63% of Gerrards Cross residents will shop at Tesco

5.12.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Jul 2004

Gerrards Cross Liberal Democrats have just conducted a survey of local residents' views.

The results confirm the widespread opposition to the construction of a Tesco supermarket over the railway line in Gerrards Cross. Residents are angry that planning permission was given by central government despite the overwhelming weight of local objections and feel that it was not handled democratically.

However 63% of residents say that they will use it when it is built and 59% say that they will use the carpark. There is a widespread feeling that the volume of traffic in Gerrards Cross will increase once the store is open and that existing local shops will suffer. This may explain why 98% say they will continue to support other shops in Gerrards Cross.

The survey revealed that 97% of Gerrards Cross residents use the recycling boxes provided by South Bucks District Council and that 83% take recyclables to a waste recycling centre. The majority (61%) do not want to switch to wheelie bins but to retain black plastic sacks.

Street lights obviously function well in Gerrards Cross. Only 4% reported any faults and when these were checked half of them were already working again.

School catchment areas were also not a concern for 95% who reported no adverse effect of forthcoming changes (this figure include all residents, not just those with children of school age).

There was a more mixed reaction to bad potholes (54% reported one near them).

The publicity given to the Parish Council offer of subsidised taxis for over 60s going to healthcare facilities has resulted in 55% being aware of the scheme although less than 1% had used it but 25% said they would. However only 35% were aware of the proposed closure of Gerrards Cross' sole public toilet ( 59% were concerned about the proposal) and only 42% were aware of the proposed changes to the Fulmer Road pinchpoint (59% were in favour of changes).

39% thought aircraft noise had increased in the last year and 96% thought there should be a stronger local police presence. However only 30% actually identified areas of crime and vandalism to the survey and only 14% identified graffiti which needed cleaning.

The survey was conducted during the week July 16-23, 2004.