COMMUNITY SURVEY

2018 RESULTS

Kings Hill Parish Council

■ A Parish Council is the smallest and most localised tier of local government and is a properly constituted local authority.

■ The powers, duties and the manner in which a Parish Council operates are laid out in local government statute and regulations; Parish Councils operate at a level below district and borough councils.

■ Parish Councillors are elected every four years and are not paid to perform their duties. Parish Councillors have no powers to act alone, the decisions of a council are either made by the corporate body at a legally constituted meeting or delegated to an officer.

■ Parish Council’s can help on a number of local issues, like planning applications or running local sports grounds and community halls.

■ Kings Hill Parish Council is made up of 12 elected members and meets once a month in the Community Centre to discuss its operations and local issues. Councillors serve on a range of smaller committees which meet regularly to discuss issues in more detail and report back to the Full Council for ratification or final decision making.

■ Kings Hill Parish Council holds a long term lease with the developer Liberty Property Trust on both Kings Hill Sports Park and Kings Hill Community Centre. The Parish Council is responsible for the running of all operations and maintenance of the two facilities.

■ The Parish Council is also responsible for the running of the Allotments and the upkeep of the play area in Anson Avenue.

■ Kings Hill Parish Council is keen to develop the parish and is looking to residents for their views on how the Parish Council can work for them. This survey was instigated to canvas the opinion of residents and to help form the Parish Council’s strategy for the next five years and more.

What Is A Parish Council?

Kings Hill Parish Council

Kings Hill Parish Council

COMMUNITY SURVEY 2018 RESULTS

A total of 349 surveys completed

61% Female 35% Male

4% Neutral

27% Of Residents Work

On Kings Hill

Age Range

Under 18

18-39 40-59 Over 60

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This survey was the first “test” of community opinion in Kings Hill since 2004.

The focus of the questions was on life in the parish, community services, roads and transport and future development needs

in the parish

Respondents

Traffic & Transport

Residents were asked what was most important in making Kings Hill more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors?

Highest Priority Top 3

35% of residents thought enforcement of a parking regime was a high priority.

23% of residents thought reducing the speed of traffic on main roads was a high priority.

18% of residents thought improving public transport was a high priority.

Traffic & Transport

Additional Comments

“Build houses with more parking and visitor parking”

“Double yellow lines on main arteries”

“The parking and access for Kings Hill is very poor.... I can see deaths occurring from fires and other emergencies”

44 comments were received on what was most important to make Kings Hill more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors.

“Traffic controls from Kate Reed Wood on A228”

“Access on foot to Waitrose is a high priority”

“A police presence on Kings Hill walking the beat”

Residents were asked what was most important in making Kings Hill more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors?

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Additional comments

Amenities

Residents were asked what was most important in making Kings Hill more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors?

Highest Priority Top 3

69% of residents thought that improving GP services was a high priority.

17% of residents thought that improving traffic controls around schools was a high priority.

7% of residents thought that introducing adult recreation facilities such as an outdoor gym was a high priority.

Amenities

Additional Comments

“Better restaurants”

“More tennis courts with floodlighting”

“A church building”

“Second doctors surgery needed ASAP”

54 comments were received on what was most important to make Kings Hill more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors.

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Additional comments

“Creating areas for teenage children”

“Provide additional parking at the Community Centre”

“Skate Park”

“Increase pre-school capacity”

Future Development

Residents were asked what was important when it comes to any potential future development of Kings Hill

Highest Priority Top 3

45% of residents thought that a secondary school was a top priority.

23% of residents thought youth facilities 12-18 years was a top priority.

19% of residents thought that a village green/ open spaces was a top priority.

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How important are the following when it comes toany potential future development of Kings Hill?

A secondary school

Village green/ Open spaces

Community use buildings

Public transport

Play areas 0 - 5 years

Play areas 5 - 12 years

Youth facilities 12 - 18 years

Improvements to the connectivity withsurrounding communities by foot or bicycle

Improvements to the remembrance dayparade

Highest Priority

Additional Comments

“Development of new tennis courts”

“A church”“Skate/ scooter park”

“Adequate space for parking”

“There is nothing for young adults 12-18”

38 comments were received on what residents thought were important when it comes to future development on Kings Hill.

Future Development

“Better parking provision to prevent parking on through roads”

“Police presence”

“Better areas for disabled children”“More road signage, ie

signs for way out, signs to shopping centre”

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Improvetenniscourts

(floodlights,more

courts)

BetterYouth

Facilities

CommunityActivity Hub

Better andstricter car

parking

Petrolstation

Lower Feesfor renting

hall

Better RoadSignage

Morebenches

Improve GPservices

BetterPolice

presence

Improvingmobilephoneservice

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Additional comments

Residents were asked what sports they would like to see at the Sports Park

Others to include

■ Archery■ Gymnastics■ Outdoor gym■ Trampolining■ BMX

“An outdoor gym for adults, some street lights for those that use the area for dog walking in winter”

“Move the tennis courts there so it is a true multi sports club”

“A much wider variety of sports suitable for all ages exercise classes - aerobics, martial arts, tai chibmx track, skate park”

“Bowls green”

“Athletics track”“An indoor sports hall so the sports can be more varied and be year round and not weather dependant”

“Rounders pitch”

Additional Comments

■ Rounders■ Croquet■ Snooker■ Skiing■ Horse riding

■ Cricket■ Yoga■ Climbing■ Disabled activities■ Martial Arts■ Clay pigeon shooting

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What sports would you like to see at the Sports Park?

105 residents responded with a yes/ no, etc.

Residents were asked whether their families would participate in uniformed groups if new groups where formed, such as air cadets

Additional Comments

“Boys Brigade”

“Beavers/Cubs”

“More girl guiding groups – rainbows age 4-7, guides for age 10+”

“Army Cadets”

“Air Cadets and/or Sea Cadets”

“Kings Hill is such an iconic place historically and it would be good to

educate the youth here and show the opportunity to get involved

and take an interest in its heritage roots. Air cadets is a great idea.

Also these uniformed groups may be attractive to the

older children”

Residents were asked whether their families would participate in uniformed groups if new groups where formed, such as air cadets

150 people out of the 255 replies gave an example of a uniformed group they would like to see. 10 people were for the introduction of any kind of group (ALL).

Others to include:

■ Water sports■ Forest Type■ Boy Brigade

■ Skate park■ St Johns■ Orienteering trail

■ Karate■ Red Cross

"Girl Guides""Scouts to have bigger presence"

"Yes any groups that keep children involved and active, scouts, brownies, rainbows, boys brigade,also a focus on activities for older children"

"St John’s or Red Cross"

Additional Comments

"I don't have a family but would happily volunteer to help run & facilitate"

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Cadets Scouts Brownies Other Beavers Guides All Cubs Rainbow Explorers

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Please give more details ofwhat uniformed groups you would like to see in Kings Hill

Residents were asked what they would like to see in the expansion of the Community Centre

Additional Comments

“Medium sized halls for hire, more parking around the centre for the elderly”

“Keep fit classes for older people or people with limited ability”

“Library/ coffee shop”

“More parking”

“A proper dance hall”

“Youth Club, maybe table tennis, snooker”

“Some kind of stage facility to be able to run theatre workshops”

“Space to allow beavers, cubs, scout, brownies to meet as required”

Others to include:■ Facilities for autistic children■ Office space■ Art & science facilities

■ Advice centre■ Cost of renting for uniform groups too high

■ Use at Sports Park instead■ Remembrance to airfield

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The Parish Council has access to developer funding to expand the community centre, what would you like to see

in this expansion?

Residents were asked what activities they would like to see at the Community Centre

“More groups for older children”

“I love it whenever people get together and share thoughts. Great site, stick with it!”

“Youth activities”

“Adult dance classes”

“Powerwave”

“Events for young people, gaming club”“Pilates, high intensity,

fun things like bounce or hula classes”

“More activities for older children and adults”

“Bridge during the day”

“Local theatre productions”

Additional Comments

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What activities would you like to see at the Community Centre?

Residents were asked what community events they would like to see in Kings Hill and which would they support

Additional Comments

“Would be nice to have farmers market once a month on Kings Hill”

“Would like to support Christmas Fayre and social events”

“May Day”

“Food Market”

“Social events and markets focusing on food or speciality items”

“French market”

“Christmas Fayre breakfast with Santa”

“Bridge during the day”

“Regular farmers market”

“Regular craft events”

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What community events would you like to see in Kings Hill and which would you support, for example Christmas Fayre, social events.

Residents were asked if they were aware of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s proposed changes to kerbside recycling and whether they were in favour of paying a supplement to dispose of their garden waste

“No, as people will stop using it. Maidstone have one of the best recycling services, maybe look at this”

“No we pay enough already”

“In principle, depends on cost”

“Depends how much it will cost”

“Not aware. I don’t mind paying for services I use”

“I welcome recycling, the provision of glass, plastic and tin needs to be a priority”

“No I was not. It’s hard work to recycle, a cost will put others off completely”

“No – I already pay enough council tax and management fee to live in Kings Hill”

Additional Comments

Residents were asked which issues affected their quality of life in Kings Hill

Highest Priority Top 3

43% of residents thought parking/obstruction was a high priority.

32% of residents thought speeding motorists was a high priority.

20% of residents thought dog fouling was a high priority.

Residents were asked which issues affected their quality of life in Kings Hill

“Getting access to GP appointments.”

“Lack of mobile phone coverage”

“Lack of safe crossings by Waitrose and Tower View”

“Kings Hills’ number one problem is the parking”

Additional Comments

“Lack of good restaurants to visit with outdoor seating in the summer, with good hygiene ratings”

“Asda shopping trolleys left in car park near doctors”

“Please stop business park staff from parking in residential roads”

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Additional Comments

Residents were asked for their top 3 project ideas to improve Kings Hill over the next 10 to 15 years

303 residents voted on their top project idea.

Others to include:

First Priority

1stTop 3■ Parking improvements■ Better infrastructure■ Secondary school

■ Remove social housing■ More pre school places■ Train station■ Electric charging for vehicles■ Get cars off the road and into garages■ Replace all block paving around drains

■ More jobs on Kings Hill■ Urban gym■ Daily fly past by a Spitfire■ Kerbside recycling of all recyclables■ Remembrance■ Better management of trees

■ Orienteering trail■ More amenities for extra houses■ Better security■ Library

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Top Three Project Ideas - First

Residents were asked for their top 3 project ideas to improve Kings Hill over the next 10 to 15 years

Second Priority

Others to include:

2nd283 residents voted on their second project idea.Top 3■ Parking improvements■ Youth activities/centre ■ More shops and restaurants

■ Community Services Officer■ Sustainable growth■ Reduce charge for commercial area■ Evening classes■ Hotel■ Reasonably priced bungalows■ Improved street lighting■ Pond■ Less social housing■ Improved Sports Park Café

■ New mums club■ Outdoor adventure ie Go Ape■ Outside gym■ Better residential security patrols■ More trees■ Library■ Centre for older residents■ Close one of the Costas■ Electrical shuttle between schools■ Community Centre expansion

■ Community events■ Maintaining existing high standards■ Free for residents "We Work" type office environment■ Encourage diversity■ No expansion beyond KH boundary■ Affordable housing■ Make Liberty more accountable■ Monitor and control air quality

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Top Three Project Ideas - Second

Residents were asked for their top 3 project ideas to improve Kings Hill over the next 10 to 15 years

Third Priority255 residents voted on their third project idea.

Others to include:

3rdTop 3■ Better infrastructure ■ Better shops ■ Parking improvements

■ More liaison with KCC from councillors■ Library■ Eco incentives■ More allotments■ More children's activities such as Jump■ Memorial garden■ Improve signposting for key facilities■ Housing density■ Consider different road surface

■ More affordable housing■ Use technology to engage with community■ Make better use of the square■ Better facilities for residents■ Indoor sports complex■ Scout Hut■ School for autism■ Close Asda■ Public leisure centre with swimming pool

■ Listen to residents■ Reduce responsibility of KHREMC■ Community clean up■ Increase woodland areas■ Weather proofed dog walks■ Market■ More trees

COMMUNITY SURVEY 2018

Kings Hill Parish Council