Broadband and health services among the issues for residents near Market Drayton

The issues have been highlighted as a result of questionnaires carried out in Loggerheads, near Market Drayton.

The questionnaires were carried out as part of the neighbourhood plan, which will help shape future development in the parish in the future.

The business survey showed that companies based in Loggerheads would find it easier to develop if there were better broadband speeds and improved mobile signals.

A neighbourhood plan document states: "The final question in the business survey asked whether there was anything that could be provided within the parish which would help their business to develop over the next 10 years.

"Response was given predominantly by those whose business is currently based within the parish, either at home or in premises.

"The overwhelming requirements were for better broadband speeds (88 per cent) and improved mobile signals (88 per cent).

"Access to superfast broadband also had the highest level of criticism for service provision in the area, with 66 per cent of people regarding it as inadequate.

"There was a great deal of comment but all on the same theme, that it was slow or occasionally 'dropped out' or that there simply was no superfast broadband."

Another key area of concern for residents was local health services.

A total of 58 per cent of residents described services such as chiropody, physiotherapy and blood test arrangements as inadequate.

Residents have called for a new health centre to be built in Loggerheads.

The document states: "The main problem is that residents need to travel outside the area for these services, sometimes quite a distance.

"This was both time consuming and also potentially difficult for older people and/or those without their own transport.

"There was some awareness that Ashley surgery was now doing blood tests but the overall impression was one of inconvenience in relation to these services.

"The older age groups were more critical than those under 45.

"Also those in Tyrley were less likely to regard these services as inadequate, possibly because they obtained more in Market Drayton than in Loggerheads.

"In addition, there seems a good deal of frustration with local GP services at Ashley surgery; one in three people regard these as inadequate. Quality does not seem to be in question, the issue is one of capacity."