People asked for their views on highways and transport services

Councillor Jacqui Beswick

The public’s views on Rochdale’s Highways and Transport services will again be compared with others across England, thanks to the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction survey.

Rochdale Borough Council is one of 86 local authorities to sign up to a standardised survey that will ask members of the public exactly the same questions, whether they live in Reading, Richmond or Rochdale.

The survey, which is being run for the eighth year, is the largest collaboration between local authorities offering the opportunity to compare results, share in best practice and identify further opportunities to work together in the future.

The questionnaire has been sent to a minimum random sample of 3,300 Rochdale residents, will be followed by a reminder, and local and national results will be published in early October. Since the survey is based on a sample, residents that receive a copy are being urged to take part.

Residents that receive the questionnaire can complete the survey online if they prefer, a short URL link will be printed on the front of the questionnaire and they will be required to enter a code before completing the questionnaire.

The results will enable the council to find out what people in the area think about these important services. This will provide one of several ways the council can assess how it is performing and which services to prioritise, and to improve.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “These surveys are vital in helping us listen to our residents. Both the local and national results will enable us to better understand how people use our roads, what our priorities should be and highlight areas where we can improve our service. If you receive one of these surveys, I would urge you to fill it in as soon as possible and have your say on our roads.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “There are clear benefits to conducting a public survey in this way. As well as providing excellent value for money, it also enables everyone involved to identify areas of best practice and spot national, regional and local trends. This is not about producing a league table to champion one geographical area over another; it is about understanding customer views better and working together to deliver the most satisfactory yet efficient outcomes for local residents.”