Rugby Liberal Democrats

Autumn Survey results

Thank you to all of the respondents to our Survey in Autumn 2006. We are pleased to publish the results of the Survey below. We will continue to consider the areas that you found important during 2007.

Please contact Rugby Liberal Democrats at info@rugbylibdems.org.uk for further information.

Rugby Liberal Democrats

Working for a better neighbourhood survey 2006

YOUR PRIORITIES

1 Council tax levels

2 Fear of crime

3 Nuisance youth

4 Health & social care

5 Speeding traffic

6 Litter

7 Recycling collection

8 Public transport

9 Housing

10 Noise pollution

11 Child care facilities

12 Street cleansing

Other Priorities

1 Parking

2 Development/building

3 Police presence

4= Traffic levels

4= Facilities in general

4= Travellers

4= Dog fouling

One thing to improve the area?

1 Police visibility/response (27.1% of respondents)

2 Action on traffic/speeding

3 Address youth behaviour

4 Better parking/controls

5 Repair & maintenance of public places

Comment:

While it is tempting to write off the position of Council Tax with an easy "They would say that, wouldn't they?", there is a common theme in many of the responses, that they are paying a heavy tax burden and not receiving the services-particularly in protecting them from petty anti-social behaviour-to which they believe they are entitled.

CRIME AND THE COMMUNITY

How safe do you feel?

Very safe 7.9%

Quite safe 55.7%

A little safe 17.1%

Very unsafe 5.7%

Never go out after dark 15.7%

Do you think that the police do a good job? 45.0%

Would you like to see more community beat officers? 87.9%

Do you belong to a Neighbourhood Watch scheme? 28.6%

If No, would you like more information? 33.6%

Does the street lighting in your area make you feel safer? 76.4%

Neighbourhood issues

1 Behaviour of youths (29.3% of respondents)

2 General anti-social behaviour (18.6% of respondents)

3= Inadequate policing

3= Parking

5 Litter/dog fouling

More investment into developing youth facilities in this area? 62.1%

One thing to make your area safer?

1 More effective policing (31.4% of respondents)

2 Community action/responsibility

3 Reduce speeding

4= Better youth facilities

4= Better street lighting

4= CCTV

Comment:

The Police satisfaction level is very worrying, and reflects a widespread feeling that people are being left undefended against the anti-social minority. The responses on youth facilities and community action show that there is an alternative to the "flog 'em" philosophy, if the politicians have the wit to tap into it.

THE ENVIRONMENT

Do you consider that the Borough Council is doing enough to tackle?

Recycling 27.9%

Air pollution 12.1%

Home energy saving 10.3%

Litter & street cleansing 26.4%

Comment topics:

1 Improve recycling (32.1% of respondents)

2 Improve street cleaning

3 Cement works concerns

4 Community action/responsibility

5= Energy conservation

5= Information/publicity

Pavements in the area of good standard? 38.9%

Area of a good clean standard? 45.7%

Comment topics:

1 Litter/street cleaning (25.0% of respondents)

2 Maintenance of public places

3= Residents' responsibility

3= Refuse collection

Would you like to see more litter/dog bins? 70.0%

Should the Council be doing more to tackle graffiti in your area?30.0%

Suggested locations mostly very specific to the respondent's area.

One thing to make the area cleaner?

1 Action on street cleaning/litter/dogs (21.4% of respondents)

2 Information/publicity

3 Prosecute the offenders

Comment:

There is a strong groundswell of support for much higher levels of recycling, which people feel is being frustrated by lack of Council action. Those areas without green bins want them now, and in other places the people want kerbside collection of plastics and cardboard. Once again, popular opinion seems to be running well ahead of the authorities.

TRANSPORT

Which would most help to improve local transport?

1 Safer walking routes to school

2 More bus services

3 More cycle lanes

4 More measures to slow traffic

Comment topics:

1 More traffic control

2 Bus services

3= School run/school transport

3= Cycle lanes

5= Less traffic control (speed humps!)

5= Parking

Comment:

No surprises here, although the minority feeling against speed humps and cameras should be noted.

PLANNING

What should the radio station site be used for?

Housing 20.0%

Wind farm 63.6%

Industrial 7.9%

Other 27.1%

Of those saying "Other", 78.9% wanted some form of open space.

One thing to make your area greener?

1 Stop/reduce new development (17.1% of respondents)

2 Improve recycling

3 Protect open spaces

4 Maintenance of public places

5 Plant more trees

Where do you think new housing should be built?

1 Industrial/brownfield sites (22.1% of respondents)

2 No more housing anywhere

3 Radio station

4= Empty/derelict sites

4= Town centre/cattle market

Do you normally vote? 90.7%

The common complaint from the non-voting minority was that nobody listens to them, anyway, so there's no point.

Comment:

A very clear mandate, at least from this self-selected sample of voters, for a green solution to the question of what to do with the radio station site. Also a very strong message that people feel they have had enough of seeing the green outskirts of the town lost to housing.

This is, however, a very unrepresentative sample of the population, given the low turn-out at most elections, particularly local. It seems that the non-voting majority don't fill in questionnaires either, and it would be dangerous to assume that their views and priorities, if they could be known, would in any way resemble the results of this survey.

MERVYN LEAH

8th December 2006