RECESSION AND MARKET TOWNS SURVEY

Over the last six months there has been a wave of economic turmoil affecting the businesses and residents of villages, towns and cities in Great Britain. Action for Market Towns (AMT),  The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) are interested in discovering what effect the economic downturn has had on the 1,200 plus market towns in the British Isles, and what strategies these towns are deploying to combat the financial crisis.

As a member of AMT, if you could spare between 5 minutes to complete the following short survey it would be greatly appreciated.

Your answers will be kept confidential and your name will never be associated with the answers you give.

The results will be included in one of the CRC's monthly reports to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Economic Council, and will be used as a base for further qualitative research by AMT and CLES.

Please click 'Next' to begin

SECTION 1: DETAILS OF YOUR TOWN

This section aims to gather core information about your town, against which your answers about the impacts of the recession can be matched.

Name of the Town you represent?

SECTION 1: DETAILS OF YOUR TOWN

Which region is your town based?		South West
		South East
		East Midlands
		West Midlands
		East of England
		Yorks and Humb.
		North West
		North East
		Wales
		Scotland

SECTION 1: DETAILS OF YOUR TOWN

What is the population of your town?		Less than 2000
		2000-5000
		5001-10000
		10001-15000
		15001-20000
		20001-25000
		25001-30000
		More than 30000

SECTION 1: DETAILS OF YOUR TOWN

Which ONE of the following statements best describes your town? *The categories have been devised  by Powe , Hart and Shaw from Newcastle University		Service Centre- the town is a rural service centre for the hinterland
		Visitor Attractor- the town attracts a significant number of tourists and day trippers
		Specialised Employer- the town is dominated by one key employer
		Commuter- the town houses a large number of residents who commute to other localities for employment
		Housing the Retired- the town attracts in-migrants, a large percentage of whom are retired
		Other

Please specify

SECTION 1: DETAILS OF YOUR TOWN

Please use the space provided to outline any national or local initiatives that your town has been part of over the last 5 years? e.g. Market Town Initiative, Health Checks

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

This Section aims to gather the principal effects of the 'credit crunch' and Recession on your town over the last 6 months.

Over the last 6 months have unemployment levels in your town.....		Largely Increased
		Increased
		Neither Increased or Decreased
		Decreased
		Largely Decreased

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of unemployment levels increasing in your town? e.g. monthly unemployment data or levels of JSA claimants?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of unemployment levels decreasing in your town? e.g. monthly unemployment data or levels of JSA claimants?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Over the last 6 months has the number of new businesses in your town.....		Largely Increased
		Increased
		Neither Increased or Decreased
		Decreased
		Largely Decreased

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of the number of new businesses increasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of the number of new businesses decreasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Over the last 6 months has the number of vacant business units your town.....		Largely Increased
		Increased
		Neither Increased or Decreased
		Decreased
		Largely Decreased

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of the number of vacant business units increasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of the number of vacant business units decreasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Over the last 6 months have any vacant premises in your town been filled?		Yes
		No

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

What percentage of the vacant premises in your town have been filled?		0%-20%
		21%-40%
		41%-60%
		61%-80%
		81%-100%

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

By whom have the vacant premises in your town been filled? (Please tick all that apply)		Filled by new businesses
		Filled by existing firms expanding
		Filled by the opening of new branches of national companies
		Other

Please specify

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Over the last 6 months have the house prices in your town.....		Largely Increased
		Increased
		Neither Increased or Decreased
		Decreased
		Largely Decreased

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of house prices increasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of house prices decreasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Over the last 6 months has the 'footfall' in your town centre.....		Largely Increased
		Increased
		Neither Increased or Decreased
		Decreased
		Largely Decreased

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of 'footfall' increasing in your town?

SECTION 2: EFFECTS OF THE RECESSION IN 'YOUR' TOWN

Do you have any evidence to support this response in terms of 'footfall' decreasing in your town?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

This Section aims to gather information on any actions or planned action which your town has/ will implemented/ implement to combat the recession.

Has your town taken any action to counteract the current economic downturn?		Yes
		No

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

What action has your town taken to counteract the current economic climate? (Please tick all that apply)		Accessed Funding
		Increased Community Partnership Activity
		Development of Regeneration Schemes
		Increased Business Support
		Accessed increased Local Authority Support
		Development of Town Centre Initiatives
		Other

Please specify

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Please use the space provided to expand on the actions/ planned action which your town has undertaken/ plans to undertake to counteract the current economic climate

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Which of the following organisations/ agencies is your town working/ plans to work with to counteract the current economic climate? (Please tick all that apply)		Business Organisations
		Local Community/ Town Partnerships
		Voluntary Organisations
		National Membership Organisations
		Regional economic agency or partnership
		Sub regional economic agency or partnership
		Charities
		Other

Please specify

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Are there any other measures that your town has taken/ plans to take to counteract the current economic downturn?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Will your town be introducing any plans to counteract the current economic downturn?		Yes
		No

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

What are your plans to counteract the current economic downturn?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

In terms of counteracting the current economic downturn, has your town faced any barriers?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Which ONE of the following statements describes how confident you feel about your towns future?		I am very confident about my towns future
		I am confident about my towns future
		I am not sure about the future of my town
		I am not confident about my towns future
		I am not at all confident about my towns future

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Please expand on why you feel confident in terms of your towns future?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Please expand on why you feel don't confident in terms of your towns future?

SECTION 3: 'YOUR' TOWNS ACTIONS AND PLANS

Please state if there is any particular type of support (new or continued), and from whom, that you would like your town to receive over the next 12 months?

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

AMT/CLES and CRC are interested in conducting research over the next 12 months with towns that have developed strategies to counteract the current economic climate. If your town would be interested in taking part in a further study please state		Yes, my town would be interested in taking part in a further study
		No, my town would be not interested in taking part in a further study

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

Name

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

How are you involved with the Town you have completed this survey for?		Town Council
		Town Partnership
		Local Authority
		Other

Please specify

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

Name of Organisation that you completed this survey on behalf of

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address

SECTION 4- CONTACT INFORMATION

Telephone Number

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey, your views, opinions and comments are appreciated. Please press 'Submit' if you have completed your survey. If you have any questions please contact: Mike King amt-i Senior Research Consultant mike.king@towns.org.uk 07818 068982