The survey was commissioned under the auspices of the Somerset Strategic Partnership by a consortium formed by the councils and their public service partners, NHS Somerset and Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue. It was carried out by independent research agency BMG.
The Place Survey was posted to 17,500 households across the county on 25th September 2008. 3,500 addresses were selected randomly within each of the five districts: Mendip, Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane, West Somerset and South Somerset.
Amongst the topics covered were:-
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What are the most important things that make your area a good place to live?
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Which of these things most need improving?
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Satisfaction with your area and the services provided by local public organisations;
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How involved you are, or would like to be, in decisions that affect your local area;
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Where you get your information about local public services
A total of 7,284 people aged 18 or more completed the questionnaire by the deadline of 19 December, giving a response rate of 42%. Thanks to all of you who took part.
Results
A copy of the detailed data and analysis is available in this report.
The following statements cover some the headlines:
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Crime, health and affordable decent housing remain the most important things for making somewhere a good place to live.
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Activities for teenagers, road and pavement repairs and traffic congestion are considered most in need of improving.
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Since the last survey, people feel safer outdoors, and think there is less anti-social behaviour.
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Somerset people are more likely than the regional average to do unpaid voluntary work, and to take part in local decision-making groups.
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Most people feel well informed about how their council tax is spent but organisations could do more to let people know about what they should expect from local public services, how well they are performing and how to get involved.
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Local broadcast and print media are people’s primary source of information on local public services, but service providers’ own literature and websites are also important.
For a summary of the report, with sections specific to each of the Somerset Sustainable Community Strategy's Aims, please read 'Somerset Says' which is also publicised on the SINe website.
