In total 60 people in West Penwith, (an area called Penzance, Marazion and St Just but here West Penwith) and 57 in Hayle and St Ives responded out of a total of 1,212 across Cornwall. Although this is only a small amount of people there are some interesting trends to note.
Unfortunately neither of the places that the information is displayed (here) and (here) give the full information and break down every answer by area. Instead both (seemingly identically) draw out some of the best and worst answers. For example the areas/ groups of people most satisfied and most dissatisfied everyone in between is left out. Many areas in the middle ground don't come up very often e.g. Helston and the Lizard is mentioned once (88% resounded positively as a place to live).
As the map above illustrates the areas most satisfied with Cornwall Council are Launceston then Camborne then Bude. West Penwith is bottom of the list with the least satisfaction in the local authority. Which contrasts starkly with the 51% of people across Cornwall who are satisfied. This trend continues of difference with the Cornish average continues.
56% of people in Penzance, Marazion and St Just thought Cornwall Council was not value for money with 50% of Hayle and St Ives agreeing with that sentiment. Both being the worst answers throughout Cornwall, further West Penwith had only 15% of respondents agreeing that CC provided value for money.
In answer to a question about Cornwall Council making the area cleaner 36% of people agreed in West Penwith that this was the case, compared to 47% across Cornwall.
Across Cornwall 34% agreed the council was trustworthy with 24% disagreeing. Whereas in Hayle and St Ives 39% didn't agree that Cornwall Council was trustworthy and 37% in West Penwith taking the same view.
Whether Cornwall Council acts on the concerns of local residents was another question, across Cornwall 26% agreed they did and (worryingly) 37% disagreed. As always the further west the worse it gets 51% in West Penwith didn't agree that residents were being listened to.
40% of residents agree Cornwall Council treats all people fairly, 22% disagreed. West Penwith 44% disagreed that this was the case.
50% of the population think the council is standing up for Cornwall 24% disagree. Only 38% of people agree in West Penwith think that the council is doing enough in this regard.
More generally these comments submitted as part of the survey are very at odds with current policies pursued by Cornwall Council:
There's some real food for thought here. I find myself in the majority view on a lot of these questions. There is not a positive view of Cornwall Council in the west. From talking to people I know, comments I see online, people I spoke to on the doorstep, campaigners and an interesting conversation I had with a group in Marazion last night the same messages come across. The poor perception that Cornwall Council doesn't listen, that issues like housing are decided with no meaningful public consultation, that we aren't getting a good deal from Cornwall Council. The same issues are cited: planned housing around Gulval, Heamoor, Carbis Bay, Ludgvan and St Ives, Sainsbury's, the harbour, the town center.
The cynical part of me asks why at this juncture Cornwall Council has undertaken the first public survey, is it a coincidence that a general election is around the corner? Whether this is the case or not I hope politicians are taking note of what people are saying and actually work for change in these areas and not say what people want to hear and carry on regardless. Things need to change here.
One a sidenote I find it so frustrating that in a document that screams the west is not happy and not being listened to and understood that this issue is compounded by the fact Marazion is variously spelt Marazion, Marizion and Marzion in this document.
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