The next step in designing the Kingsteignton of the future is about to fall into place. Within the next few weeks every household in the village will be surveyed in a bid to find out what residents want for their community. The village's scout troop will pound the streets delivering up to 6,000 questionnaires which have been compiled by the Kingsteignton Community Plan Steering Group. The survey is just one stage in an 18-month project, the results of which will have dramatic implications for the funding of future community projects. The government is encouraging similar exercises, which are independent of local councils, nationwide. They are seen as providing the blueprint for a community's needs and aspirations. Kingsteignton group spokesman Liz Rollason said the object of the questionnaire was to 'tease out' what residents saw as the main issues facing the village. 'We really want people to tell us two things,' she told the Advertiser. 'First, we want to know about something people see as affecting the whole community and second, something which is local to their part of the village.' Despite being advised to ask 'yes' or 'no' questions, the steering group has opted for the trickier route of posing so-called open questions, the answers to which could be as diverse as those people providing them. 'We really want to find out what people want, what ideas they have,' said Ms Rollason. The completed questionnaires can be left at collection points which will be located in the health centre, Exeter Road post office, council offices and the library. Spare forms will be available from the four locations should anyone miss out. The results will be analysed and a more detailed second 'tick box' questionnaire distributed later in the year. The findings from that exercise will be studied professionally and, from it, the village plan will emerge next summer. 'People really must tell us about the things that are worrying them and what it is they want for the future,' said Ms Rollason.
