Queen Caroline - what you told us
We received many valuable comments from you - both at the drop in session and through the submitted questionnaires. Below we have summarised what you told us through these first consultation activities.
YOUR HOMES AND COMMUNAL AREAS
Over half of residents (61%) said they felt proud to live on the estate and those who attended the drop in session expressed a strong desire to remain living there. However, over a quarter said they would like to move away from the estate if it was possible - mainly as a result of perceived lack of building maintenance - or as a consequence of anti-social behaviour.
There was a mixed response as to whether or not a sense of community existed on the estate, with 41% of residents saying they felt it does exist and 59% saying it doesn't. The age of the respondent appeared to affect how they felt about a sense of community existing - with 45% of 35-44 year olds thinking there is, compared to 0% of those aged 16 to 34. In contrast - 67% of 16-24 year olds think that there is no sense of community - compared to 20% of respondents aged over 65.
Only 28% of those respondents currently renting their property would wish to either own or part-own their homes. Those tenants who did not want to own their property (72%) said the main reasons were that it would be too expensive or that they were too old to take on the responsibility of home ownership.
More than four fifths of residents (84%) felt it was good to have a mix of people who own and rent properties on the estate and 96% felt that it was important to live in an energy efficient property.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Overall, 86% of residents felt safe on the estate, with only 14% saying they felt unsafe. The two areas where they felt most unsafe were the streets surrounding the estate and in the lifts and stairwells. The majority of residents who felt unsafe in these locations (80%) did so during the evenings, with a fifth stating they always felt unsafe.
The main reason given by those who felt unsafe was the presence of youths and gangs in these locations. In both the questionnaire and through conversation at the drop in session, residents highlighted Worlidge Street and Under the Flyover as areas where they felt particularly unsafe.
GETTING AROUND
It was clear from the responses to this section that residents felt the estate is very accessible, with 98% saying it was easy to fi nd their way around the estate. 90% felt it was either very easy or quite easy to get to their property on the estate and 97% of residents felt it was either very easy or easy to access the wider neighbourhood. 98% of residents felt it was either very easy or quite easy to access the river.
When asked about which forms of private transport they had acess to - 30% of residents had a car and 27% had a bicycle. If bike sheds were provided on the estate - the number of respondents who would consider using a bicycle rose to 47%.
OPEN SPACE AND PLAY AREAS
Over 60% of residents asked never use the open spaces and play areas on Queen Caroline estate. However, in general, a large proportion of residents (64%) think the facilities are either very good or good.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
When asked which facilities residents used most in the area, results showed that almost 80% used the shops and nearly 60% visited the doctor's surgery.
98% of residents use the shops at Hammersmith Broadway and on King Street either daily or weekly, and 74% are satisfied with the range and quality of shops offered. Additional faciities they use in the area are the church and the river.
Respondents were also asked to consider what improvements they would like to see in the area if investment and redevelopment were to happen. On the estate people said they were keen to see improved lighting and the provision of CCTV. Others put forward the idea of demolishing either the tower blocks or the whole estate and redeveloping with improved green areas.
In the wider locale, residents' suggestions included wanting a local swimming pool, better provision of supermarket facilities offering larger stores and cheaper options - e.g. Asda and Lidl - and a wider range of shops - especially individual retailers such as green grocers and butchers.
TRAINING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Of those who completed this section of the questionnaire, two fifths are in employment, almost two fifths are retired and just above a fifth are currently unemployed.
For more information phone 020 8753 3317 (text phone users please prefi x the above contact number with 18001) or email ldf@lbhf.gov.uk
Page last updated: 05/04/2011
