News Release : 20 July 2004

BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO GIVE RESIDENTS THE GOOD LIFE

Quality of life in the South East will be threatened if we do not provide transport and health services for new homes. Government needs to give sufficient funding for infrastructure for new developments or residents will lose out, says the South East England Regional Assembly.

Our health, transport and environment are major concerns for South East residents, a poll revealed today. These problems will get worse if new homes are planned without good access to doctors, public transport and recycling opportunities. Lack of infrastructure will be a major concern if houses are to be built more quickly in the South East: 32% of residents are concerned about increasing traffic levels and 25% see pressure on hospitals and local health services as a problem. Questions on the environment reveal an untapped desire for residents to reduce more and cut their use of natural resources such as water.

The Assembly commissioned a long-term opinion polling programme for its South East Plan – a 20-year planning vision for the region. Key findings include:

• 91% rate their quality of life as good or very good.
• 53% cite that traffic levels are a serious problem.
• 38% say that more GPs are needed.
• Strong support for more affordable housing and 75% want builders to be obliged to increase the percentage of affordable homes they build.
• 82% are willing to change their lifestyles to help reduce pollution and consume less.
• Nearly all residents (95%) are willing to recycle more and 84% are willing to reduce the amount of water they use.
• Just over half of the residents (56%) are prepared to travel less (56%) and 55% are willing to make more use of public transport to reduce congestion.

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the South East England Regional Assembly said: “This type of polling has not been used in regional planning before. It gives a comprehensive view on what our residents think and want. South East residents have concerns about local services if new homes are built, so if we don’t provide better infrastructure we will lose out.

“ It is encouraging that residents are willing to change their lifestyles and consume less and help reduce pollution. It will improve everyone’s quality of life. With the preparation of the South East Plan, we are aiming to be the ‘Healthy Region’ in every sense – improving the health of our residents, protecting and enhancing the environment and maintaining the vitality of the economy. Our residents want the ‘Good Life’ and we should all try to achieve and maintain that.”

Research Institute MORI carried out a second stage of opinion polling in the South East between April and May 2004, and interviewed over 1,800 residents from across the region. The information will feed into the Assembly’s South East Plan. The first stage of opinion polling for the South East Plan was completed at the end of March. Both research reports are available on the South East Plan website. The third stage of the rolling polling programme will be carried out early 2005.

Contact

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555221

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Notes to editors:

1. MORI carried out a survey between April and May 2004. The report was published in July and is now available on the Assembly’s website www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/southeastplan. Additional key findings: Two thirds (67%) of residents rate health of residents as the most or second most important aspect. The wealth of the environment and the management of natural resources are considered to be equally important (with 49% and 47% of residents rating it as the most or second most important aspect of four selected items).
2. The South East recycles 20% of its household waste.
3. The South East Plan, a 20-year vision for the region, will be a document setting regional priorities and guiding the production of local plans and strategies on critical issues affecting all of us, such as housing, transport, waste and development. It will also help share best practice between different areas of the region that face similar problems and cover the period to 2026. The Plan will impact on the whole South East, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
4. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
5. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
6. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007