Take the Poll

These unscientific polls are designed to give us a bit of insight into where we're at as a community on any given topic - light hearted or important.

Your opinion is anonymous but you are limited to one response - just to keep things fair. Enjoy!

Want results from our last poll? Just scroll below.

Previous Poll Results

Well, it took a bit of wrangling, but we got some data from your response to our questions about the lower Thames St pedestrianised space.

The main findings are below.

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Most people were fairly neutral, and people who had walked through, tended to either like or dislike it more than the people who had not been there or had only driven or cycled past.

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✅ High Raters (8-10):
Likely to praise the concept, community feel, and potential of the space.

✅ Medium Raters (5-7):
Had mixed feedback - some liked the effort but raised concerns about execution.

✅ Low Raters (1-4):
Were more likely to criticise the design, location, and traffic impact.

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Comparing with Facebook Comments

✅ Facebook comments were more negative than poll responses
 (17.65% vs. 9% and 4% for our groups - walkers and others).

✅ Facebook had a strong split between Neutral (41%) and Positive (41%)
(Aligned with our poll results where many were neutral or supportive - but Facebook comments tended to show stronger opinions overall.)

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Increasingly Negative Responses

Over the week we ran this poll, ratings became more negative over time.

Word-of-mouth, shifting opinions, or growing frustration with some aspects? 🤔😎. Your guess is as good as ours.😊

Likes

We asked what you like about the space (if anything).

People who walked through gave slightly higher ratings than those that hadn't been or had driven / cycled past.

But people who walked through were also more polarised (both more positive and more negative).

1️⃣ Seating & Gathering Space 🪑

  • People appreciated having a place to sit, relax, and socialise.
  • Some liked that it encourages people to spend more time in the area.

2️⃣ Atmosphere & Aesthetic Appeal 🌿✨

  • Many liked the "atmosphere" and "view," making the area more inviting.
  • Some enjoyed the greenery and plants, even if artificial.

3️⃣ Pedestrian-Friendly & Walkability 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

  • People liked the increased space for walking and the pedestrian-friendly design.
  • Some felt it encouraged more foot traffic and exploration of the area.

Dislikes

We asked what you dislike about the space (if anything).

People who walked through had practical dislikes; safety, seating, traffic.

People who hadn't been or had driven or cycled past tended to dislike the whole idea.

1️⃣ Traffic & Safety Concerns 🚦⚠️

  • Many felt it disrupts traffic flow and creates congestion.
  • Some said it was unsafe, especially for children near moving vehicles.

2️⃣ Seating & Usability Problems 🪑

  • Some found the seating too low or uncomfortable for practical use.
  • Others felt the seating was too close to traffic, making it feel unsafe.

3️⃣ Unattractive Design & Fake Grass 🌱❌

  • The artificial grass was widely criticised for looking cheap and out of place.
  • Some felt the design clashed with the historic architecture, reducing the area’s appeal.