Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006 South Lakeland District report

1. Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006South Lakeland District report

2. Part 1: Key findings

3. Key findings (1) – quality of life • The Quality of Life Survey findings point to a number of important differences between liveability and satisfaction in South Lakeland and in Cumbria as a whole. These differences may relate to the relative affluence of the area compared to some other districts in the County and also a higher proportion of older residents than any other district in Cumbria, with 44% of residents aged 55+ compared with 40% County-wide (source: 2001 Census). • Levels of satisfaction with the local area are high in South Lakeland, as they are in Cumbria overall, with 90% of residents saying they are satisfied with their area. • South Lakeland residents score more highly on certain health indicators – happiness, smoking and fruit and vegetable consumption – than do residents elsewhere in the County.

4. Key findings (2) – crime and safety • Residents perceive South Lakeland as a relatively safe place to live and fear of crime is lower in South Lakeland than in Cumbria overall. 11% of South Lakeland residents say they feel unsafe outside after dark, which compares with 21% in Cumbria (QoL Survey 2006) and around three in ten people nationally (British Crime Survey 2005/6). • Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key concern for South Lakeland residents, as it is for Cumbria residents generally – and three in five South Lakeland residents do not feel well informed about what is being done to combat it.

5. Key findings (3) - participation • An even stronger sense of community cohesion is evident in South Lakeland than in Cumbria generally – three quarters of residents say they trust most people locally, compared to two thirds in Cumbria overall. In addition, South Lakeland residents are more likely than those County-wide to perceive their local area as a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together. Half of residents believe people in their neighbourhood are able to influence local decision-making by working together, and a quarter believe they personally can influence it. • Many South Lakeland residents are keen to have more of a say in Council decisions, with 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 South Lakeland are higher than they are in Cumbria overall, with 43% saying they have volunteered in the last twelve months, compared with 35% in Cumbria. This also compares favourably to national survey data that shows 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, health services and access to nature are seen as more important in South Lakeland than in Cumbria overall, while job prospects are seen as less important. These differences are likely to reflect the older age profile of the district compared with some districts elsewhere in the County. • Liveabilityissues such as clean streets are an important driver of South Lakeland residents’ satisfaction with the local area – as they are for Cumbria residents overall. Roads and pavements being in poor condition, dog fouling and litter are particular concerns for South Lakeland residents – addressing these concerns would be likely to aid in driving up satisfaction with South Lakeland as a place to live.

7. Key findings (5) – service delivery • South Lakeland residents’ top priorities for service delivery are affordable decent housing, activities for teenagers and road and pavement repairs. • While housing, traffic congestion and wage levels and the cost of living are cited by a higher proportion of South Lakeland residents as in need of improvement than by residents in Cumbria overall, other issues – clean streets and the level of crime - are seen as less in need of improvement. • Broadly speaking, South Lakeland residents who use local services and facilities think service delivery in the local area is good. User satisfaction with a number of local services and facilities – the amount and quality of parks and green spaces, children’s playgrounds and social services - is higher in South Lakeland than it is in Cumbria overall. • While users of local services in South Lakeland are more satisfied with many local services than are users in Cumbria generally, satisfaction with the opportunities for adult education, local bus services and leisure facilities for young people is lower in South Lakeland than in Cumbria overall.

8. Interpretation of the data • A sample, not the entire population of South Lakeland, 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 South Lakeland

10. Quality of life (1) Q Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making somewhere a good place to live? % Top ten mentions South Lakeland Cumbria Health services The level of crime Affordable decent housing Access to nature Education provision Clean streets Parks/open spaces Public transport Job prospects Level of traffic congestion Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

11. Quality of life (2) South Lakeland Q Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making somewhere a good place to live? Cumbria 2003/04 Cumbria BVPI Health services The level of crime Affordable decent housing Access to nature Education provision Clean streets Parks/open spaces Public transport Job prospects Traffic congestion Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents

12. Improvements to local area South Lakeland Q And thinking about this local area, which of the things below, if any, do you think most need improving? Cumbria 2003/04 Cumbria BVPI % Top ten mentions Affordable decent housing Activities for teenagers Road/pavement repairs Level of traffic congestion Wage levels/cost of living Job prospects Public transport Health services Clean streets Level of crime Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents

13. Importance vs. need for improvement % Most important Health services The level of crime Affordable decent housing Access to nature Education provision Clean streets Parks and open spaces Public transport; Job prospects Shopping facilities Level of traffic congestion Level of pollution Wage levels and local cost of living Activities for teenagers Community activities Cultural facilities Sports and leisure facilities Road and pavement repairs Facilities for young children Race relations % Most need improving Base: 370 South Lakeland residents

14. Satisfaction with local area Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live? Not stated Very satisfied Not very satisfied Fairly satisfied Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

15. Satisfaction with Cumbria and districts Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live? ±% Net satisfaction South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

16. Changes in local area Q On the whole, do you think over the last 3 years your local area has got better, got worse or stayed the same? % Better % Same % Worse South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

17. Comments about local area Q Why do you say the local area has got worse? Most frequent responses: Environment (17%) Transport (10%) Housing and business development (7%) Further responses: Crime and safety (5%)Local amenities and facilities (5%) Children/young people (4%) Community (3%) Other negative comments (6%) Q Why do you say the local area has got better? Most frequent responses: Community (7%) Local amenities and facilities (3%) Environment (2%) Further responses: Crime and safety (2%) Housing and business development (1%) Other positive comments (11%) Base: 370 South Lakeland residents

18. Influence over decision-making (1) Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements?‘I can influence decisions that affect my local area’ Not stated Strongly agree Strongly disagree Agree Disagree Neither/nor Base: 370 South Lakeland residents

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

20. Interest in the Council and decision making Q Which of these statements below comes closest to your own attitudes towards your district and county council? South Lakeland Cumbria 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 I like to know what the council is doing, but I'm happy to let them get on with their job I 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 Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

21. Involvement with Council 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 Male Female Age 16-34 35-54 55+ Working status Working Not working Base: 370 South Lakeland residents

22. Involvement with Council 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’ South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

23. Part 3: Community and Safety

24. Attitudes to neighbourhood Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements? % Disagree % Agree By working together people in my neighbourhood can influence decisions that affect their neighbourhood South Lakeland Cumbria In my local area people from different backgrounds get on well together (e.g. race, disability, social race) South Lakeland Cumbria South Lakeland I trust many or most of the people locally Cumbria South Lakeland I feel I belong to my local area Cumbria Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

25. Time spent on voluntary work Q If you have volunteered during the last year, roughly how many total hours have you volunteered, on average, per week? Less than 2 hours 2-5 hours 6-9 hours 10-13 hours 14 hours plus Base: All those who say they have volunteered in the last year (164)

26. Fear of crime Q How worried are you about being a victim of any type of crime in your local area? % Worried % Not worried South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

27. Having been a victim of crime Q Have you been a victim of any type of crime in the past 12 months? % ‘Yes’ South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

28. Perceptions of safety in local area (1) Q How safe or unsafe do you feel in your local area, i.e. the area within 15-20 minutes of your home? Cumbria% ±% Net safe 55 Outdoors after dark 92 Indoors after dark Outdoors during the day 94 Indoors during the day 95 Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

29. 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? ±% Net safe outdoors after dark South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

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

31. Anti-social behaviour (1) Q How much of a problem do you feel that the following are in your local area? % Not a problem % A minor problem % A serious problem Parents not taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children Teenagers hanging around on the streets People using drugs People not treating other people with respect and consideration People being drunk or rowdy in public places People dealing drugs Crimes against your property Base: 370 South Lakeland 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? % Not a problem % A minor problem % A serious problem Noisy neighbours or loud parties Door step crimes Deliberate rubbish/ wheelie bin fires People sleeping rough on the streets/other public places Abandoned or burnt-out cars People being attacked because of their skin colour, ethnic origin or religion Base: 370 South Lakeland residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

33. Tackling anti-social behaviour Q How well informed do you feel about what is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in your local area? % Very well informed % Fairly well informed % Not very well informed % Not well informed at all % Don’t know/ not stated South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

34. Effectiveness of the criminal justice system Q How effective do you feel the criminal justice system in Cumbria is in bringing offenders to justice? % Very effective % Fairly effective % Not very effective % Not at all effective % Don’t know/ not stated South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

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? % Not a problem % A minor problem % A serious problem Roads and footpaths in poor condition Dog fouling Rubbish and litter lying around Pavements blocked by parked cars Noise pollution Base: 370 South Lakeland residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

37. Environmental issues (2) Q How big a problem do you think the following environmental issues are in your local area? % Not a problem % A minor problem % A serious problem Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles The appearance or location of new developments Air quality and traffic pollution State of the local river/ stream Neglected or derelict buildings or land Base: 370 South Lakeland residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

38. Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (1) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? ±% Net South Lakeland ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Number of parks/green spaces 79 69 Availability of GPs 69 70 Quality of parks/green spaces 72 61 Libraries 68 66 Appearance of streets 52 40 Hospitals 50 55 Local train services 38 29 Leisure facilities for adults 36 30 Children’s playgrounds 45 31 Local primary schools 48 52 Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

39. Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (2) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? ±% Net South Lakeland ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Opportunities for adult education 34 38 50 Fire/rescue services 44 Local secondary schools 38 40 Dentists -1 -4 Public toilets -3 -13 Local bus services 3 14 Social services 25 24 Leisure facilities for young people -2 2 Suitable housing -35 -8 Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated

40. Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (1) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? ±% Net South Lakeland ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Libraries (230) 83 84 Number of parks/green spaces (259) 87 80 Fire/rescue services (17)* 77 86 Quality of parks/green spaces (259) 81 72 Availability of GPs (324) 74 73 Children’s playgrounds (118) 71 50 Social services (53) 72 64 Hospitals (267) 62 64 Base: All users. Base sizes in brackets above. * Small base size

41. Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (2) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? ±% Net South Lakeland ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Leisure facs. for adults (161) 57 56 Train services (176) 52 50 Adult education (74) 45 55 Bus services (150) 18 34 Dentists (251) 16 11 Leisure facilities for young people (65) 8 26 Public toilets (221) -3 -5 Base: All users. Base sizes in brackets above. * Small base size

42. Forms of transport Q Please list your main form of transport for different journeys on a typical weekday: Public transport Car/motorbike Pedestrian/cyclist South Lakeland (199) Work Cumbria (1,178) South Lakeland (347) Shopping Cumbria (2,202) South Lakeland (337) Leisure Cumbria (1,861) Medical/ clinic South Lakeland (309) Cumbria (1,830) Base: All those who travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

43. Distances travelled Q Please list how many miles you travel for different journeys on a typical weekday: Under 3 miles 3-4 miles 5-8 miles More than 8 miles Work (193) Shopping (336) Leisure (299) Medical/clinic (281) Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

44. Time travelled Q Please list how much time it takes you to travel for different journeys on a typical weekday: None >15 mins 15-29 mins 30-59 mins 1-2 hours <2 hours Work (296) Shopping (339) Leisure (314) Medical/clinic (319) Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above.

45. Part 5: Health and Well-being

46. Happiness Q Taking all things together, would you say in general you are…? % Very happy % Happy % Neither/nor % Unhappy % Very unhappy South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

47. Health Q Over the last 12 months, would you say that on the whole your health has been… % Very good % Good % Fair % Bad % Very bad South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents

48. Disability 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? % No % Yes South Lakeland Long term illness, health problem or disability Cumbria South Lakeland Think of yourself as a disabled person Cumbria Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 370 South Lakeland residents

49. Smoking Q Do you smoke cigarettes at all nowadays? % ‘Yes’ South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: All who have ever smoked cigarettes, cigars or other tobacco products: 1,038 Cumbria; 166 South Lakeland; 179 Alledale; 167 Barrow; 173 Carlisle; 148 Copeland; 205 Eden

50. Diet Q On a typical day, how many portions of fruit and vegetables do you eat? Less than 4 5+ South Lakeland Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 370 South Lakeland; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden residents