Life in Lancashire 2007

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Purpose	The survey looks at the latest views of Lancashire residents about the county council, the services it provides and the quality of life in Lancashire. It also examines how views have changed since 2003. Specifically, the research covered quality of life; community cohesion; satisfaction with the county council generally; levels of use and satisfaction with specific county council services; county council communications; and local democracy, including the role of councillors.
Subject	All services Communications Community cohesion Community engagement Quality of life Satisfaction with the council
Commissioned by	Corporate Research and Intelligence Team, Policy Unit

Geographic area	All of Lancashire
Method	Questionnaire - face-to-face
Consultation with	General public
Date	15/09/2007 - 16/12/2007
Undertaken by	Ipsos MORI

Results

Number of responses	2451
Key findings	The majority (83%) of Lancashire residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live. Friendly neighbours/people and peace and quiet (38% and 36% respectively) are most likely to be mentioned by residents as positive aspects of life in the area. The most frequently cited negative perceptions relate to reducing the impact of traffic and facilities for young people. Asked what is most likely to improve their quality of life, the choices most commonly made by residents are reducing crime and disorder, activities for young people, and reducing traffic/transport problems. The most common situations in which residents meet and talk with people from a different ethnic origin are at the local shops (35%) and at work (34%), while just over a quarter (28%) report they do not meet anyone from a different ethnic origin. Just over half (53%) of residents agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. Just over three-fifths (62%) of residents say they are satisfied with Lancashire County Council, of which seven percent are very satisfied. Performance on public satisfaction with individual services translates into some positive comparisons with other authorities studied by Ipsos MORI. Service areas which continue to be relative strengths include nursery and primary schools, libraries and local bus services. As was the case in 2003, the county council continues to be seen to be doing a better job in its efforts to communicate with residents, with the positive impact of communications again evident. Just under one-third of residents agree that they are able to influence decisions affecting the local area (31%), while almost two-thirds (63%) disagree.

Number of responses

2451

Key findings

The majority (83%) of Lancashire residents are satisfied with their local area as a place to live. Friendly neighbours/people and peace and quiet (38% and 36% respectively) are most likely to be mentioned by residents as positive aspects of life in the area. The most frequently cited negative perceptions relate to reducing the impact of traffic and facilities for young people. Asked what is most likely to improve their quality of life, the choices most commonly made by residents are reducing crime and disorder, activities for young people, and reducing traffic/transport problems.

The most common situations in which residents meet and talk with people from a different ethnic origin are at the local shops (35%) and at work (34%), while just over a quarter (28%) report they do not meet anyone from a different ethnic origin. Just over half (53%) of residents agree that their local area is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together.

Just over three-fifths (62%) of residents say they are satisfied with Lancashire County Council, of which seven percent are very satisfied. Performance on public satisfaction with individual services translates into some positive comparisons with other authorities studied by Ipsos MORI. Service areas which continue to be relative strengths include nursery and primary schools, libraries and local bus services.

As was the case in 2003, the county council continues to be seen to be doing a better job in its efforts to communicate with residents, with the positive impact of communications again evident.

Just under one-third of residents agree that they are able to influence decisions affecting the local area (31%), while almost two-thirds (63%) disagree.

Project document(s)

Report(s)

Marked up questionnaire(s)

Presentation(s)

Life in Lancashire 2007 presentation

Contact information

For more information about this research contact:

Mike Walker
01772 533445
mike.walker@lancashire.gov.uk

Mick Edwardson
01772 530290
mick.edwardson@lancashire.gov.uk

Email: haveyoursay@lancashire.gov.uk