The findings

Our findings are now to be found in the Community Appraisals for each ward which you can read by clicking here

This page sets out the findings of our work.

Every town and village in Easington has its own local problems. We have listened to what you told us and made a note of these.

Here are the issues that seemed to concern the largest number of people:

Jobs and Training

	Would like to see more locally delivered training programmes, especially in computing
	Lack of jobs for local people, i.e. jobs in the villages
	Lack of local jobs information, advice and guidance
	Lack of basic and work-related skills
	Lack of advice on benefits and services
	Unemployment
	Low pay and job insecurity

Local Services and Community Facilities

	Easier access to shops
	Easier access to leisure facilities
	Public transport services – travelling for all purposes
	Need to build or modernise local community centres and increase their flexibility of use

	Clear up derelict and unsightly land and buildings
	Improve access to open space and countryside
	Road safety – especially traffic calming measures
	Improving the image of the towns and villages and encouraging investment/confidence and pride
	Improving maintenance of roads and paths – including a reduction in litter and other dirt

	Unwanted/void council houses
	Encouraging new development in some areas and discouraging it in others
	The condition of council housing and need for modernisation/repairs
	The poor condition of some private rented (generally ex-colliery) property

Youth Provision

	Lack of things for 14-18 year olds to do – the need for facilities and workers to engage young people
	Barriers to young people accessing existing facilities, e.g. community centres, schools after hours.
	Activities for all children – especially outside school hours

Providing services for an ageing population

	The poor health of local people
	The quality and range of local health services and need for improved health advice
	The accessibility of health services
	Drink and drugs problems

	Low educational attainment
	Poor reading and writing skills
	Some poor school buildings and facilities need modernising

	Fear of crime in general and the need for a stronger local police presence
	Nuisance neighbours – a small number of households making life miserable for others
	Young people misbehaving on the streets – perhaps linked with drink and drugs, and with petty crime

The need to celebrate and conserve the area’s mining and industrial heritage

	The help needed if local people are going to get more actively involved in running their own affairs
	The problem of getting a good variety of people involved in local partnerships, and therefore getting a balance of views. It is very difficult to get younger age groups involved.

Loss of population – leading to lack of support for local shops and services