16 December 2010
A wide ranging survey into the perceptions held by local people and their views about life in Eastbourne has shown the town remains a highly desirable place to live.
A massive 93% of those polled said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the local area, 67% of respondents said they were satisfied with how Eastbourne Borough Council ran things, an increase of 17% on 2009, while 56% thought the council provides value for money, compared to 38% in 2009.
The consultation with individuals and specific interest groups was carried out by Eastbourne Borough Council to assess local attitudes about the town and to gather feedback that will be used to identify council priorities in the future.
Leader of the Council, Councillor David Tutt, said, “This was a really important piece of work that will inform our 2011/2012 corporate plan. The findings were very encouraging at a time when the current economic climate is making life very tough for many local people. I’m very pleased that the ambitious plans we are already focusing on for the town were well received by those surveyed. It is these projects that will create many new and exciting opportunities in the future.”
The survey identified strong support across all groups for existing council priorities such as the town centre redevelopment, the science park project, increased opportunities for recycling, green transport projects such as park and ride, a determination to tackle eyesores, improved youth activities and an enhanced events programme that includes more community led initiatives.
The survey also showed that 80% of people feel well informed about public services, while only 47% think that parents take enough responsibility for the behaviour of their children.
97% of respondents feel safe outside during daylight hours, compared to 76% who said they feel safe outside in the dark; an increase of 26% on the 2009 figure.
Cllr Tutt added, “In the New Year we will produce a refreshed corporate plan that draws in much of the feedback from the survey. I would like thank all those who participated in the consultation exercise; their efforts are helping to influence the future shape of public services in Eastbourne.”
Chairman of Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Graham Marsden said, “The Democratic Services Department of the Borough Council deserve our thanks for the tremendous effort they have made to broaden the consultation process. In particular the special interest groups have been able to express their views and these have been much valued. It was disappointing that despite three venues and wide publicity only a few members of the general public chose to attend. I would hope that next year a more random sample of local views will be possible, so that a completely balanced picture emerges.”
