To blame the survey questionnaire is ludicrous (From Knutsford Guardian)

To blame the survey questionnaire is ludicrous

12:50pm Monday 6th July 2009

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WE understand that Mr Mooney must be very upset that most people in Knutsford don’t agree with him about pedestrianisation (June 23, Knutsford Business) but to blame the survey questionnaire is frankly ludicrous.

Although Mr Mooney has no idea of the opinions of the volunteers preparing the plan, he refers to the survey of local opinion as prejudice and says that those involved only want to highlight their own preconceived ideas.

A Parish or Town Plan has to represent the views of a community as whole, not just vociferous individuals. Knutsford parish has a population around 13,000.

Nine thousand questionnaires were made available to those who lived, worked, owned land or businesses or went to schools in Knutsford.

It was available online and the consultation lasted three months.

MORI and Gallup gauge national opinion from samples of about one in 50,000 of the population. Knutsford’s response was one in five – and Mr Mooney says overwhelming it isn’t!

He also says that the questions produced spin statistics. Let’s have a look.

Respondents were asked their views on four statements about pedestrianisation – two favourable, two unfavourable.

One said it would enhance the character of the town; another said it would adversely affect trade.

You could give views from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

You could say whether or not you wanted pedestrianisation in different parts of town.

To be certain that all views were fully catered for, there was also the statement pedestrianise no part of town.

Again, you could agree or disagree. Only 24 per cent agreed.

You need a very strange sense of logic to construe any of this as prejudice or spin.

Some of us want the town pedestrianised, some do not.

The fact is that 75 per cent of the people of Knutsford – including businesses and their customers – want the centre section of King Street pedestrianised, and that’s what will go into the draft Town Plan.

It’s unfortunate that Mr Mooney should try to denigrate a carefully conducted survey by insulting those working on it.

Sort out King Street parking or it will end up as empty as the space between certain people’s ears, he says.

There is another group of volunteers working on parking and town centre shopping, and between us we will produce a workable co-ordinated plan that genuinely represents what our town wants and sets out how to achieve it.

There will be many discussions – not only with residents and businesses but also with town planners, traffic engineers etc – before the plan is finalised, to make sure it’s viable.

We will be listening to people with sensible viewpoints as well as Mr Mooney.

BOB QUIN, DAVID DENNE, GEOFF HOLMAN and ANDREW MALLOY

Pedestrian Priority and Town Centre Working Group

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