North West Liveability Foundation (NWLF) Partner Case Study:
Cumbria County Council in partnership with Carlisle City Council:
The NWLF programme incorporates a range of services aimed at driving improvements in local environmental quality by working in partnership with as many local authorities and relevant organisations from across the North West as possible. There is a free comprehensive sub-regional programme of support and networking opportunities, as well as a more bespoke programme of work for the NWLF partners.
As an early stage partner of the North West Liveability Foundation (NWLF), Cumbria County Council has joined forces with Carlisle City Council to target improvement in local environmental quality in St Aidan’s ward as part of the bespoke partner programme.
St. Aidan’s ward is located near the centre of Carlisle. It consists of some 3,000 homes , predominantly terraced properties, but with some low rise flats and semi-detached properties. There are also pockets of social housing around the area. The area is culturally diverse, with some non-English speaking residents.
Keep Britain Tidy undertook an ‘on the ground’ assessment of the local environmental quality of the area and a research perception study (consisting of a quantitative survey of 201 residents living in St. Aidan’s ward) to identify how the area’s residents felt about their local area and the quality of their local environment. This enabled the actual problems on the ground to be compared with the residents’ perceptions.
Some key findings of the work that were used to inform the action plan were:
• The most problematic issues were perceived to be dog fouling, general litter and bin bags left in alleyways. These issues were also highlighted by the ‘on the ground’ assessment as key problematic issues, with broken glass also being present in large quantities.
• Interestingly, residents perceived graffiti to be a low priority in the area, which contrasts with the ‘on the ground’ assessment of graffiti being a key issue.
• The issues with which respondents were least satisfied included how the area looks and young people having somewhere to go.
• The on the ground assessment highlighted that road marking condition was poor in the area.
• The majority of residents were satisfied with the quality of the local environment in local parks / open spaces.
• Satisfaction with the general appearance of the area was high, as was satisfaction with the area as a place to live.
As a result of the combined results of the perception study and the ‘on the ground’ assessment an action plan has been developed which consists of short, medium and long term plans to address the issues raised by the residents and also the issues highlighted by the ‘on the ground’ independent assessment.
Cumbria County Council has also been very active in other areas of the NWLF, hosting both the sub regional meeting and action learning day (on environmental enforcement) within the Cumbria sub regional programme, and also speaking at the NWLF annual conference on 11th May 2009.
For further information please contact:
Alec Proffitt
CSWP Development Officer
Cumbria County Council
T: 01228 227838
E: alec.proffitt@cumbriacc.gov.uk