LINDFORDÕS long-awaited village appraisal has finally been completed and has been distributed to homes in the village.

Summaries of the village appraisal have been delivered to parishioners and it is hoped that the appraisal will be adopted by East Hampshire District Council within the next few months to use it as supplementary guidance for a range of issues including planning.

Covering a range of issues the appraisal, which was unveiled at MondayÕs meeting of Lindford Parish Council, was put together after 60 per cent of homes in the village returned a questionnaire.

Its publication and delivery follows months of work by the appraisal committee LIFE (Lindford Is For Everyone) which comprised volunteers from the village.

Council chairman Ian Skelton-Smith praised the appraisal committee Òfor all of their hard workÓ.

The rest of the council was also pleased to receive the final report.

The results in the appraisal demonstrates that there is support for traffic calming, a need for additional social facilities and widespread support for a reduction in the speed limit on the B3004 to 30 mph.

It also revealed that for the majority of residents (88 per cent) the main form of transport was a private car and that the junction at the Royal Exchange public house was seen by 69 per cent to be a Òdanger spotÓ.

The appraisal also showed that the majority of residents opposed large-scale housing development, with 93 per cent believing that less than 50 new homes were needed in the village over the next five years.

However, should new housing be built in the village, then smaller affordable homes should be built, the results said.

Crime proved to be an issues which Lindford residents showed concern about, with only 25 per cent of residents believing that the village was well covered by police officers.

The majority of respondents (62 per cent) believed that street parking in the village was a safety risk.

Other big concerns in the village were vandalism, theft and drunkenness.

A high demand for after school clubs, adult education classes and holiday play schemes was shown by the appraisal.

Flooding problems were also identified in Lynwood Close and at the bottom of Chase Road.

Black and white copies of the appraisal summary can be purchased for £1 from John Randell, from whom full colour copies can also be purchased for £5.

He can be contacted on 01420 474662.