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Question: Hello

I am a volunteer organiser of a community garden in London, England and I wonder if you can advise me as to quality of survey done by MEMO, the not-for-profit management organisation of the housing estate on which I lam a leaseholder and resident. Recently the management organisation decided to lock the gates to our community garden based on complaints about 'antisocial behaviour' from a handful of local residents. The antisocial behaviour amounted to nothing more than a few visitors to the garden forgetting to take their litter away with them.

MEMO justified their decision by saying it surveyed the 150 residents overlooking the garden as to whether they wanted it to be gated and locked. They did not consult the gardening group themselves as they knew we all opposed to the idea.

The letter was put through the doors of every resident overlooking the garden but without explanation as to why. it read as follows:

Do you want the gates to the community garden to be locked? (tick as appropriate)

Yes lock them

No, leave them unlocked

6 out of 150 forms were returned and all from people who wanted the garden locked. on this basis they made the decision to lock the garden. This seems to me to be wrong as those he did not return the form would have had no idea why they were even being asked.

All the gardeners will be given keys but we are still unhappy with this outcome because it goes against the whole ethos of a community garden and will prevent spontaneous visits by, residents, members of the public and school children.

I wondered if there is any best practice model of consultation that you could show me that I could then present to MEMO in the hope that they would re-do the survey. I would be grateful for any advice you could give me in this matter.

Kind regards, Valerie

Answer:

Thanks for your question, Valerie,

It raises a couple of related issues:

1. Is the survey response a valid sample? No. Surveys of this type generally tend to draw stronger response rates from those opposed to the issue or situation, and that appears to have been the case here. We have no idea what those who chose not to respond might be concerned or satisfied about.

2. Did the landlord have unexpressed concerns before hearing the complaints? If so, it would be a good idea to ask about those and to honor them by offering to collaborate in finding workable and mutually acceptable solutions.

Take a look at our section headed Learn A Skill, Item 2 and its related toolkit will give you a number of suggestions about both survey construction and procedures. You may find it necessary to attempt a resurvey, in collaboration with the landlord, that includes a brief description of tye survey's purpose and the importance of hearing from the wider neighborhood. Hand delivery to a person in each household may generate a higher response rate. Also, add space for comments by respondents, and guarantee that results will be made public without identifing any individual.

Question Date: Tue, 07/01/2014