Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006 Carlisle District Report

1. Cumbria Quality of Life Survey 2006Carlisle 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 Carlisle and in Cumbria as a whole. An important factor underlying these differences is likely to be the urban make-up of the Carlisle district, in contrast with the more rural nature of many other parts of the County. • Levels of satisfaction with the local area are relatively high in Carlisle, with 84% of residents saying they are satisfied. • However, people living in Carlisle are less satisfied with their local area than those in Cumbria overall (70% net satisfied in Carlisle, compared with 79% in Cumbria) and are more likely to say the area has got worse in recent years. • While Carlisle residents are broadly in line with those in the County as a whole on key health indicators, they are more likely to smoke than are residents Cumbria-wide.

4. Key findings (2) – crime and safety • Concern about crime is more widespread in Carlisle than it is in Cumbria overall. A higher proportion of negative comments about the local area from Carlisle residents relate to crime issues than is the case for residents County-wide. • Carlisle residents are more likely to be worried about being a victim of crime and less likely to feel safe outdoors after dark than are Cumbria residents generally. 34% of Carlisle residents say they feel unsafe outside after dark, which compares with around three in ten people nationally (British Crime Survey 2005/6). • Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a key concern for Carlisle residents, as it is for those in Cumbria overall – and most do not feel well informed about what is being done to combat it.

5. Key findings (3) - participation • A strong sense of community cohesion is evident in Carlisle, as it is in Cumbria generally – more than half of residents say they feel they belong to their community, although those in Carlisle are less likely to feel they belong and less likely to say they trust most people locally than Cumbria residents overall are. Half of residents believe people in their neighbourhood are able to influence local decision-making by working together. • Many Carlisle residents are keen to have more of a say in Council decisions, with a third 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.

6. Key findings (4) - liveability • In terms of what makes an area a good place to live, a low level of crime is seen as more important in Carlisle than in Cumbria overall, while health services are seen as less important. The concern with crime is likely to reflect the urban make-up of Carlisle when compared with many other parts of the County. • Liveabilityissues such as clean streets are an important driver of Carlisle residents’ satisfaction with the local area – as they are for Cumbria residents overall. Litter, dog fouling, and pavements blocked by parked cars are particular concerns for people in Carlisle and may be priorities for the Council to address.

7. Key findings (5) – service delivery • Carlisle residents’ top priorities for improvement in their local area are activities for teenagers, traffic congestion and road and pavement repairs. While traffic congestion is cited by a higher proportion of Carlisle residents as in need of improvement than by residents in Cumbria overall, other issues – housing, wage levels and the cost of living, public transport and job prospects - are seen as less in need of improvement. • Broadly speaking, residents think service delivery in the local area is good. Satisfaction with a number of local services and facilities – the opportunities for adult education, bus services, leisure facilities for young people, the availability and quality of dentists and public toilets - is higher among users of these services in Carlisle than it is in Cumbria overall. • Satisfaction with certain services and facilities, however – children’s playgrounds and play areas, libraries, hospitals, train services and social services – is lower among users of these services resident in Carlisle than in Cumbria overall.

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

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 Carlisle Cumbria The level of crime Affordable decent housing Clean streets Education provision Health services Job prospects Access to nature Public transport Parks/open spaces Traffic congestion Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle residents

11. Quality of life (2) Carlisle 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 The level of crime Affordable decent housing Clean streets Education provision Health services Job prospects Access to nature Public transport Parks/open spaces Traffic congestion Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents

12. Improvements to local area Carlisle 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 Activities for teenagers Traffic congestion Road/pavement repairs Clean streets Affordable decent housing Level of crime Public transport Job prospects Wage levels/cost of living Facilities for young children Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle residents; 1,137 BVPI 2003/04 residents

13. Importance vs. need for improvement % Most important The level of crime Access to nature Parks and open spaces Affordable decent housing Clean streets Education provision Health services Job prospects Public transport Level of traffic congestion Shopping facilities Wage levels and local cost of living Cultural facs. Activities for teenagers Road and pavement repairs Facs. for young children Sports facs. Community activities Race relations Level of pollution % Most need improving Base: 362 Carlisle 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 at all satisfied Not very satisfied Fairly satisfied Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle residents

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

17. Comments about local area Q Why do you say the local area has got worse? Most frequent responses: Environment (17%) Crime and safety (14%) Transport (12) Further responses: Children/young people (12%) Housing and business development (8%) Local amenities and facilities (2%) Community (1%) Other negative comments (5%) Q Why do you say the local area has got better? Most frequent responses: Community (5%) Environment (3%) Local amenities and facilities (3%) Further responses: Housing and business development (2%) Crime and safety (2%) Other positive comments (5%) Base: 362 Carlisle 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’ Strongly agree Not stated Agree Strongly disagree Disagree Neither/nor Base: 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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? Carlisle 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; 362 Carlisle 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: 362 Carlisle 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’ Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Carlisle Cumbria In my local area people from different backgrounds get on well together (e.g. race, disability, social group) Carlisle Cumbria Carlisle I trust many or most of the people locally Cumbria Carlisle I feel I belong to my local area Cumbria Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle 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 (117)

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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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’ Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 95 Indoors during the day Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 not treating other people with respect and consideration People using drugs People dealing drugs People being drunk or rowdy in public places Deliberate rubbish/wheelie bin fires Base: 362 Carlisle 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 Crimes against your property Noisy neighbours or loud parties People being attacked because of skin colour, ethnic origin or religion Door step crimes Abandoned or burnt-out cars People sleeping rough on the streets/other public places Base: 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Rubbish and litter lying around Dog fouling Roads and footpaths in poor condition Pavements blocked by parked cars Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles Base: 362 Carlisle 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 Noise pollution Air quality and traffic pollution State of the local river/stream Neglected or derelict buildings or land The appearance or location of new developments Base: 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied GPs 75 70 Number of parks/green spaces 74 70 Quality of parks/green spaces 61 61 Hospitals 51 55 41 40 Appearance of streets etc 55 66 Libraries Local bus services 27 14 Leisure facilities for adults 30 30 Opportunities for adult education 36 38 Local primary schools 46 52 Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Dentists 6 -4 Fire/rescue services 45 50 Suitable housing 7 -8 Children’s playgrounds/play areas 22 31 Local train services 25 29 Local secondary schools 34 40 Public toilets -4 -13 Leisure facs. for young people * 2 Social services 16 24 Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle 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 Carlisle ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied GPs (326) 78 73 Number of parks/green spaces (230) 80 80 Libraries (191) 75 84 Opportunities for adult education (51) 69 55 Quality of parks/green spaces (230) 69 72 Fire/rescue services (14)* 70 86 Leisure facs. for adults (118) 59 56 Hospitals (238) 55 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 Carlisle ±% Net Cumbria % Dissatisfied % Satisfied Bus services (208) 42 34 Train services (116) 44 50 Social services (46)* 46 64 Leisure facilities for young people (55) 33 26 Dentists (258) 19 11 Children’s playgrounds/ play areas (95) 20 50 Public toilets (140) 8 -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 Carlisle (205) Work Cumbria (1,178) Carlisle (347) Shopping Cumbria (2,202) Carlisle (308) Leisure Cumbria (1,861) Medical/ clinic Carlisle (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 (202) Shopping (336) Leisure (284) Medical/clinic (286) 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 (278) Shopping (346) Leisure (310) Medical/clinic (321) 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Carlisle Cumbria Allerdale Barrow Copeland Eden South Lakeland Base: 2,133 Cumbria; 362 Carlisle; 373 Allerdale; 314 Barrow; 325 Copeland; 389 Eden; 370 South Lakeland 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 Carlisle Long term illness, health problem or disability Cumbria Carlisle Think of yourself as a disabled person Cumbria Base: 2,133 Cumbria residents; 362 Carlisle residents

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

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