Survey Says You Are A Brentfordian
Brentford Voice publishes responses given to their recent community survey
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Brentford Voice have thanked the local residents who responded to their recent community survey and published a report on the answers given.
Some of the main conclusions were that people in Brentford have a high degree of attachment to where they live but that the area is not improving and residents feel they have insufficient involvement in the decisions that are made that affect their lives. It also seems to have provided a definitive answer to the vexed question of what a person who lives in Brentford is called – you are a Brentfordian.
Running between 27 June and 11 July 2020 the survey received 292 responses. Some questions, but very few, were skipped by some respondents. The responses represent about 1.5% of the total population of TW8.
Brentford Voice say, “It is very important to bear in mind that respondents to our survey were ‘self-selecting’ and in no sense was this a stratified sample. A statistically valid sample would have required interviews with a carefully chosen number of people from different segments of the population chosen with reference to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic group.
“The age structure and the dwelling type of respondents is not representative of TW8 as a whole. Our respondents are, on average, older and a higher proportion live in houses. These statistical limitations must be borne in mind when interpreting all of the results of our survey.”
Despite these cautionary words they say the survey has yielded some fascinating results:
• Compared to national surveys, a much higher proportion of Brentford residents (86%) feel strongly that they belong to their immediate neighbourhood.
• The degree of satisfaction with Brentford as a place to live (80%) is very similar to that expressed for other home towns in national surveys.
• Just under 40% are satisfied to a greater or lesser extent with local services and amenities in Brentford. 42% are dissatisfied to a greater or lesser extent with local services and amenities.
• Compared with national surveys a substantially greater proportion (62%) of people in Brentford feel that our town has got worse to live in over the past two years.
• There is a clear feeling from the respondents (62%) that they have very limited power to personally influence decisions affecting Brentford. This stands in direct contrast to the proportion (92%) who feel that is important for them to be able to influence decisions.
• 54% believe that when people in Brentford get involved in their local community they can really change the way that the area is run.
• The perception in Brentford of how much levels of crime have changed during the past 2 years is almost identical to the picture from national surveys.
• The “plusses” of the Covid crisis are very clear: cleaner air, less road traffic, less road traffic noise, less aircraft noise, hearing birdsong and seeing more wildlife, spending more time talking to friends and family via internet etc., more time to pursue hobbies and other indoor activities.
• In “normal times” the most positive aspects of living in Brentford are public transport, access to Heathrow, access to cultural facilities outside Brentford, and access to local parks.
• In “normal times” the most negative aspects of living in Brentford are shopping and cultural facilities in Brentford itself, planning and development, access to housing of the right type and price, litter and fly tipping, and graffiti and vandalism.
• Perhaps one of the most encouraging results is that there is strong awareness of, and support for action on, climate change e.g. 82% are concerned about climate change and 50% would be prepared to change their habits in relation to vehicle use.
• It seems that people from Brentford should be known as “Brentfordians”!
A more detailed analysis can be found here.
If you would like any further information on the Community Survey email Brentford Voice at info@brentfordvoice.co.uk.
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July 31, 2020
