Citizens’
P A N E L .
Questionnaire
June 2005
Welcome to the eleventh Citizens’ Panel questionnaire and thanks once again to all those who have completed previous questionnaires.
These questionnaires are an important method in helping us monitor the services we provide and see how well we are doing and where we can improve.John Kelly is the officer responsible for organising the questionnaire and overseeing the operation of the panel. If you have any questions or comments about the Citizens’ Panel John can be contacted at the Chief Executives Unit, Winchester City Council, City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester. SO23 9LJ or by phoning 01962 848383 or by E-mail at
Please complete the questionnaire and return it in the reply paid envelope supplied by Monday July the 18th 2005 / In this survey we would like your views on the following services:-
Parking Provision
Leisure and Cultural Activities
Tourism
Customer Care
Environmental Issues
We are also, as usual, offering a small incentive, of a donation to charity, selected from those questionnaires returned within the first two weeks.
As always, all of your responses will be treated in the strictest confidence. The results of the analysis of the questionnaire will be passed to the relevant directorate, but the source of the information will not be identifiable. / If you have any queries about this survey or any of the questions within it please contact John Kelly on 01962 848383 (E-mail ) Chief Executive’s Department, Winchester City Council.
Parking
The City Council is taking part in a country wide survey of parking enforcement. We would like to know your views of the arrangements for parking and the associated regulations and their enforcement in Winchester. Please read the following statements and indicate with a tick in the appropriate box your feelings about them.
1
/What the Council is doing about parking.
/Agree
/Don’t Agree
/Don’t Know
a
/The traffic in this locality is well managed and generally flows efficiently with little problem of congestion
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b /The provision for vehicles in this locality is supportive of the economic prosperity of the town
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c /The streets are pedestrian-friendly for those on foot
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d /There is adequate car-parking provision in the locality
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e /The time-limits allowed for parking bays (maximum time allowed) are reasonable
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f /The parking arrangements in this locality strike a good balance between sustaining economic prosperity and maintaining a safe and green environment
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g /The charges for parking in this locality are reasonable
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h /I believe that the Council invests its parking income and revenues from parking tickets into worthwhile transportation/environmental improvements
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i /I believe the Council is giving high priority to improving parking provision for the locality
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j /There is good provision for public transport (bus and rail)
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/
2
/Parking Rules and Regulations
/Agree
/Don’t Agree
/Don’t Know
a
/The parking restrictions and regulations are clearly signed
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/
b
/The regulations allowing loading and unloading of goods outside commercial premises are generally fair
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c
/Car parks are conveniently located for access to the centre of town
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d
/There is good provision of ‘on-street’ parking for residents without driveways and for their visitors
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e
/The ‘blue badge’ parking arrangements for people with disabilities are good
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3
/Parking Attendants and Tickets
/Agree
/Don’t Agree
/Don’t Know
a
/The Parking Attendants do a good job in keeping traffic moving
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b
/The Parking Attendants exercise good judgement in relation to whether and when to issue parking tickets
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c
/The Parking Attendants are friendly and helpful in providing assistance and advice as required
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d
/The Parking Attendants act as ‘stewards of the locality’ and their presence helps reduce street crime & disorder
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e
/The Parking Attendants are always around and about providing a visible deterrent against illegal parking
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f
/The Parking Attendants are well-regarded for the difficult job they do
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g
/There are sufficient Parking Attendants in the locality to ensure compliance with the parking regulations
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h
/The Parking Attendants provide effective enforcement cover for the outer (residential) areas as well as the town centre
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i
/The Parking Attendants are consistent in their approachto parking enforcement
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j
/The Parking Attendants are trustworthy and honest in their approach to the work of enforcing parking regulations
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Yes
/No
4
/Have you received a parking ticket (PCN) in the last 12 months? (please tick one box)
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5
/Do you park a car in Winchester? (please tick one box)
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Leisure and Cultural Activities
Winchester City Council is committed to providing an arts service which aims to increase opportunities for all its residents to enjoy leisure and cultural activities. The City’s arts development officer is reviewing the current arts action plan and would welcome your views.
6
/How many times in the last year have you attended the following leisure events?(Please write the number of times you have attended each type of event in the boxes provided)
/Within Winchester
/Elsewhere in Hampshire
/Outside Hampshire
a
/Cinema
b
/Professional music event
c
/Amateur or community music event
d
/Professional art or craft exhibition or display
e
/Amateur or community art or craft exhibition or display
f
/Professional theatre
g
/Amateur or community theatre
h
/Professional dance event (as a member of the audience)
i
/Amateur or community dance event (as a member of the audience)
j
/Professional literature, writing or poetry event
k
/Amateur or community literature, writing or poetry event
7
/Which of the following activities do you take part in yourself?(Please tick all boxes that apply to you)
/Employment
/Recreation
a
/Film
/ / b
/Music
/ / c
/Visual art or craft
/ / d
/Theatre or drama
/ / e
/Dance
/ / f
/Writing
/ / g
/None of the above
/ / 8
/Which of the following activities have you attended in the last year?(Please tick all that apply)
a
/An event at the Tower Arts Centre
/
/b
/Winchester festival
/ c
/A Winchester Rural Youth Theatre event
/ /d
/Hat Fair
/ e
/Winchester International Early Music festival
/ /f
/Bishops Waltham festival
/ g
/Festival of Art & Mind
/ /h
/Other
/ i
/None of these
/ 9
/What do you think of the current level of Arts provision in the Winchester Area?
There should be much more
/There should be a bit more
/It’s about right
/There should be a bit less
/There should be much less
/Don’t Know
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/
/
/
/
10
/How much do you think Winchester district has benefited from the Theatre Royal’s events and educational work, since its refurbishment?
Very Much
/Some Benefit
/Not Very Much
/Not at All
/ / / 11
/How many times in the past year have you been to the Theatre Royal?
Not attended
/Once
/2 – 5 times
/6 – 8 times
/9 – 12 times
/More than 12 times
/ / / / / 12
/If you have not been to the Theatre Royal at least once in the past year can you select the principal reason why from the list below.
Not interested in the theatre
/ I can’t afford the prices
/ I have health/mobility problems which make travelling to the theatre difficult
/ I live too far away
/ Other (Please tick box and give a short description why below)
/ Other explanation
There are proposals to open a new Cultural Centre in Jewry Street, Winchester, including a multi-purpose 180 seat hall and an art gallery and exhibition spaces, alongside library and museum facilities.
13
/How often do you think you will visit this new building?
Less than once a year or never attend
/Once a year
/2 – 5 times a year
/6 – 8 times a year
/9 – 12 times a year
/More than 12 times a year
/ / / / / Environmental issues
14
/ From the list below of energy saving features, that can be installed/used in a house can you please tick all of those that you either have in your house or do yourself?(Please as many as apply.)a
/Double Glazing
/ /b
/Draft excluders
/ c
/Keep down the amount of heating energy your household uses
/ /d
/Cavity wall insulation
/ e
/Loft insulation
/ /f
/Low energy light bulbs
/ g
/Turn lights off when not using a room
/ /h
/Other
/ i
/None of these
/ /j
/Don’t know
/ 15
/ From the list below of ‘green’ activities can you please tell us which of them, if any, that you do? (Please as many as apply.)a
/Avoid using chemical fertilizers or pesticides in your garden
/ /b
/Compost garden waste
/ c
/Compost kitchen waste
/ /d
/Recycle bottles
/ e
/Recycle cans
/ /f
/Choose to walk/cycle rather than use a car, when appropriate
/ g
/Recycle plastic
/ /h
/Avoid excess packaging when buying things
/ i
/Recycle paper/cardboard
/ /j
/None of these/nothing
/ k
/Other
/ /l
/Don’t know
/ 16
/How much, if anything, would you say you know about global warming/climate change?
A Great Deal
/A Fair Amount
/Not Very Much
/Nothing, but heard of it
/Never heard of it
/ / / / 17
/If you changed your own personal behaviour, do you think this would make a difference to reducing the impact of climate change?
Yes
/No
/Don’t Know
/ / Tourism
In the September 2001 Citizens’ Panel we asked for your views on tourism in the Winchester District. We would like to ask you the same questions again to see whether these views have altered over time, and to assess whether any change of policy is required by WinchesterCity Councilas a result.
18
/In general, how important do you think tourism is to the economy of the Winchester district?(Please tick one box only)
Very Important
/Important
/Neither important nor unimportant
/Unimportant
/Very Unimportant
/ / / / 19
/Over the last five years has it seemed to you that the number of visitors has increased or decreased?(Please tick one box only)
Increased
/Decreased
/Stayed about the Same
/Not Sure
/ / / 20
/Please tick the box that most reflects your opinion about the following statement:
Winchester City Council should…(Please tick one box only)
Encourage more visitors
/
Only encourage visitors out of season
/
Stop encouraging visitors to the area
/
No opinion
/
21
/Please indicate on the scale below to what degree tourism and tourists in the Winchester district affect you, where 1 is the most negative affect and 6 is the most positive affect.
Most Negative Most Positive1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
/ / / / /
22
/ In which of the following ways does tourism positively affect you?(Please tick all that apply)a
/There is a good atmosphere when visitors are in the area
/ b
/It makes me proud to live somewhere where people want to come and visit
/ c
/We benefit from the attractions that are developed for visitors
/ d
/We benefit from improved facilities
/ e
/There are no positive benefits
/ 23
/In which of the following ways does tourism negatively affect you?(Please tick all that apply)
a
/The shops become too crowded
/ b
/Visitors spoil what they come to see
/ c
/We have to bear the cost of providing extra services
/ d
/The main roads and city centre become too congested
/ e
/Parking the car becomes difficult
/ f
/There are no negative effects
/ / If ‘f’ go to Q2524
/ If you believe there are any negative effects, when are these most apparent?(Please tick one box only)All year round
/ Only during the school holidays
/ Between May to October
/ 25
/ How do you think the area could be improved for tourists?(Please rank the items in order of importance where 1 equals the most important and 12 equals the least important)
a
/Better evening entertainment
/ b
/Better public transport
/ c
/Cheaper car parking
/ d
/More car parking
/ e
/Higher standards of tidiness and cleanliness
/ f
/Higher standards of accommodation
/ g
/More indoor attractions
/ h
/More outdoor attractions
/ i
/More places to cycle
/ j
/More places to walk
/ k
/More special events
/ l
/Wider range of shops
/ 26
/ How do you think the area could be improved for residents?(Please rank the items in order of importance where 1 equals the most important and 12 equals the least important)
a
/Better evening entertainment
/ b
/Better public transport
/ c
/Cheaper car parking
/ d
/More car parking
/ e
/Higher standards of tidiness and cleanliness
/ f
/Higher standards of accommodation
/ g
/More indoor attractions
/ h
/More outdoor attractions
/ i
/More places to cycle
/ j
/More places to walk
/ k
/More special events
/ l
/Wider range of shops
/ 27
/ Did you know that tourism in the Winchester District generates over £171m each year? Last year the City Council spent £516,000 on tourism services, including marketing, product development and the running of the Tourist Information Centre. This means that for each £1 of revenue generated the City Council spends £0.003p.Do you think that this represents a good investment?
Yes / No / Not Sure
/ /
28
/The figure of £516,000 which the City Council spent on tourism last year equates to 4.8p for every £1 of Council expenditure. Do you think this represents good value for money for the taxpayer?
Yes / No / Not Sure / /
Contact with the Council
29
/ Have you ever contacted the City Council with a query or a problem?Yes / No
/
Please go to question 30 / Please go to question ??
30
/ What was the main purpose of the contact when you last contacted the Council?(Please one box only)Report an issue or problem / /
Make an enquiry
/ Make a complaint / / Ask for information /
Ask for advice/help / / Apply for a service/register /
Make a suggestion about a service / / Can’t Remember /
Other (Please State) / ______
31
/ How did you contact the Council when you last got in touch?(Please tick one box only)By Phone / /
In Person
/ By Letter / /
Via a Councillor
/ Through Someone Else / /
By Fax
/ By Email / /
Can’t Remember
/ Other (Please State) / ______
32
/ How would you prefer to contact the City Council?(Please tick one box only)By Fax / /
Through Someone Else
/ In Person / /
By Email
/ By Letter / /
By Phone
/ Via a Councillor / / Other (Please State)
______
33
/ When you last contacted the Council did you find the staff were…..?(Please tick the most appropriate box in each row)a
/Helpful with the issue/problem
Very Helpful / Helpful /Neither Helpful nor Unhelpful
/ Unhelpful / Very Unhelpful / / / /
b
/Friendly
Very Friendly / Friendly /Neither Friendly nor unfriendly
/ Unfriendly / Very Unfriendly / / / /
c
/Knowledgeable of the issue/problem
Very Knowledgeable
/Knowledgeable
/Neither Knowledgeable nor Unaware
/Unaware
/Very Unaware
/ / / / d
/Efficient in dealing with the issue/problem
Very Efficient / Efficient /Neither Efficient nor Inefficient
/ Inefficient / Very Inefficient / / / /
e
/Interested in the issue/problem
Very Interested / Interested /Neither Interested nor Uninterested
/ Uninterested / Very Uninterested / / / /
f
/Able to deal with the issue/problem
Very Able / Able /Neither Able nor Unable
/ Unable / Very Unable / / / /
g
/Did the member of staff you dealt with do what they said they were going to do?
Very quick to act on their promised action / Quick to act on their promised action /Neither quick nor slow to act on their promised action
/ Slow to act on their promised action / Never acted on their promised action / Not Applicable / / / / /
34
/ When you last contacted the Council, how easy was it to contact the right person?(Please tick one box only))Very Easy / Easy /
Neither Easy nor Difficult
/ Difficult / Very Difficult / / / /
35
/ When you last contacted the Council, were you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way your query/problem was dealt with?(Please tick one box only)Very Satisfied / Satisfied /
Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied
/ Dissatisfied / Very Dissatisfied / / / /
Questionnaire Return
In the last questionnaire as an incentive to return the form as quickly as possible we asked you to nominate a charity to receive a donation. The two charities with the highest number of nominations were Cancer Researchthe Tsunami appeal.36
/ From the numerous charities nominated last time we have selected the five most requested and would like you to select one from the list below. (The two most popular will then each receive a cheque for £100)Naomi House / NSPCC / Oxfam / RNLI / Save the Children / No Donation
/ / / / /
Some Results from the Last Survey
A total of 1636 surveys were dispatched and 1186 were returned a response rate of 72.5%Smoking and Health
80% considered ‘passive’ smoking to be a risk to their health.
In pubs & hotels 61% were strongly bothered by other people’s tobacco smoke, in restaurants this rose to 80%.
67% would be more likely go to a pub if it was smoke free.
97% were in favour of some form of control of smoking in pubs, with 45% favouring a complete ban.
For restaurants 66% favoured a complete ban.
For areas accessed by children the figure supporting a ban rose to 82%.
Personal Computers and Internet Availability
The most popular use of the internet was for communication, with 59% using email on a daily basis.The second most popular activity was for help with homework or looking at sites in relation to hobby or leisure activities.
Over 50% use the internet to purchase goods online at least once a month.
Unfortunately 60% of panel members have never used the internet to look at the City Councils website
Community Safety
44% visit Winchester City Centre once or less a week after 8pm and 48% never visit the city centre in the evenings.
Of those who do visit the city centre in the evenings 35% feel fairly or very safe and 5% feel unsafe.
Gangs of youths and underage drinking appear to discourage people from visiting the city centre in the evening with 70% & 66% respectively saying they would be more likely to visit if both of these were controlled.
66% also said they would be likely to visit if there was a more obvious police presence.
A full copy of the results from the last survey can be found on the City Council’s web site ( on the home page type CP10 in the search box in the top left hand corner and follow the links to the results document.