APPENDICES APPENDIX I. GENERAL PUBLIC QUESTIONNAIRE AND ACTUAL RESULTS Wokingham District Council Rights of Way improvement Plan Wokingham District contains 143 miles of Public Rights of Way. Wokingham District Council is currently compiling a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which will guide us in improving the network by ensuring that we understand the current and future needs of users and potential users. The information we gather will help us to investigate the possible future funding for the improvement of rights of way. We would be grateful if you would spend a few minutes answering the following questions, in order to help us create an effective plan. Please could you complete the following questions and return this form to Linda Spencer by 21 October 2005. If you feel a question doesn't apply to you, please just leave it blank and move on to the next one, as we are equally keen to hear from people who use the Rights of Way as well as those who do not. Q1 How often do you visit the countryside in Wokingham district Q4 If there were suitable routes created in the future, would you consider Daily 69 Month 136 cycling or walking to these places? 311 Already d 69 Several times a week ........................... 71 Less ofte 160 Weekly .................................................15 Not used at all ...................................... 34 126 Q5 Are you aware of the following routes within the district? Q2 How often do vou visit each of the following-. ~laces? Thames Trail ........................................ Loddon Valley Footpath .................. Several~~ ~ ~ Blacltwater Valley Footpath .................. 153 times a Less Not used Daily week Weekly Monthly often at all Public Riahts of Wav (footoaths. Q6 For what reasons do you use Public Rights of Way? (Tick those which bridlewaG, byways and roads apply) used as public paths) ....................... 84 85 118 85 114 43 For recreational puposes .................... 475 For sportlfitness ................................... 151 Cycle tracks ...................................... 10 14 37 42 98 261 To travel to worldschool ....................... 55 Other ................................................. 49 Country Parks ................................. 12 15 67 157 252 57 To reach local amenities ...................... 130 Nature Reserves ........................... ... 6 12 30 112 268 80 Please specify other Local Parks ...................................... 28 30 97 119 205 71 67 Rivers ............................................... 14 20 67 123 228 84 Woodlands ....................................... 24 44 79 128 202 72 QY Which activities do you pursue on the network? (Tick those which apply) Walking ......................... 491 Horse riding .................. 10 4WD driving .................. 4 Running ........................ 30 Carriage driving ............ 1 Motorcycling ................. g Q3 What mode of transpod do you use to access these places? Public transport .................................... 26 Car/rnotorbike ..................................... 463 Cycling ......................... 152 Dog walling .................. 102 Other............................. 17 . Bicycle .................................................. I32 Mob~btyscooter .................................... 6 Please specify other 38 Foot .......................... .. ....................... 4 1 Is there anything that discourages you from using Public Rights of Way in How often do you use Public Rights of Way from Wokingham District to Wokingham District? (Tick those which apply) areas of the countryside outside the district? Lack of information about available Lack of signs ........................................ 80 Always .................................................. 12 Rarely ............................................... ZIE routes ................................................... 195 Lack of time .......................................... 146 Usually ................................................. 2738Never..................................................... Poorly maintained paths .......................I 36 Sharing use with other users ................ $1 Sometimes ........................................... 207 Paths not accessible ............................ 62 Influence of agriculture ......................... 14 Lack of useful routes ............................ 73 Health restrictions ................................ 50 Are you aware of the Health Walks Programme? Personal safety concerns ..................... I57 Yes. I'm aware but do not tale pa Don't lilce walking/cycling ..................... Io Irresponsible users ............................... 91 Yes. I'm aware and take part Other .................................................... 33 No. I am not awa Please speciF/ other Q13 How satisfied are you with the Public Rights of Way network in Wokingham District Very Vely satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied dissatrsfied No opinion Information ............................... 21 249 133 16 129 Q9 In which locations do you mainly use the network? (Tick all those which 124 18 131 apply) Vegetation clearance ................ 17 249 Hurst ............................. 121 Ruscombe .................... 43 Finchampstead ............. 147 Waymarkers ............................. 15 259 102 4 145 Barkham ....................... 71 Charvil .......................... 43 Woodley ........................ 137 Condition of stiles. gates. bridges ...................................... 20 308 64 11 131 Wokingham Without ..... 120 Earley ........................... 145 Wargrave ...................... 77 Available routes ........................ 21 267 86 11 139 Arboifield ...................... 66 Swallowfield .................. 40 Sonning ........................ 137 Surface condition ...................... 10 285 88 18 124 Winnersh ...................... I37 Wokingham ................... 172 Twyford ......................... 95 Accessibility ............................ 19 308 54 8 130 Remenham ................... 43 Shinfield ........................ 50 River Thames ............... 236 Q14 How satisfied are you by the service provided by Wokingham District Council regarding Rights of Way issues? Q10 Why do you choose these locations? (Tick those which apply) Very Very dis Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied satisfied No opinion Close to home ...................................... 512 Favourite route .....................................153 Internet information .................. 8 101 29 7 368 Scenery of area ....................................257 Near to public house ............................ 41 Staff response to enquiries ....... 13 100 17 3 388 Quality of paths .................................... 101 Other 28 Response to maintenance Please specify other issues ....................................... 10 89 43 14 361 Response to enforcement issues ....................................... 6 67 42 15 378 Q15 Given that financial resources are limited, what three actions would make Q19 If no, why not? the greatest improvement to your ability to access the countryside now? 243 (Please label 1-3, with 1 being the most important) 164 Improved rural transport ........................................................................................ 169 Reduced need to use roads to link .......................................................................... 218 Q20 Conflict sometimes arises between people using the paths for different More routes and links for pedestrians, horses and cycles ...................................... reasons e.g. walking, cycling, horse riding etc. What do you think could be 80 More routes and links for pedestrians, horses, cycles and motor vehicles ............. done to help minimise these conflicts? 202 387 Better signage ......................................................................................................... 108 Better surfacing ....................................................................................................... 208 Better maintenance of existing paths ...................................................................... 318 Better information about the routes available .......................................................... 122 More guided walks .................................................................................................. 99 Improved accessibility for wheelchairslpushchairs ............................................... 40 Q21 Would you be prepared to support multi-use of routes (e.g. pedestrians, Other ....................................................................................................................... cyclists and horse riders) if this were the only- way- of widening- the Please specify other network? 37 Yes ...............................380 No ................................. 89 Don't Inow.................... 82 Q16 Given that the population of Wokingham is set to expand considerably, Q22 On vulnerable unsurfaced byways, what winter controls do you think there what improvements do you think we need to be addressing to should be on motorised recreational vehicles? accommodate future needs? Motor cars Motor bikes 322 No restr~ct~ons. ................................................. 20 13 Seasonallcondition restrictions .................... 206 187 No access ....................................................... 31 7 308 Q17 Traffic congestion is an escalating problem across the UK. What mode of Q23 Would you be interested in taking part in a one-off