cumbria quality of life survey 2006 allerdale district report

Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006

Allerdale District Report

2

Part 1: Key findings

3

Key findings (1) – quality of life

The Quality of Life Survey findings show a high degree of similarity between liveability and satisfaction in Allerdale and in Cumbria as a whole.

Nonetheless, there are a few important differences, such as: The higher priority given by Allerdale residents to the availability of

good quality affordable housing (which is likely to reflect local house prices being higher than in many other parts of the County), and;

Lower satisfaction with GPs, train services and public toilets among users of these services in Allerdale than among users elsewhere in the County.

As for Cumbria overall, levels of satisfaction with the local area are high – 90% of Allerdale residents say they are satisfied.

4

Key findings (2) – crime and safety

Residents perceive Allerdale as a relatively safe place to live – 18% say they feel unsafe in their local area outside after dark. This compares with 21% in Cumbria overall (Quality of Life Survey 2006) and around three in ten people nationally (British Crime Survey 2005/6).

As in Cumbria generally, anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key concern for Allerdale residents – and most do not feel well informed about what is being done to combat it. Addressing ASB issues visibly, and communicating to residents that action is being taken, will be important challenges for the Council and partner agencies dealing with ASB both in Allerdale and throughout Cumbria.

5

Key findings (3) - participation

A strong sense of community cohesion is evident in Allerdale, as it is in Cumbria generally – two thirds of residents say they feel they belong to their community and trust most people locally. Half of residents believe people in their neighbourhood are able to influence local decision-making by working together.

Many Allerdale residents are keen to have more of a say in Council decisions, with almost two in five giving this view, compared to around one in five residents nationally (source: Ipsos MORI research for the DCLG). It should be noted, however, that previous Ipsos MORI research has shown residents tend to ‘overclaim’ in terms of their actual willingness to get involved.

Levels of volunteering in Allerdale are in line with Cumbria overall in being above the national average, with a third saying they have volunteered in the last twelve months, compared to national survey data showing around a quarter of people volunteering nationally (Ipsos MORI Social Issues Omnibus, 2006).

6

Key findings (4) - liveability

In terms of what makes an area a good place to live, the availability of affordable decent housing is seen as more important in Allerdale than in Cumbria overall. This difference is likely to reflect local house prices, which are typically higher in Allerdale than in many other parts of Cumbria.

Liveability issues are an important driver of Allerdale residents’ satisfaction with the local area – as they are for Cumbria residents overall. Dog fouling and pavements blocked by parked cars are particular concerns for Allerdale residents – addressing these concerns would be likely to aid in driving up satisfaction with Allerdale as a place to live.

7

Key findings (5) – service delivery

Broadly speaking, residents think service delivery in the local area is good. Satisfaction with children’s playgrounds and leisure facilities for young people is higher in Allerdale than it is in Cumbria overall.

Allerdale residents’ priorities for improvement in their local area are broadly similar to the priorities of Cumbria residents overall. However, affordable decent housing is more of an issue for Allerdale residents than it is for those in Cumbria overall, while road and pavement repairs are seen as less of a priority.

The three aspects of the local area that Allerdale residents perceive as most in need of improvement are activities for teenagers, access to good quality affordable housing and job prospects.

While Allerdale residents are broadly satisfied with local service delivery, satisfaction with certain services and facilities – GPs, local train services and public toilets – is lower among users of these services resident in Allerdale than in Cumbria overall.

8

Interpretation of the data

A sample, not the entire population of Allerdale, has returned a survey questionnaire. All results are therefore subject to sampling tolerances, and not all differences between percentages are statistically significant. As a guide, when comparing Cumbria against the districts there needs to be a difference of 6 percentage points for that difference to be statistically significant.

Data have been weighted to the known demographic profile of the area from the 2001 Census and to account for relative differences in the population size of districts.

Where percentages do not sum to 100, this may be due to computer rounding, the exclusion of ‘don’t know’ categories, or it being possible to give multiple answers to that question.

In this headline report, reference is made to ‘net’ figures. This represents the balance of opinion on attitudinal questions, and provides a useful means of comparing the results for number variables. For example, if 40% of residents are satisfied and 25% dissatisfied, the ‘net satisfaction’ figure is +15 points.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons with national data such as the British Crime Survey due to the different methodologies used.

9

Part 2: Liveability in Allerdale

10

Quality of life (1)

27%

25%

22%

20%22%

24%

56%

56%

50%

41%

38%

30%

31%

22%

48%

55%

50%

39%

34%

35%

CumbriaAllerdale

Affordable decent housing

The level of crime

Health services

Education provision

Job prospects

Q Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making somewhere a good place to live?

Clean streets

Access to nature

Wage levels/cost of living

Shopping facilities

Public transport

% Top ten mentions

Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 373 Allerdale residents

11

Quality of life (2)

2003/04 Cumbria BVPI

Cumbria

Allerdale

27%

25%

22%

20%

22%

24%

49%

66%

52%

31%

37%

36%

20%

21%

31%

26%

56%

56%

50%

41%

38%

30%

31%

22%

48%

55%

50%

39%

34%

35%

Q Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making somewhere a good place to live?

Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 373 Allerdale residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents


The level of crime

Health services

Education provision

Job prospects

Clean streets

Access to nature


Shopping facilities

Public transport

12

Improvements to local area

Activities for teenagers

Job prospects

Public transport



Cumbria

Allerdale

24%

21%

21%

21%

21%

27%

37%

30%

37%

28%

29%

34%

28%

21%

36%

20%

49%

43%

39%

31%

29%

27%

22%

19%

50%

38%

34%

28%

26%

37%

Q And thinking about this local area, which of the things below, if any, do you think most need improving?

Road/pavement repairs

Level of crime

Level of traffic congestion

Facilities for young children

Health services

Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 373 Allerdale residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents

% Top ten mentions 2003/04 Cumbria BVPI

13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 10 20 30 40 50

Importance vs. need for improvement

Access to nature

Activities for teenagers

% Most need improving

% Most importantAffordable decent housing

Clean streets

Community activities

Cultural facilities

Education provision

Facilities for young children

Health services

Job prospects

The level of crime

Level of pollution

Level of traffic congestionParks and open spaces Public transport

Race relations

Road and pavement repairs

Shopping facilities

Sports and leisure facilities

Wage levels and local cost of living

Base: 373 Allerdale residents

14

39%

51%

4%4%3%

Sat%

Not sat%

Allerdale 90 6

Cumbria 88 8

Satisfaction with local area

Very satisfied

Don’t know/not stated

Not very satisfied

Fairly satisfied

Not at all satisfied

Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live?


15

Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live?

84%

79%

71%

70%

77%

89%

89%

Satisfaction with Cumbria and districts

±% Net satisfaction

Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents

Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

16

Q On the whole, do you think over the last 3 years your local area has got better, got worse or stayed the same?

Changes in local area


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

5

7

8

10

5

4

7

65

63

54

64

74

69

16

19

20

29

21

13

16

73

% Better % Worse% Same

17

Comments about local area

Q Why do you say the local area has got worse?


Most frequent responses: Environment (16%) Transport (9%)Crime and safety (8%)

Q Why do you say the local area has got better?Most frequent responses: Community (5%)

Local amenities and facilities (4%) Crime and safety (2%)

Further responses: Housing and business development (6%)Children/young people (6%)Local amenities and facilities (5%) Community (2%)Other negative comments (8%)

Further responses: Housing and business development (2%)Environment (1%)Other positive comments (5%)

18

17%

31%28%

15%8%

Agree%

Disagree%

Gender

Male 21 46

Female 17 39

Age

16-34 16 53

35-54 19 43

55+ 21 36

Working status

Working 17 46

Not working 22 37

Influence over decision-making (1)

Strongly agree 2%

Strongly disagree

Neither/nor

Agree

Disagree

Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements?‘I can influence decisions that affect my local area’


Not stated

19

Influence over decision-making (2)

Q To what extent do you agree with the following statement?‘I can influence decisions that affect my local area’


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

% Agree% Disagree

44

47

39

52

42

42

19

20

18

20

16

25

23

43

20

Interest in the Council and decision making

I’m not interested in what the council does, or whether they do their job

I’m not interested in what the council does as long as they do their job

Q Which of these statements below comes closest to your own attitudes towards your district and county council?

I like to know what the council is doing, but I'm happy to let them get on with their jobI would like to have more of a say in what the council does

I already work for, or am involved with, the council

Don’t know/not stated


1%

7%

42%

36%

6%

8%

1%

8%

43%

38%

4%

6%

CumbriaAllerdale

21

40%

31%

31%

40%

35%

41%

27%

Involvement with Council

Male

Female


Q Which of these statements below comes closest to your own attitudes towards your district and county council? All those agreeing with ‘I would like to have more of a say in what the council does, and the services it provides’

Gender

Age

Working status

Working

Not working

16-34

35-54

55+

22

Q Which of these statements below comes closest to your own attitudes towards your district and county council? All those agreeing with ‘I would like to have more of a say in what the council does, and the services it provides’

36%

38%

43%

34%

40%

37%

41%

Involvement with Council


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

23

Part 3: Community and Safety

24

19

88

1211

98

4951

4748

6663

6464

23

Attitudes to neighbourhood

By working together people in my neighbourhood can influence decisions that affect their neighbourhood

% Agree

I trust many or most of the people locally

I feel I belong to my local area

% Disagree

In my local area people from different backgrounds get on well together (e.g. race, disability, social group)

Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements?

Cumbria

Allerdale


Cumbria

Allerdale

Cumbria

Allerdale

Cumbria

Allerdale

25

28%

48%

13%

4%

5%

Time spent on voluntary work

Less than 2 hours

2-5 hours

Q If you have volunteered during the last year, roughly how many total hours have you volunteered, on average, per week?

6-9 hours

10-13 hours

14 hours plus

Base: All those who say they have volunteered in the last year (133)

‘Volunteered during the past year’

Yes 35%

No 60%

26

49

57

61

53

34

37

51

48

41

35

44

62

60

46

Fear of crime

% Not worried % Worried

Q How worried are you about being a victim of any type of crime in your local area?


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

27

13%

12%

16%

14%

10%

7%

11%

Having been a victim of crime

Q Have you been a victim of any type of crime in the past 12 months?

% ‘Yes’


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

28

Q How safe or unsafe do you feel in your local area, i.e. the area within 15-20 minutes of your home?

61%

91%

93%

93%

Cumbria±%

55

94

95

92

Perceptions of safety in local area (1)

Outdoors after dark

±% Net safe

Indoors after dark

Outdoors during the day

Indoors during the day


29

61%

55%

50%

28%

53%

67%

74%

Perceptions of safety in local area (2)

Q How safe or unsafe do you feel in your local area, i.e. the area within 15-20 minutes of your home?


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

±% Net safe outdoors after dark

30

Change in local area with regard to crime and safety

Q In terms of crime and safety, do you feel in the last 3 years your local area has got better, worse or stayed the same?

Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

7

5

7

6

6

2

3

67

64

63

62

72

74

16

17

19

20

22

16

12

67

% Better % Worse% Same


31

Anti-social behaviour (1)

Q How much of a problem do you feel that the following are in your local area?

38

44

41

35

37

37

58

36

34

38

27

22

27

29

18

15

15

14

13

7

16

% Not a problem % A serious problem% A minor problem

Crimes against your property

Parents not taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children

People not treating other people with respect and consideration

People dealing drugs

Teenagers hanging around on the streets

People using drugs

People being drunk or rowdy in public places

Base: 373 Allerdale residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

32

Anti-social behaviour (2)

Q How much of a problem do you feel that the following are in your local area?

66

67

76

69

76

74

18

20

10

15

5

7

5

4

2

2

1

4Noisy neighbours or loud parties

People being attacked because of their skin colour, ethnic origin or religion

People sleeping rough on the streets/other public places

Abandoned or burnt-out cars

Deliberate rubbish/wheelie bin fires

Door step crimes




33

2

2

2

2

1

3

3

21

20

16

18

20

21

22

35

45

32

34

34

38

26

27

26

32

34

26

20

16

15

10

17

11

17

17

36

Tackling anti-social behaviour

% Not very well informed

% Don’t know/ not stated

% Not well informed at all

% Very well informed

% Fairly well informed

Q How well informed do you feel about what is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in your local area?


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

34

1

1

3

1

2

1

2

29

28

29

26

31

31

28

35

35

35

31

29

26

13

13

15

17

14

12

9

22

25

19

21

22

26

36

32

Effectiveness of the criminal justice system

% Not very effective

% Don’t know/ not stated

% Not at all effective

% Very effective

% Fairly effective

Q How effective do you feel the criminal justice system in Cumbria is in bringing offenders to justice?


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

35

Part 4: Environment, Local Services and Transport

36

Environmental issues (1)

Q How big a problem do you think the following environmental issues are in your local area?

16

46

34

27

51

49

31

42

53

33

29

18

15

9

18

Dog fouling

Rubbish and litter lying around

Roads and footpaths in poor condition

Pavements blocked by parked cars

Noise pollution



37

Environmental issues (2)

Q How big a problem do you think the following environmental issues are in your local area?

46

54

68

62

63

39

22

14

24

22

9

8

6

6

8

Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles

State of the local river/ stream

Neglected or derelict buildings or land

Air quality and traffic pollution

The appearance or location of new developments



38

7

6

17

11

25

2

7

11

1

78

76

73

70

68

66

59

56

53

53

14

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (1)

% Satisfied % Dissatisfied

Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area?

67

53

64

69

57

66

55

70

70

61

±% Net Allerdale

±% Net Cumbria

42 40

56 52

49 40

42 38

52 50

Libraries

Hospitals

GPs

Number of parks/green spaces

Quality of parks/green spaces

Appearance of streets etc

Local primary schools

Local secondary schools

Opps. for adult education

Fire/rescue services

Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

39

21

45

28

49

20

39

26

5

48

45

41

40

36

35

32

30

27

14

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (2)


Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? ±% Net

Allerdale±% Net Cumbria

Children’s playgrounds

Public toilets

Local bus services

Local train services

Leisure facilities for young people

Dentists

34

-7

12

15

4

-4

31

-13

14

29

2

-4

Suitable housing -13 -8

Social services 22 24

Leisure facilities for adults 24 30

Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

40

6

8

11

16

15

18

13

100

91

89

83

82

81

79

78

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (1)




Base: All users. Base sizes in brackets above. * Small base size

Children’s playgrounds/play areas (111)

Libraries (223)

Social services (46)*

Fire/rescue services (9)*

Hospitals (250)

GPs (338)

Number of parks/green spaces (241)

Quality of parks/green spaces (241)

61

81

65

100

66

66

85

71

50

84

64

86

64

73

80

72

41

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (2)



Base: All users. Base sizes in brackets above. * Small base size

20

28

29

33

41

52

75

73

67

66

64

54

42

22


Opps. for adult education (63)

Bus services (161)

Train services (92)

Leisure facilities for young people (64)

Leisure facs. for adults (109)

53

31

39

55

34

50

Dentists (251) 12 11

Public toilets (180) -11 -5

53 56

37 26

42

45

67

67

47

8178

8282

7071

7674

16

1010

2321

1919

14

Forms of transport

Q Please list your main form of transport for different journeys on a typical weekday:

Pedestrian/cyclistCar/motorbikePublic transport

Work

Leisure

Medical/ clinic

Shopping

Allerdale (211)

Cumbria (1,178)

Allerdale (352)

Cumbria (2,202)

Allerdale (322)

Cumbria (1,861)

Allerdale (317)

Cumbria (1,830)

Base: All those who travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

43

29%34% 36%

55%

14%10%

16%

9%

19%15%

57%

33%

39%

15%

6%

14%

Work (204)

Shopping (342)

Leisure (274)

Medical/clinic (289)

Distances travelled

Q Please list how many miles you travel for different journeys on a typical weekday:

5-8 miles3-4 milesUnder 3 miles

Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

More than 8 miles

44

23%

3%

15%

9%

43%

35%

57%

5% 4% 3%3% 2%5% 3%

26%

20%22%

32%

18%

10%

20%20%15%

6%

Work (276)

Shopping (347)

Leisure (312)

Medical/clinic (320)

Time travelled

Q Please list how much time it takes you to travel for different journeys on a typical weekday:

15-29 mins>15 minsNone

Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

30-59 mins 1-2 hours <2 hours

45

Part 5: Health and Well-being

46

20

20

15

17

20

19

26

58

57

54

60

51

65

57

15

22

17

19

13

12

3

3

6

4

2

1

1

1

16

Happiness

% Neither/nor % Very unhappy% Unhappy% Very happy % Happy

Q Taking all things together, would you say in general you are…?


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

47

20

22

21

22

23

24

25

46

42

40

38

40

50

40

24

29

28

23

21

24

6

6

7

7

7

4

6

2

1

2

2

1

1

1

25

Health

% Fair % Very bad% Bad% Very good % Good

Q Over the last 12 months, would you say that on the whole your health has been…


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

48

74

90

88

25

22

7

9

72

Disability

Allerdale

Cumbria

Q Do you have any long term illness, health problem or disability which limits your daily activities or the work you can do?

Q Do you think of yourself as a disabled person?


% Yes % No

Allerdale

Cumbria

Long term illness, health problem or disability

Think of yourself as a disabled person

49

31%

33%

38%

40%

33%

27%

27%

Smoking

Q Do you smoke cigarettes at all nowadays?

% ‘Yes’

Base: All who have ever smoked cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products: 1,038 Cumbria; 179 Allerdale; 167 Barrow; 173 Carlisle; 148 Copeland; 205 Eden; 166 South Lakeland

Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

50

Q On a typical day, how many portions of fruit and vegetables do you eat?

Diet

61%

71%

69%

76%

71%

66%

68%

36%

26%

28%

22%

27%

27%

31%

5+Less than 4


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

51

Q In an average week, how many units of alcohol do you drink?

Alcohol consumption

16%

4%

Male (Drink more than 21 units per week)

Female (Drink more than 14 units per week)


52

33%

19%

28%

5%

6%

6%

Moderate exercise

Q How often do you take moderate exercise?

1-3 times a week

Every day

4-6 times a week

Never

29

3

7

32

21

4

Cumbria%


Less than once a month

More than once a month, but less than once a week

53

6%

7%

31%

15%

8%

29%

Vigorous exercise

Q How often do you take vigorous exercise?

1-3 times a week

Every day

4-6 times a week

Never

32

11

18

4

10

22

Cumbria%


Less than once a month

More than once a month, but less than once a week

54

Q How much do you weigh?Q How tall are you?

BMI

25.7

26.6

25.6

26.7

26.1

25.9

26.0

24.1

25.1

24.7

25.4

24.2

24.7

25.1

FemaleMale

Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

Mean

Base: All except pregnant women: 2,125 Cumbria; 372 Allerdale; 312 Barrow; 361 Carlisle; 324 Copeland; 387 Eden; 369 South Lakeland

NB: Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated by dividing weight (in kg) by height (in metres) squared. Those with a BMI of 30 or more are classified as obese.

55

9%

10%

13%

8%

12%

10%

8%

Obesity

% Obese

Base: All except pregnant women: 2,125 Cumbria; 372 Allerdale; 312 Barrow; 361 Carlisle; 324 Copeland; 387 Eden; 369 South Lakeland

Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

Q How much do you weigh?Q How tall are you?

NB: Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated by dividing weight (in kg) by height (in metres) squared. Those with a BMI of 30 or more are classified as obese.

56

Q Which of the following best describes your sexuality?

Sexuality

85%

17%

17%

13%

18%

23%

17%

14%

79%

80%

85%

78%

74%

80%

1%

5%

3%

3%

3%

3%

2%

Not heterosexualHeterosexual


Allerdale

Cumbria

Barrow

Carlisle

Copeland

Eden

South Lakeland

Not stated/prefer not to say

cumbria quality of life survey 2006 allerdale district report

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