The engagement team went into schools, talked to residents in the local area on the doorstep, and carried out pop-up engagement activities in local shops.
Residents were shown leaflets with information about the proposed new watersports centre and asked a reduced version of the online survey, with basic demographic information also collected.
508 people were spoken to by the engagement team
Desired facilities and likelihood to use
- The most popular amenities and activities to include at the new centre are a café or food outlet of some sort (37%) and a waterpark with slides, flumes, different types of pool, fountains, sprinklers and a splash area (21%)
- Parking is the other main consideration for people (16%) with concerns over availability for residents and leisure users/visitors, the cost, disabled access and a desire for a residents parking zone
- Hand in hand with the parking theme, concern is also expressed over how overcrowded and busy the centre and area might become, with associated heavier traffic and noise pollution (9%)
- Almost two thirds of people spoken to (64%) say that they are ‘very likely’ to use a watersports centre in Eastney (18% are unlikely to use)
Demographics
- 57% of those spoken to were female, 43% were male
- 7% of the people spoken to considered themselves to have a disability, long-term illness or health condition
- The biggest demographic spoken to were those aged under 25 (44%). Around a fifth each were aged 25-44 and 65+, and 15% were aged 45-64
