During 2003 / 2004 Brading Town Council undertook various and comprehensive consultation exercises to ascertain firstly, residents views of the Town and secondly if and how their environment and quality of life could be improved.
The outcome of the surveys was that people living in Brading were generally proud of their Town and enjoyed living in Brading. They voiced opinions that were extremely protective of the countryside around the Town and of the community spirit that exists. However many suggestions were made as to how the Town and its environs could be improved. These were analysed by a group comprising representatives from local organisations. Those suggestions thought to be achievable within a seven year life span were included in the Brading Community Development Action Plan. The Action Plan consists of 43 projects. By the end of 2005, some of these projects had been completed, some were progressing, the remainder still requiring funding.
Brading has no retail outlet which supplies, fresh meat, fish, a good range of vegetables and fruit or organic products. Brading also has a high percentage of people ( 24% ) who do not have transport and therefore have to travel by public transport to purchase these food products. Again a high percentage of residents are elderly, over 65, and having to travel to purchase food is not always easy. These issues were identified repeatedly in the consultation exercise.
In 2005, therefore, the Town Council, submitted a grant bid to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund to undertake a Feasibility Study to ascertain by survey a) if there was a real demand in Brading for Local / Organic Produce and b) if the outcome of the survey was positive, how that demand could be supplied.
In November 2005 a survey was sent to all households in Brading and outlying areas, a 23% response rate was achieved. The results of the survey follow this text and clearly demonstrate that there is a demand for both Local and Organic produce to be provided in Brading.
(Click on the documents below for the results of the survey)
Local Produce results - percentages.pdf
Summary of results.pdf
The next part of the Study is to contact Local Producers to ascertain if Local Produce could be provided in Brading.