Bracknell Liberal Democrats

CRIME AND IMMIGRATION TOP CROWTHORNE CONCERNS

Survey also reveals growing dissatisfaction with public services

Local Liberal Democrats conducted another special community survey in Crowthorne last month to find out more about what residents felt about national and local issues. Questionnaires were left with more than 250 homes in the Edgecombe Park/Waterloo Road area and replies were received from just over 100 households. A summary of the responses obtained is attached.

Fears about crime and immigration nationally continued to feature most strongly, while many also expressed concerns about healthcare and the way the NHS was being run. There were large majorities in favour of a better transport system, more affordable housing and increased protection for the environment, while nearly half thought education standards had failed to show any improvement in recent years. Terrorism and Europe were also of concern to a substantial minority.

Locally, council tax and poor public transport services were the main concerns, after law and order. Healthcare also featured quite strongly, along with education and the environment. Fewer concerns were expressed about immigration and housing at this level.

Commenting on the outcome of the survey, Ray Earwicker, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell said 'the views expressed by the residents were broadly in line with those obtained in the 2007 survey. The Government had lost the plot on many of the concerns raised and had singularly failed to deliver most of the improvements it had promised in public services.

Although most residents seemed content with the standard of services provided locally, especially on healthcare, the majority wanted to see more 'bobbies on the beat', more community facilities and better protection for the local environment. The lack of a proper public transport service in the area was a particular concern and Bracknell Forest Council and First Bus should do something about it. It was simply not acceptable to expect residents, especially those who may no longer have access to private transport, to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop!'

Summary

The community survey was conducted in October 2009 among residents living in a part of Crowthorne that was not covered in an earlier survey held in September 2007. The survey confirmed that nationally, issues such as law and order (66%), immigration (62%) and healthcare (55%), still concerned residents most, while locally, council tax (41%) remained the issue of most concern, after law and order (57%).

Closer analysis of the responses from respondents to individual questions about major areas of public spending revealed that there was general satisfaction with the level of healthcare provided although 40% still thought the NHS was failing nationally. 85% were satisfied with the service provided by their GP and relatively few (15%) had difficulty registering with a local NHS dentist.

On law and order, 70% thought the criminal justice system wasn't working properly and 65% still felt the police were losing the battle against crime. 90% of respondents wanted more 'bobbies on the beat', at local level.

Concerns about education standards continued to feature strongly with nearly half (48%) believing that they had failed to improve in recent years. The performance of local schools was generally supported (46%), while support for the abolition of tuition fees remained steady (59%).

Most respondents now accept the need to protect the environment to combat global warming (80%) but the alternative use of 'green taxes' still only attracted minority support (32%), albeit with 36% undecided. Many more, however (54%), felt not enough was being done to protect the local environment.

Opinions on housing were clearly mixed. While many recognised there is a national housing shortage (42%) and a need for more affordable homes (65%), about 30% did not do so. A similar number also did not believe councils should be allowed to build more council homes.

Dissatisfaction with the national transport system continued to grow (83%) but again a large majority (67%) did not feel that proposals to introduce road pricing or extend congestion charging would help to improve matters. Dissatisfaction with local public transport services, and bus services in particular, also continued to rise (55%),

Only 37% wished to see more being done to promote greater integration into the Community. More than half (56%) wanted more community facilities but 69% were unwilling to pay more council tax to provide them.

Note: The response rate was approximately 40%.

Most Important National and Local Issues

Issues National Local

% %

1. Law & Order 66 57 (1)

2. Immigration 62 19 (8)

3. Healthcare 55 34 (3)

4. Education 42 30 (5)

5. Environment 33 26 (7)

6. Terrorism 31 n/a

7. Transport 25 34 (3)

8. Europe 24 n/a

9. Housing 17 17 (9)

10. Council Tax n/a 41 (2)

11. Community n/a 27 (6)