Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006 Cumbria Headline

Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006 Cumbria Headline Report

Part 1: Key findings 2

Key findings (1) Levels of satisfaction with the local area are high – 88% of residents say they are satisfied. Residents perceive the County as a relatively safe place to live – 21% say they feel unsafe in their local area outside after dark. This compares with around three in ten people nationally (British Crime Survey 2005/6). Levels of volunteering are above 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). 3

Key findings (2) A strong sense of community cohesion is evident – 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 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). Broadly speaking, residents think service delivery in the local area is good. Satisfaction is particularly high with libraries, parks and green spaces, fire and rescue services, hospitals and local GPs. 4

Key findings (3) Improving the availability of activities for teenagers, access to affordable decent housing and road and pavement repairs are residents’ top three priorities for their local area. Liveability issues are an important driver of residents’ satisfaction with the local area, as illustrated by the finding that those residents (one in five) who believe their local area has got worse in recent years give liveability issues as their main reason for this view. This is consistent with recent analysis published by Ipsos MORI suggesting that ‘physical capital’ has a clear relationship with quality of life in Britain. In this context, improving the cleanliness of streets, road and path maintenance and dealing with litter are likely to drive up satisfaction with the Council among residents. 5

Key findings (4) Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key concern for 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 in Cumbria. While residents are broadly satisfied with local service delivery, the services or facilities they are most dissatisfied with are the availability and quality of dentists, public toilets and the availability of suitable housing. 6

Guidelines for interpreting the survey data 7

Interpretation of the data A sample, not the entire population of Cumbria, 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. 8

Part 2: Liveability in Cumbria 9

Quality of Life Cumbria Qo. L Q Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making 2003/04 Cumbria somewhere a good place to live? % Top ten mentions BVPI Level of crime Health services Affordable decent housing Education provision Clean streets Job prospects Access to nature Public transport Wage levels/cost of living Shopping facilities Base: Qo. L 2006: 2, 133 Cumbria residents; 1, 137 BVPI 2003/04 residents 10

Improvements to the local area Q And thinking about this local area, which of the things below, if any, do you think most need improving? % Top ten mentions Cumbria 2003/04 Cumbria BVPI Activities for teenagers Affordable housing Road/pavement repairs Job prospects Public transport Traffic congestion Wage levels/cost of living Clean streets Health services Level of crime Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents; 1, 137 BVPI 2003/04 residents 11

Importance vs. need for improvement % Most important The level of crime Health services Education provision Access to nature Affordable decent housing Clean streets Job prospects Wage levels and local cost of living Shopping facilities Public transport Parks and open spaces Level of traffic congestion Activities for teenagers Cultural facilities Level of pollution Road and pavement repairs Race Facilities for young children relations Community activities Sports and leisure facilities % Most need improving Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 12

Satisfaction with local area Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live? Don’t know/not stated Very Not at all satisfied Not very satisfied Fairly satisfied Sat % Not sat % Cumbria 88 8 Allerdale 90 6 Barrow 83 13 Carlisle 84 13 Copeland 86 9 Eden 93 3 South Lakeland 90 4 Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 13

Satisfaction with Cumbria and districts Q Overall how satisfied are you with your local area as a place to live? ±% Net satisfaction Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 14

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 15

Comments about local area Q Why do you say the local area has got worse? Most frequent responses: Environment (17%) Transport (10%) Crime and safety (9%) Further responses: Children/young people (7%) Housing and business development (6%) Local amenities and facilities (4%) Community (2%) Other negative comments (6%) Q Why do you say the local area has got better? Most frequent responses: Community (5%) Local amenities and facilities (3%) Environment (2%) Further responses: Crime and safety (2%) Housing and business development (2%) Other positive comments (6%) Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 16

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 disagree Agree % Disagree % Male 21 47 Female 19 40 16 -34 14 50 35 -54 19 46 55+ 25 37 Working 18 46 Not working 23 40 Strongly agree 1% Agree Gender Age Disagree Working status Neither/nor Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 17

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’ % Disagree % Agree Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 18

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? 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 19

Involvement with the Council (1) 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: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 20

Involvement with Council (2) 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’ Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 21

Part 3: Community and Safety 22

Attitudes to neighbourhood Q To what extent do you agree with the following statements? % Disagree By working together people in my neighbourhood can influence decisions that affect their neighbourhood In my local area people from different backgrounds get on well together (e. g. race, disability, social group) % Agree I trust many or most of the people locally I feel I belong to my local area Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 23

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 (781) ‘Volunteered during the past year’ Yes 35% No 61% 24

Fear of crime Q How worried are you about being a victim of any type of crime in your local area? % Worried % Not worried Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 25

Having been a victim of crime Q Have you been a victim of any type of crime in the past 12 months? % ‘Yes’ Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 26

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? ±% Net safe Outdoors after dark Indoors after dark Outdoors during the day Indoors during the day Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 27

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 28

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 29

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 People not treating other people with respect People using drugs People dealing drugs People being drunk or rowdy in public places Crimes against your property Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 30

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 Deliberate rubbish/wheelie bin fires Door step crimes Abandoned or burnt-out cars People being attacked because of skin colour, ethnic or religion People sleeping rough Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 31

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 32

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 33

Part 4: Environment, Local Services and Transport 34

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 Dog fouling Roads and footpaths in poor condition Rubbish and litter lying around Pavements blocked by parked cars Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 35

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 Noise pollution Air quality and traffic pollution Neglected or derelict buildings or land The appearance or location of new developments State of the local river/ stream Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 36

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (1) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? % Dissatisfied % Satisfied GPs Number of parks/green spaces Quality of parks/green spaces Libraries Hospitals Appearance of streets etc Local primary schools Fire/rescue services Opportunities for adult education Leisure facilities for adults Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 37

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities (all residents) (2) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Local secondary schools Children’s playgrounds/play areas Local train services Local bus services Dentists Suitable housing Social services Leisure facs. for young people Public toilets Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents. Note: the chart does not include don’t know or not stated responses 38

Satisfaction (all residents) vs. usage % Satisfied Number of parks/green spaces Opps. for adult education Fire/rescue services Children’s playgrounds Libraries Quality of parks/green spaces GPs Hospitals Leisure facilities for adults Local train services Local bus services Social services Public toilets Leisure facilities for young people Dentists % Used Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 39

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (1) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Fire/rescue services (80) Libraries (1, 236) Number of parks/green spaces (1, 348) GPs (1, 927) Quality of parks/green spaces (1, 348) Hospitals (1, 466) Social services (277) Opps. for adult education (356) Base: All users. Please note: Base sizes in brackets above 40

Satisfaction with local services/ facilities among users (2) Q How satisfied are you with the following services or facilities in your local area? % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Leisure facilities for adults (742) Children’s playgrounds/play areas (675) Train services (816) Bus services (962) Leisure facilities for young people (395) Dentists (1, 442) Public toilets (1, 012) Base: All users. Please note: Base sizes in brackets above 41

Forms of transport Q Please list your main form of transport for different journeys on a typical weekday: % Public transport % Car/motorbike % Pedestrian/cyclist Work (1, 178) Shopping (2, 020) Leisure (1, 861) Medical/clinic (1, 830) Base: All those who travel. Base sizes in brackets above. 42

Distances travelled Q Please list how many miles you travel for different journeys on a typical weekday: Under 3 miles Work (1, 138) 3 -4 miles Shopping (1, 973) 5 -8 miles More than 8 miles Leisure (1, 674) Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above. Medical/clinic (1, 671) 43

Time travelled Q Please list how much time it takes you to travel for different journeys on a typical weekday: None >15 mins Work (1, 633) 15 -29 mins Shopping (2, 013) 30 -59 mins Leisure (1, 812) Base: All those who stated how far they travel. Base sizes in brackets above. 1 -2 hours <2 hours Medical/clinic (1, 877) 44

Part 5: Health and Wellbeing 45

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

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 Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 47

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 Long term illness, health problem or disability Think of yourself as a disabled person Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 48

Smoking Q Do you smoke cigarettes at all nowadays? % ‘Yes’ Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland 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 49

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

Alcohol consumption Q In an average week, how many units of alcohol do you drink? Male (Drink more than 21 units per week) Female (Drink more than 14 units per week) Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 51

Moderate exercise Q How often do you take moderate exercise? Every day 4 -6 times a week 1 -3 times a week More than once a month, but less than once a week Less than once a month Never Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 52

Vigorous exercise Q How often do you take vigorous exercise? Every day 4 -6 times a week 1 -3 times a week More than once a month, but less than once a week Less than once a month Never Base: 2, 133 Cumbria residents 53

BMI Q How much do you weigh? Q How tall are you? Mean Male Female Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: All except pregnant women: 2, 125 Cumbria; 372 Allerdale; 312 Barrow; 361 Carlisle; 324 Copeland; 387 Eden; 369 South Lakeland 54

Obesity Q How much do you weigh? Q How tall are you? % Obese Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden 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. Base: All except pregnant women: 2, 125 Cumbria; 372 Allerdale; 312 Barrow; 361 Carlisle; 324 Copeland; 387 Eden; 369 South Lakeland 55

Sexuality Q Which of the following best describes your sexuality? Heterosexual Not heterosexual Not stated/prefer not to say Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Carlisle Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2, 133 Cumbria; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 362 Carlisle; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland residents 56