86% of Denbighshire residents are satisfied with their local area, according to a resident survey.
This was one of the key findings of the survey carried out by the Local Government Data Unit -Wales in late 2009 on behalf of Denbighshire County Council.
6,252 houses from across the county were randomly selected and sent a questionnaire. 3,071 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 49%.
The percentage of residents satisfied with their local area was high, at 86%. This figure did vary, with residents in Ruthin and the A55 Corridor being most satisfied at 93% compared with 77% of residents in Rhyl.
In addition, 95% of residents who expressed a view were satisfied with libraries, 86% were happy with the recycling service overall and 81% were happy with parks and open spaces provided by the council.
However, the council is aware of some issues raised in the survey, with some residents indicating that they thought their local area had got worse (24%) than got better (11%) in the last 12 months. Almost two-thirds (65%) of residents thought that their local area had stayed the same.
Over a third of residents who expressed a view considered ‘dog fouling’, ‘rubbish or litter lying around’, ‘teenagers hanging around streets’ and ‘vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property and vehicles’ to cause a small problem.
The survey asked people why they contacted the council and how satisfied they were. The most popular reason was to ‘ask for information/advice’ (37%), this was followed by to ‘report an issue or problem’ (35%) and to ‘pay a bill’ (27%). Of those who expressed a view, 86% of residents were satisfied with ‘how easy it was to find the right person to deal with’, with 36% of residents being very satisfied.
Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans, said: “The results of the survey, along with views expressed at community forums which take place across the county, have provided us with a wealth of information which will be used to help us plan and prioritise the services we offer.
“We are delighted that so many people took the time to complete the questionnaire. Although it is only a snapshot, we have been a clear insight into people’s views on a wide range of issues, from crime and disorder to leisure services, from dog fouling to social services.
“The next step is to inform residents of the findings and explain how the council intends to respond to the findings. A further survey will be carried out in Summer 2011 to see whether perceptions have changed and whether the council has responded to residents’ views and the quality of life has improved.”
The full survey can be viewed on Denbighshire’s website by following the link from www.denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations.
