The next meeting with staff from the Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy – Lower Silesian Centre took place on 4 December. During the second stage of the public consultations, the results of surveys were summarised. Their purpose was to learn the opinions of Bolesławiec residents about urban investments planned in Bolesławiec for 2007–2013.
In Bolesławiec, 1,348 surveys were distributed. A total of 251 people responded. The summary of the public consultations was based on 228 surveys—some of the completed questionnaires had been filled in incorrectly or by people from outside our city—which means that 18.6% of those eligible took part in the study.
Young people clearly predominated among the respondents. People with higher education also constituted a large group. In the surveys, Bolesławiec residents identified, among other things, the most pressing problems facing our city in their opinion. The leading issues included the outflow of young, talented specialists, the low quality of healthcare, Bolesławiec’s limited cultural offering and unemployment.
Other issues highlighted by respondents included the poor development of catering and hotel services—especially by men—and the poor condition of roads, interestingly noticed mainly by women. Entrepreneurs most often pointed to the city’s low tourist appeal, in their opinion. For education workers, preventing social pathologies proved the most important issue. Respondents considered the construction of a wastewater treatment plant the most important of the planned investments.
Building awareness of the uniqueness of our city received a very low rating in the questionnaires, particularly among young people. Piotr Kuźniak of the Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy suggested that the city authorities should promote various initiatives more actively.
The meeting concluded with a discussion. Bolesławiec residents gathered in the Council Chamber raised, among other issues, the terrible condition of the road surface and the stench on Zabobrze Street, as well as the lighting of Bolesławiec’s market square.
(GA report)