Report - London Borough of Hillingdon

Section 2
Examples of the findings from consultation and surveys
The Council has undertaken a number of surveys to assess which services are used
by residents and how satisfied they are with them.
It is clear from both surveys and consultation that cultural services and facilities are
of great importance to people in Hillingdon. They are services that people choose to
use - be it participating in a theatre production, exercising, swimming or borrowing
books from the library.
Asked about which cultural services are most used those surveyed said that:
• Libraries are the most regularly used service with over 70% of people using
them at least once a year, with 53% using the Central Library
• Parks and playgrounds are also popular with nearly 70% of people using them
• The Beck Theatre is visited by 37% of people with at least 20% people also
visiting the Compass Theatre and Winston Churchill Hall
• Swimming pools are the most popular sport and leisure facility and are used
by 35% of people with other sports centres attracting 16% of people
• Museums and Galleries are visited by 54% of survey respondents but this will
include visiting places outside Hillingdon. Within the borough the Cow Byre
Gallery attracts 23% and the Manor Farm Site 20% of respondents.
When asked what cultural activities were most important to them, the
respondents said that:
• Reading is enjoyed by practically everyone, 98% rate this as most important
• Listening to the radio, to recorded music and watching television are also
important to at least 80% of people
• Shopping is important to 85% of people
• Going to parks is important to over 80% of people, with walking or rambling
enjoyed by over 70%
• Libraries are important to nearly 80% of people
• Cinemas are important to over 70% of people
How satisfied are people with the cultural provision in the borough?
• A very high proportion of people, up to 93%, are at least satisfied with their
local or the Central Library
• The Hayes Carnival also achieved satisfaction ratings of around 90%
• Users of venues like the Beck Theatre, Compass Theatre, Winston Churchill
Hall give these venues high satisfaction ratings, sometimes of 90%
• Golf courses achieve the highest rating for sports facilities with 85% finding
them at least satisfactory
• Swimming pools achieve a satisfaction rating of over 70%
PART I – MEMBERS & PUBLIC (INCLUDING THE PRESS)
Cabinet Reports - 4 th March 2003 Page 63