Natureland Phone Poll Results

Council has received the results of an independent telephone poll on Natureland, completed this week.
The poll, conducted by VERSUS Research Limited took place over three days, with interviewing occurring on Thursday 10 April, Tuesday 14 April, and a final daytime mop-up session on Wednesday 15 April.

Council received an excellent acceptance rate to the survey (only four refusals) and as a result gained comments from 507 residents.

The questions focussed on what people wanted for Natureland and/or the land Natureland occupies. Those that wanted to retain or improve Natureland, or have a petting zoo were additionally asked what role Council should have in the provision of the zoo.

The survey results have been given to the Mayor and all Councillors. The Request for Proposals process closed last week and attracted four responses. A working party made up of the Mayor and four Councillors have considered the responses and a recommendation will be made to the Community Services Committee on 29 April.

As is standard practice, with any RFP process the recommendation will be considered in the Public Excluded section of the meeting, due to its commercial sensitivity.

Summary of Results
Overall 94% of residents had heard of the Natureland Zoo
Of those who were aware of the zoo
59% thought that the zoo should be retained and improved
16% thought it should be retained as it is
a further 11% wanted some type of petting zoo
Of those who thought a zoo should be retained
76% of residents thought that the Council should support the zoo
a further 17% though Council should run it
Further information was gathered on demographic characteristics; age, gender, household makeup and geography.