APPENDIX 18 – PUBLIC CONSULTATION RESULTS

MORI Wave 1 Results – Tourism - August 2000

Q1 The following list shows a number of things which the Council tries to do. Which three or four do you think are the most important for the Council to do?

		%
(a)	Listen to the public	42
(z)	Work to reduce crime and promote a safer society	35
(b)	Protect the Island’s natural environment and resources	34
(g)	Encourage investment in the Isle of Wight	30
(c)	Encourage the creation of real job opportunities	28
(o)	Improve the quality of Island roads	24
(p)	Improve public transport	22
(u)	Provide a fire and rescue service	19
(d)	Provide care for the elderly	18
(r)	Provide more facilities for young people	13
(h)	Deliver high quality services	12
(n)	Encourage tourism on the Island	12
(v)	Help improve people’s health on the Island	12
(m)	Encourage people to be involved in local decisions	11
(f)	Improve the academic achievements of school children	10
(j)	Reduce the waste generated by Island people and businesses	8
(q)	Protect the Island’s historic and cultural environment	8
(e)	Work to eliminate poverty on the Island	7
(x)	Improve the Island’s towns	7
(l)	Provide opportunities for people of all ages	5
(w)	Support rural communities	5
(i)	Provide care for younger people and children in need	4
(k)	Provide opportunities for leisure and recreation	4
(y)	Work to reduce homelessness	4
(s)	Protect the interests of consumers	2
(t)	Develop artistic and cultural activities for people to enjoy	2
	None of these	*
	Other	7
	Not stated	4

Q21 What do you think about the idea that some Council services could be combined in the same building? For example, libraries in schools or tourist information centres in museums?

	%
Very Good idea	27
Fairly good idea	30
Neither a good nor a bad idea	13
Not a very good idea	18
Very bad idea	5
Don’t know	3
Not stated	3

Q22 If you think this a good idea have you any specific suggestions on the Island?

	%
Libraries and schools	3
Tourist info centre and library	2
Tourist info centre and museum	2
Saves money/reduces costs	2
Easily accessible/to all/in major towns	2
Availability of information/improved communication	1
Schools for community projects	1
Tourist info centre at places of interest/attractions	1
Less travelling/provided not too far to travel	1
Others	3
Don’t know	*
Not stated	80

MORI Wave 3 Results – Tourism - May 2001

Council Objectives

Respondents were presented with a list of seven Council objectives, and were asked to indicate the extent to which they support or oppose each objective. As the chart below shows, support is strong for all of the objectives – with only a minority of respondents opposing each.

Reflecting previous panel results, environmental issues clearly emerge as a salient priority: over nine in ten support protecting/enhancing the health, safety and environment of the Island (92%), and protecting the natural environment of the Island and it’s public transport network (91%), including three quarters who strongly support these issues.

Economic objectives are also a priority: four in five support the promotion of the Islands economy, tourism and leisure development (86%), and the development of the knowledge and skills required for employment opportunities (84%).

While support for the remaining objectives is high, it is evident that they are perceived as less of an overall priority.

The order of prioritisation is broadly consistent across all panel subgroups.

Tourist Information Centres

Confirming respondents’ recognition of the importance of tourism to the Island and it’s economy, the majority of respondents support proposals to open information centres seven days a week throughout the year (55%).

It is interesting to note that while support is stronger among older respondents (55-64: 62%, 65+: 59%), those who have been living on the Island for less than 5 years are more likely to be opposed to the proposal (31%).

Economic Development – Isle of Wight Partnership (IWP) Priorities

Respondents were presented with a list of issues and were asked to identify which two or three, if any, they feel it is important for the IWP to tackle.

As the chart below highlights, by some margin, crime and community safety is the most frequently selected issue, followed by attracting new jobs and support for local businesses.

Around one in three nominate training/education and support for tourism, while fewer select support for rural areas and developing new sites for businesses.

This pattern of priority is broadly reflected across all respondent subgroups. However, it is interesting to note that support for existing businesses is stronger among women (52%), while those living on the Island for less than 5 years are more likely to identify support for rural areas as a priority (35%), but feel that support for tourism is less important (18%).

MORI Wave 5 Results – Tourism - December 2002

Q10a Q10b	From the list of Council services below, which, if any, do you think the council should spending more money on? And which, if any, do you think the council should spend less money on?
			More	Less
			%	%
		Nursery and primary schools	13	5
		Middle schools	10	3
		High schools	12	5
		Helping children with educational and other problems	24	2
		Support for people with physical or learning disabilities	20	2
		Services for older people	41	5
		Housing and homelessness	16	14
		The Fire Service	19	2
		Other community safety, eg Environmental health, trading standards, close circuit TV, civil defence	22	8
		Keeping roads, pavements and beaches clean	33	1
		Repairing roads and pavements	58	1
		Supporting public transport and alternatives to car use	34	11
		Sporting and leisure facilities	9	23
		The library service	9	7
		Museums, theatres, support for the arts	6	27
		Promoting tourism and other local business activities	21	15
		Protecting and improving the environment	36	4
		Other (please specify)	3	2
		None of these	3	46