First place for Dorset towns (From Bournemouth Echo)

First place for Dorset towns

7:00am Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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LOW crime rate, affordable housing and good health services – is it any wonder the people of Dorset are satisfied with where they live?

Results from a national government study of all local councils showed the county achieved the highest satisfaction rate of all county-council-run areas – 89 per cent.

The Place Survey questioned residents on the performance of the council, police, fire and health services and the results will be used to make improvements to the areas which were found lacking.

Local councils also fared well, with Christchurch named as the best value for money of all district councils in the South West and the town’s residents being the most satisfied people in Dorset.

Nationally, Christchurch is rated 14th out of 201 district councils for satisfaction with its services and fourth highest in the South West.

Some 92 per cent of the town’s residents said they were satisfied with their local area as a place to live, compared with an average of 80 per cent of all people in England.

Michael Turvey, Christchurch Borough Council’s chief executive, said it was “very encouraging” that the majority of residents thought the council was doing a good job.

But he added that the survey also served to highlight the areas where improvement was needed.

“Of course it’s a concern that there are still a lot of people who think we could do better,” he said.

“The areas which people think are most in need of improvement – the level of traffic congestion, activities for teenagers, road and pavement repairs, public transport and affordable decent housing – are all areas which are included in the council’s priorities for Christchurch and which we aim to tackle as far as we are able.”

In Bournemouth residents were particularly impressed with the borough’s recycling, libraries and parks and open spaces.

Some 82.1 per cent said they were satisfied overall with their local area.

Results of the same survey showed 87 per cent of those in Poole were satisfied with the town as a place to live.

Residents were particularly pleased with refuse collections – with 90 per cent of respondents reporting they were satisfied with the current service.

Some 83 per cent of people registered their satisfaction with doorstep recycling services while Poole’s parks and open spaces also scored highly, with 80 per cent of respondents satisfied with them.

Council leader Cllr Brian Leverett said he was “delighted” that so many people thought Poole was a great place to live.

He added: “The views of residents are very important to us and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey.

“It provides valuable feedback that will help us to identify services that residents think are performing well and to pinpoint those that could be improved in the future.”

Despite almost 90 per cent of the county’s residents being happy with where they lived, Dorset County Council leader Angus Campbell also took the view that the survey results were not a chance for local authorities to rest on their laurels.

“The results of this major survey are crucial in helping us to improve life for local people.

“We will use people’s views to help us develop services and to monitor how things have changed and improved as a result.”