National survey on the road to better customer feedback

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

Herefordshire Council is one of nearly 70 local authorities to sign up to a standardised survey that will ask members of the public exactly the same questions, whether they live in Hampshire, Hertfordshire or Herefordshire.

The survey, which is being run for the fourth year, is the result of months of hard work between the National Highways & Transport Network (NHT) and a regional Highways Service Improvement Group. It enables Local Authorities to compare results, share in best practice and identify opportunities to work together in the future.

The questionnaire will be sent to a minimum random sample of 4,500 Herefordshire residents during July with local and national results expected to be published later in the summer. Since the survey is based on a sample, residents that receive a copy are being urged to take part.

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

Clive Hall, Herefordshire Council’s Highway Network manager 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 best possible outcomes for local residents.

“I would urge anyone contacted to take part in this survey to ensure they have their say so the views of Herefordshire residents can be heard and responded to,” he added.