Full results of a recent visitor survey about facilities at Southwater Country Park have now been published by Horsham District Council.
The Country Park, which is owned and managed by the Council, is a major attraction for all ages and abilities and we wanted to hear from as many park users as possible about what they liked about the Country Park currently, and what, if any, improvements they would like to see in the future.
The overall findings of the survey are very positive with some 82% of respondents saying they rated their experience of the Park as either good, very good or excellent in terms of the leisure and nature facilities at the Park.
Whilst many respondents expressed that they were very satisfied with the current park facilities, the toilets were highlighted as an area for improvement. To address this the Council will be undertaking some aesthetic improvements to the Visitor Centre toilets over the next two months, and plan to replace the standalone block by the café in 2024.
Further suggested improvements include, toilets by Dinosaur Island, more areas for nature and quiet enjoyment and additional signage to highlight flora and fauna. This feedback is currently being reviewed for the future of the Park.
Commenting on the survey, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Green Spaces Cllr Jon Olson said:
We were delighted at the overall high levels of satisfaction at Southwater Country Park, with four out of five people reporting a positive experience.
It is clear that the Park is really valued by local residents and visitors from far and wide.
These results are an endorsement of all the hard work by the Parks & Countryside team at the Council.
External consultants conducted the thorough online survey, completing face to face interviews and engaging with children with fun activities to get their views on what they think they would like to see in the Country Park going forward.
Top line results have revealed:
- 82% of respondents rated their experience at Southwater Country Park as either good, very good or excellent
- The majority of respondents are happy with the balance of leisure facilities and nature at the Country Park
- The Dinosaur Island play area scored particularly highly as a leisure facility and there was no wish to have additional leisure facilities at the Country Park
- Toilet provision was highlighted as an area for improvement.
The Park continues to be especially popular in the summer months when in the past overcrowding has been a problem in peak periods, particularly in the paddling beach area. Building on positive feedback received, in order to maintain a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, the booking system for the beach area will be re-introduced for daytime visits during the school summer holidays of 2023.
Please view the full survey results and analysis here: www.horsham.gov.uk/yourscp