubbish bins

Last year one third of responses rated this as Poor or Very Poor.  This year it’s almost a half of responses.  So that’s a fall in satisfaction levels.  This question may be complicated by the fact that bins are not always used as intended - they are not supposed to be for dog poo bags.  It has also been pointed out that it’s odd for three bins to be located so close together rather than being spread out.

Surface Water Drainage in gardens

When it comes to your own gardens you seem happier this year than last.  Anecdotally this may reflect the fact that many of us have taken it upon ourselves to take action to improve drainage within our own property boundaries.

Surface Water Drainage in POS

Last year around 60% of responses were unhappy with this, but now it’s just over 40%.  The change is due to people moving more to the middle ground (‘fair’ rating) rather than feeling positive about POS drainage.

Why the slight shift in opinion?  We have reported how the Residents Association has been pushing Taylor Wimpey to take our concerns on this seriously and to be fair they have responded.  We have seen activity over recent months which suggests they are trying to deal with known problems.  However it remains to be seen whether the solutions they are delivering will be effective.  We will be monitoring this closely as it’s important for all of us that they get this right.

Quality of Life on The Herdwicks

You’re telling us that this has improved over the last year.  In 2024 around half of responses said that quality of life on The Herdwicks was Excellent or Good - now that’s gone up to 77%.  Only 3% are unhappy.

Quality of Life in Shipston on Stour

When it comes to the wider view of living in Shipston you love this place more than ever with nine out of ten people rating the quality of life here as Excellent or Good.

Your Concerns and Priorities

As outlined above you have rated various aspects of life here on The Herdwicks, but what about your remaining concerns and priorities?

In 2024 your top five priorities were:

1. Quality of roads and pavements

2. Landscaping

3. Road adoption

4. Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

5. The Hanson Farm development (behind Herdwick Gate)

 

This year, in 2025 your top five priorities are as follows:

1. Landscaping

2. Fair maintenance payments

3. Footpaths on POS

4. Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

5. The Hanson Farm development (behind Herdwick Gate)

The Residents Association committee uses your answers to prioritise our work.  Our efforts can now shift away from roads and focus on matters to do with our POS (landscaping, footpaths and surface water drainage) and also ensuring we don’t get stung on maintenance payments.

With anti-social behaviour it’s difficult for the committee to take specific actions.  We would encourage all residents to treat their neighbours as they themselves would wish to be treated - with respect and kindness.  Where problems arise we will support residents who wish to report anti-social or criminal behaviour, whether that is to the police or local authorities.

In terms of the Hanson Farm development this is just one of several new builds being proposed for Shipston.  There is a planning process to follow and all we can do is register our concerns through the official channels at Stratford District Council (SDC).  We encourage residents to engage with this process via the SDC Planning Portal (Planning Ref: 24/00303/OUT).

Other Survey Findings

We asked for your views on other matters.

On-site defibrillators

In the survey there were 87% in favour of having these life saving devices with 69% prepared to make a small contribution to the cost.  We have at least one resident who is willing to have a unit installed at their property.  The committee is looking in to this.

On-site events

Three quarters of respondents said they would welcome the committee organising an on-site event.  Our plans to do something at the end of summer were scuppered by the weather, so we need to try again in the new year.

Streetlights After Midnight

Three quarters of respondents agreed with the suggestion of streetlights being turned off after midnight, in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s ‘Dark Skies’ Policy.  Once our roads are adopted this is something we can put to WCC.

20 mph Speed Limit

Three out of four people were in favour of having 20 mph speed signs on our developments, just as they have on the Cala Homes, Foxgloves site.  Once our roads are adopted this is something we can put to WCC.

If you have any questions or observations on these survey findings please feel free to send us a message.

 

HGHF-RA Committee

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