Previous | Contents | Next | Search

Note: These pages are still under development - launch date 23rd March.

7.6. KEY FINDINGS The Community Questionnaire Results

This section highlights the views of the community which were gathered through the main community questionnaire

Are you a resident, visitor, working in Crowborough, or pursuing leisure activities?

This graph shows that the majority of people who filled the questionnaire were residents. The questionnaire has also gathered the input from 100 people who work in the Town, some others who were pursuing leisure activities, and a small number who were visiting.

For what purposes do you use Crowborough?

This graph shows that on a daily and a weekly basis, the Crowborough is used most often by people for shopping. If Crowborough is used by a respondent for education, it is likely to be daily, weekly or less often than monthly. The town is used for entertainment most frequently less often than monthly, but around 50 people use it weekly or monthly. Visits to friend and family are most frequently made on a weekly basis (more than 160 respondents). More than 175 respondents said that they never use Crowborough for business or work; these could be people who are retired, not yet old enough to work, or who work elsewhere, or cannot work for some reason. Although over 60 people use the Town daily for sport or leisure, the most frequently recorded choice was weekly.

What are the best things about living in Crowborough

Other comments related to the ‘rural town’ feel, the facilities and amenities available, low crime rates, transport links with London, family connections, churches and affordable housing amongst other things.

It is clear that access to the surrounding countryside and Ashdown forest is clearly viewed as a benefit to living in Crowborough. Other commonly referred to factors were the proximity of other areas (50), the friendliness of the people and the community (47) and the free parking in the Town centre (44).

What are the best things about working in Crowborough?

Other comments related to the friendliness of the people, the rural location, the range of employers that exist within Crowborough, the walk to work, or the respondent did not work in Crowborough.

Whilst there are a number of factors highlighted relating to the best things about working in Crowborough it is clear that free parking (38) and the convenience and ease of access it offers people are key elements.

What are the best things about visiting Crowborough?

Other comments related to the Conan Doyle statue, the history of the area, the local camp sites, walking opportunities and golf courses.

Whilst the Ashdown Forest and surrounding countryside (50) and the free car parking were considered to be the best things about visiting Crowborough there were 22 comments relating to the need for a greater range of things for people to see and do.

What are the best things about leisure activities in Crowborough?

Other comments focused the range of activities for all ages, the new gym at Jarvis Brook and a number of comments relating to areas that could be improved.

The leisure centre is seen by many (97) as the best thing about leisure activities in Crowborough with the range of local sports clubs receiving 45 comments. A number of people commented on the overall standard ranging from adequate (5) to very good (5) and excellent (5).

What would be the main changes to make Crowborough an improved place to live?

Additional comments included the development of a bypass, a cinema, cleaning up the litter problems, reducing anti-social behaviour, changes to the operating practices of the Town Council, Increased facilities for young people, a community hall, more affordable housing, deducing speeding problems, and increasing the levels of community spirit.

A desire to see improvements to the quality and range of shops received the most amount of comments (93) with improvements and development of the Town centre and improvements/changes to bus and rail transport receiving 39 and 37 comments respectively.

What would be the main changes to make Crowborough an improved place to work?

Additional comments covered small business support, better promotion of existing businesses and improved opportunities for young people, cheaper rates for offices and shops, and traffic control measures, amongst others.

Encouraging and increase in the amount and range of employers and employment opportunities was seen as the priority for making Crowborough an improved place to work with 48 comments. The second highest priority was considered to be improvements/changes to the bus and train transport with 29 comments.

What would be the main changes to make Crowborough an improved place to visit?

Other comments included the desire for public toilets in the Town centre, improved signage throughout the Town, more and a wider range of facilities and activities, increased environmental features, a cleaner Town environment, more restaurants, a museum, a community building, and improvements to the entry points to the Town.

The factor that was considered to have the highest priority when making Crowborough an improved place to visit was the need for accommodation with 40 comments. This was followed by improvements to the quality and range of shops.

What would be the main changes to make Crowborough an improved place to take part in leisure activities?

Further comments related to the idea for a Civic centre or possibly developing the library facilities available in Crowborough, and reducing the cost of existing activities.

35 respondents considered the development of a wider range of sporting facilities as the most important factor in making Crowborough and improved place to take part in leisure activities. The development of a wider range of youth activities received 25 comments with the development of a cinema receiving 22 and the idea of a community centre 21.

The next section of the questionnaire looked at four topics – the Environment, the Economy, Transport, and Social and Community.

Respondents were asked firstly to rank options (1 being the most important) and then were asked for other issues and further comments.

The Environment

Environment: any other issues

Additional issues included increased environmental features such as hanging baskets, cycle lanes, improved signage and better management of the cemetery.

The greatest tally for additional issues were connected to improved cleanliness of town centre and improved traffic control measures with 18 and 17 references respectively.

Environment: further comments

Further comments on environmental matters covered the need for improvements to the pavements in the Town, tighter controls on litter problems, improvements to the approaches to Town, reducing anti-social behaviour, e.g. dog fouling and graffiti, improving education on environmental matters the development of public toilets and making the Town centre more pedestrian friendly.

The greatest number of additional comments relating to environmental matters centred around the improved management of environmental features in Crowborough (38). Other comments focused on the need to address traffic congestion (17) and alterations to the Town centre (16).

The Economy

Economy: any other issues

Other issues highlighted in relation to the economy were the need to reduce business rates and retain free parking.

There were two main issues highlighted in relation to the economy, which were the need to encourage a wider range of businesses into Crowborough (24) and the need to develop tourism, including a hotel.

Economy: further comments

Additional further comments included the need to encourage more tourism and the development of a hotel.

A large proportion of further comments relating to the economy were in relation to the need for changes to the range and look of the shops in Crowborough (38). There were also a number (16) of comments relating to the need for more effort to diversify the range of employers in Crowborough.

Transport

Transport: any other issues

Further issues mentioned were the need for improvements to the pavements for wheelchairs, encourage people to use public transport and stopping illegal parking.

The need for improvement/changes to bus and rail transport received the greatest number of references (30) in relation to additional transport issues. This was followed by references to inappropriate traffic control measures.

Transport: further comments

Further comments including the difficulties faced by people with disabilities, maintaining free parking, reducing the cost of public transport, the need for improved signage and the need for motorcycle parking.

The greatest amount of further comments in relation to transport centred on the need for improvements/changes to bus and rail transport (58). This was followed by the need for improvements to the pavements and pathways (17) and the need for greater control of illegal parking (16).

Social and Community

Social and community: any other issues

Further issues included the need to keep the hospital open, curb under age drinking and develop respite care for carers.

The highest number of references received for any one further issue in relation to social and community issues were for the need for more facilities and activities for young people (18). This was followed by the desire to see an increased Police presence (12).

Social and community: further comments

Additional comments also included the need to improve community spirit, develop library facilities, make changes to the Town Council, make improvements to existing facilities, and improve healthcare facilities for the older members of the community.

The greatest numbers of comments raised in relation to social and community issues were for the need for a community centre/hall (27), the need for increased Police presence (24) and the need to develop more activities for young people (22).

Top issues

The table below shows the issues which overall were raised as most important to the community of Crowborough.

Other comments related to the protection of wildlife, the development of a cinema and library facilities, improved management of pavements and developments to the farmers market.

© The Crowborough Partnership