A SURVEY to help shape the future of Bidford is being hailed a success after more than half of the questionnaires were returned completed.

Nearly 1,200 of the 2,200 booklets distributed have been completed and sent back to the B50 Parish Appraisal Group, which aims to collate the views of residents from the parish of Bidford, which also includes Barton, Broom and Marlcliff.

More than 100 volunteers distributed the 107-question survey to households in the parish last month. Appraisal chairman Mike Gerrard said he was impressed by the 54 per cent return rate, which looks set to rise.

"For such a complex document, this response rate is most impressive. It is clear that the appraisal has picked up the issues local people find important and they are using it to make their opinion known.

"We had been aiming at a response rate of 50 per cent plus but, in the light of the initial returns, we are now planning for a final figure of 65 or even 70 per cent which, in an area of this size, would be stupendous."

He said the next aim would be to get the remainder of the responses in as quickly as possible, so results could be reported back to the public, local authorities and funding bodies, in time for the next phase of consultation on the Stratford District Local Plan, which is expected to begin around January.

He also urged people to return their forms to their local collectors as soon as possible.

People having difficulty returning their forms can drop them in to Bidford Post Office or to Rick Shelton at 16 Waterloo Crescent or Mike Gerrard at 10 Holland Close.