Portobello Community Council - Survey: Your views

[administrator]

http://www.portobellocc.org/survey.html

Portobello Community Council wants to know your views on Portobello. Please fill in and return our survey and you could win £50 in our prize draw.* (*Only one entry per person. Entrants must be over 16 and live within the Portobello Community Council area. Entries must be received before 14 October 2011)

Portobello Community Council has been in existence for over 20 years and has benefited the community by providing a focal point to gather and represent the community's views to the Council and other organisations, for example, by commenting on planning applications.

This consultation aims to raise awareness of the Community Council and find out how residents feel about living in Portobello. Whilst the Community Council has no funding to carry out projects, it can act as the voice of the community to argue for action by the Council or other service providers. A recent example of Portobello Community Council involvement in addressing a local issue is a Council consultation event on local traffic problems, organised at the request of the Community Council in response to residents' concerns.

Please let us know your views by completing this survey. More information on the work of Portobello Community Council can be found at our display area in the library and on our website.

To see the survey questions and complete the survey visit: http://www.portobellocc.org/survey.html

[seanie]

Just a reminder that the Community Council survey is running till 14 October.

Also, whilst the prize draw is only open to ages 16 and over, it would be good to get some views from children in the community so feel free to encourage any offspring you might have to fill in the survey too.

[wangi]

For those with a long patience, or memory... Here are the results of the survey run by Portobello Community Council in September & October 2011. Thanks to Sean, and others in PCC, for their work pulling this together.

The main survey results: PCC-survey-201109-results.pdf

In autumn 2011 Portobello Community Council carried out a survey to find out the community’s views on Portobello and in what ways it could be improved. 126 responses were received. The most frequently topics raised were:
* Improving the High Street
* Improving the Promenade
* Traffic problems
* Parking problems
* Promoting Portobello
Several other issues were brought up, as well as specific problems and suggested actions to take. Whilst the Community Council has no statutory powers, we will look to see what can be done to address matters raised.
Thanks to all who took part in the survey.

Improving the High Street
The issue most frequently commented upon was the High Street (37% or respondents). There were many positive comments and people clearly value the shops that currently exist. However there were concerns about the vitality of the High Street, the number of charity shops and empty premises. A broader choice of goods and services (specialist shops, restaurants, cafes) would be welcomed by many people, and many comments stressed the value of local independent businesses. Suggestions included lower rates/rents both to protect existing businesses and attract new ones, as well as finding temporary uses for empty premises.

Improving the Promenade
25% of respondents suggested improvements to the Promenade. Suggestions included physical improvements (resurfacing, planting etc.), more attractions to encourage visitors, and more cafes/shops.

Traffic problems
Traffic was raised as an issue in 18% of responses. Suggestions included; reducing congestion, reducing traffic, speed reduction and traffic calming in various locations, and improved traffic management. Specific problems in the Bath St/Marlborough St/Regent Street area were mentioned several times.

Parking problems
16% of responses mentioned parking as an issue to be addressed. Suggestions included; permit/resident parking, stricter enforcement, marked parking bays, and more central parking.

Promoting Portobello
14% of respondents suggested Portobello be better promoted to attract tourists and visitors to ‘Edinburgh’s Seaside’.

Other issues
There were a number of issues also raised with notable frequency; the problem of dog fouling (11%), appropriate development on the Scottish Power site (10%), litter problems (10%), the importance of a new High School (10%), the Community Council (10%), improved public transport (8%), improved cycling facilities (8%), more youth facilities/activities (8%), improved play parks (8%), and more/improved toilet/wash facilities at the beach (7%).

And the survey to Portobello High School pupils: PCC-survey-201109-phs-results.pdf

In autumn 2011 Portobello Community Council carried out a survey to find out the community’s views on Portobello and in what ways it could be improved. Anticipating that few responses from under 16s would be received, Portobello High School was asked to circulate the survey to pupils. 167 responses were received and these have been collated separately from the main survey. The most frequently suggested improvements raised by pupils were:
* Less litter (37%)
* More bins (21%)
* More shops (11%)
* A new High School (10%)
* A cleaner beach (9%)
* Better parks (9%)
* More activities (8%)
* Better public toilets (6%)
* A McDonalds (5%)
* More clothes shops (5%)

Thanks to all who took part in the survey.

Lots of interesting data in the results.