When I heard that the Honeywood councillors were organising a survey about the public's thoughts on the changes to Clacton centre, I thought it was about time the ordinary folk were asked for some input.
Unfortunately on reading the survey form it soon became obvious that the person who compiled the questions neglected to check them or to get someone else to check them. This means that answers to some of the questions posed are meaningless and therefore of no use in providing valid conclusions
In the public transport section, Q2 asks: Have the changes to the taxi ranks and their access to the town centre made visiting it easier or harder?
The possible answers are "YES" (i.e. it has made it easier or harder) and "NO" (i.e. it hasn't made it easier or harder). I need to think about that for a minute or two.
Q3. Bus users - Have the changes to the town centre made visiting it easier or harder?
Again the possible answers are "YES" and "NO". I'll think about that one much later when I've worked out how to answer Q2.
In the section on parking: Q4. Do you think there are sufficient parking spaces for the disabl;ed?
Options again are "YES" and "NO" Now to be honest I don't know and I assume most other people don't know, but as the possible answers are Yes or No then most people will probably answer NO. (Wait for headline "83% of Clacton's residents want more disabled parking places SENSATION")
My favourite is on the subject of Traffic Flow in the town:
Q2. Do you think that further changes would help improve the town?
YES or NO?
Well I rather think that would depend on what the changes were. I mean a bottomless pit outside Mcdonalds might be a good thing whilst employing a council official to stand outside the Edinburgh Woolen Mill kickig the zimmers from under the old folk would be less good What an absurd question!
The final question asks "If an election were held today, which party do you think you'd vote for? All the usual suspects are options.
I am curious to know what in the sacred name of David Cameron that has to do with the topic of changes to Clacton centre It's about as relevant as asking me my favourite brand of toilet tissue.
If you could see me know you'd see a little light bulb flashing on and off over my head as my gaze drifts between the survey and my roll of Andrex. I have scribbled "Now please wash your hands" "YES or NO" across the top of the sheet and made a hole in the corner to enable me to hang it on the conveniently positioned nail
Seriously if a little more time had been taken and a little more thought given to the survey it could have been a useful exercise What a lost opportunity
amenity
Re: Town Centre Changes Survey. Nonsense questions?
Vicar wrote:
When I heard that the Honeywood councillors were organising a survey about the public's thoughts on the changes to Clacton centre, I thought it was about time the ordinary folk were asked for some input........................
Seriously if a little more time had been taken and a little more thought given to the survey it could have been a useful exercise What a lost opportunity
It would appear that once again the 'hidden Agenda' has got in the way of reason, if they asked well thought out even handed questions they might have learnt something, but I suspect they knew that but thought it might be unpalatable.
It all reminds me of the way government asks us to enter into dialogue for consultation, only so as to chop down loads more trees and put our response into landfill.
Ah well.
ivan burit
As yet, the survey has done s*d all to improve the mess that has been done in town centre.
You still cannot drop off passengers in Pier Avenue, or pick them up unless they have "goods" to be collected, then the goods loading bay can be used very short stay...
And most importantly i cannot drive a motor cycle through the restricted zone 10am till 4pm, but can turn left at the new traffic lights just in case i do venture into the twilight zone...do de doo doo, do de doo dooo, do dee doo doo, do dee doo dooo...(ok, not everyone remembers the twilight zone on TV.)
