An overwhelming majority of people in Swansea back the pedestrianisation of the city’s nightlife capital, a survey has found.
The results came from a WalesOnline survey asking people for their thoughts on all the big developments taking place around the city centre.
More than 3,600 people responded to the survey, which included questions which asked for people’s opinions on matters from Swansea Civic Centre and its future, to student housing developments, and designs for a revamp of Castle Square.
READ MORE: The Swansea survey: How do you feel about all the big developments taking place in the city centre?
It also asked people whether they felt it was a good idea to pedestrianise Wind Street. Swansea Council is currently investing £3 million to implement its vision of turning the street into an all-day destination with more opportunities for family fun, eating and meeting for coffee, rather than it just being somewhere people go in the evening as a drinking quarter.
And the response was overwhelmingly positive towards the plans, with 82% of people voting in favour of its pedestrianisation, amounting to 3,020 votes. In contrast, 449 people voted ‘no’, that they did not feel it was a good move, whilst 225 were unsure.
Most people said they felt there was too much student housing being built in the city centre. There are several state-of-the-art developments already complete and standing tall in some quarters of Swansea, whilst others are still under construction and there are even more in the pipeline currently going through the planning process. An overwhelming 76% (2809 voters) felt there were too many developments going up in the city centre, whilst 16% (602 voters) felt there was no issue, and 8% (281 voters) were unsure.
The full results of the survey are below.
Do you like the new Copr Bay bridge on Oystermouth Road?
More than half the respondents (53%) gave a thumbs down to the new Copr Bay bridge on Oystermouth Road. Another 32% gave it their approval, whilst 15% felt the jury was still out. The 160ft Copr Bay Bridge is designed to act as a link between Swansea city centre and the 3,500 seat £135m indoor arena opposite and bosses behind its development hope it will become a landmark for the area.
Some have dubbed the new bridge “the crunchie” because of its distinctive appearance. And there have been plenty of other nicknames thought up as well.
Do you think Swansea Civic Centre should move from the seafront?
Just over half of people who took the survey (51%) felt Swansea Civic Centre should move from the seafront, whilst 37% felt it should stay where it is. Another 12% declared themselves unsure. With Swansea Central Library and West Glamorgan Archive Service set to move to a new city centre location in Oxford Street by 2023, the future of the imposing Swansea landmark has once more come into focus.
If Swansea Civic Centre moves, what would you most like to see in its place?
It appears an aquarium is at the top of people’s lists as a potential replacement for Swansea Civic Centre if it moves. Thirty per cent of people would like to see that happen. Meanwhile, 24% would like to see it become a hotel and or a restaurant, 20% would like to see it become green space, 11% wanted it to become a community facility, like a playground or a community centre, whilst 5% were unsure and 10% had other ideas.
How likely is it you’ll visit the new arena for an event, such as live music, comedy, or an exhibition? (scale of 1 to 5, five being the most likely)
This question appears to have split people who have taken the survey. 953 people, or 26%, selected option 5 to indicate they were very likely to attend a show at the new arena. But just behind at 25% was option 1, with 918 people indicating they were very unlikely to go and watch a show there.
Meanwhile, 22% found themselves in the middle by voting for option ‘3’, 528 people – or 14% voting for option 4, and 13% voting option 2.
Do you think there’s too much student housing being built in the city centre?
People who took part in the survey overwhelmingly felt there were too many student housing developments being built in the city at the moment. A whopping 76% of votes indicated they felt there were too many, whilst 16% felt it was fine, and 8% were unsure.
Do you think it’s a good idea to pedestrianise Wind Street?
It is a clear thumbs up from the city for Swansea Council’s pedestrianisation of Wind Street, according to our survey, with 82% in favour of it. Another 12% didn’t like the idea, and 6% were unsure.
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Do you like the new designs proposed for Castle Square?
It seems people do not know what to think about the new-look design for Castle Square, with 47% of those taking the survey declaring themselves unsure. Another 30% liked the new plans, whilst 23% dislike them.
What do you think is the best place to shop in Swansea?
Morfa Retail Park has come out on top as the favoured destination to go shopping in Swansea, with 25% of people voting it the city’s best. The city centre was next in line with 20% of the vote, followed by Fforestfach Retail Park with 18% and Swansea Enterprise Park with 7%. Another 18% selected the ‘other’ option, whilst 13% declared themselves unsure.
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How positive do you feel about the future of Swansea city centre? (five the most positive, one the least positive)
The outlook of many appears not incredibly positive about the city centre’s future, with 31% of voters selecting option 1, the lowest possible option. Another 28% of voters selected option 3, whilst 21% selected option 2, 12% selected option 4, and only 8% selected option 5.
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