LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The phrase 'local environment' will have a different meaning for everybody – some people will think of their street, others will think of their wider neighbourhood, their local park and where they spend their leisure time, their local shops, or even the area around where they work.

Even though these differences exist, one thing never changes: no-one can avoid interacting with their local environment. The quality of the local environment has the same impact on everybody, regardless of their background, social group, affluence, or age.

In particular, the quality of the local environment affects…

•what makes somewhere a good place to live or visit
•the satisfaction of communities with their local area
•property prices
•what makes somewhere a good place for businesses to invest
•the potential success of regeneration schemes
•the quality of the environment also affects how residents see their local council’s overall performance

Perhaps most importantly, the local environment also has a strong impact on people’s quality of life.

Research has shown that after important personal and family issues – such as relationships, health, income and friendships – the quality, cleanliness and safety of the local environment is the most significant external factor which affects people’s quality of life.

The local environment can also have a massive impact on the economic success of an area. If a place looks dirty and uncared-for, people will not want to live or visit in an area and community spirit will not be as strong. Businesses won’t be as tempted to invest there, and property prices may drop.

Therefore, given the overall importance of the local environment, it is in the interests of local authorities to ensure that standards are as high as they can possibly be. Local authorities therefore need to ensure that staff have the skills they need to carry out their jobs well, so that the quality of the local environment can be maintained.