Survey asks for residents' views on state of Island's roads

National Highways and Transport Network survey returns for sixth year

Surveys have been sent to households on the Isle of Man to find out what residents think about the roads, transport links, cycle routes and footpaths. 

They've been sent out by the National Highways and Transport Network on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure. 

It wants to know the public's views and to understand what, according to residents, needs to improve or what will be needed in future. 

The questions are part of the UK's National Highways and Transport survey to compare 'satisfaction levels' to local authorities across the UK.

What is the survey about?

It's a five-page document asking how satisfied people are with the number of cycle lanes on the Island, the location of cycle routes, the time taken to complete road works, bus fares and road safety when walking among other things. 

It's not about the 20mph consultation. That consultation's run by the Department of Infrastructure and, at least for the east of the Island, ends tomorrow (4 July). 

That consultation will then open for residents in the north between 7 July until 1 September.

This survey, however, is being undertaken by a UK company contracted by the DOI.

Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood says 3,000 households were randomly sent the document so that the department can get statistically valid data. 

"If we have a consultation, then the results tend to be skewed by those with extreme views who are motivated to take part. A random survey gives a more balanced picture. 

"Similar surveys have been run since 2018. We use an established provider who also runs this survey for a number of highways agencies in the UK. So it's independent, external and allows us to benchmark our highways against others. 

"We get to see the data for other places and we can use that to identify where there are some good practices that we might want to adopt."

Respondents have until 11 July to return the paper copy. Anyone wishing to fill it in online can but they would need a passcode and a QR code to access it. 

All answers will be kept 'strictly confidential' and combined with other people's and reported as anonymous. 

It adds that all personal data will be removed from its systems by the end of November 2025. 

It's the sixth time the NHT Survey's been sent around the Island. The earliest record of it being in 2018 and the latest in 2023. 

From that latest survey, results found accessibility and the ease of access to where you work held some of the highest scoring while highway maintenance, the speed of repairs to damaged roads and the ease of access for those with disabilities collected some of the lower scores. 

It also found there were more potholes and damaged roads and fewer or no change and that people believed there were 'far too few' electric vehicle charging points. 

But what do residents think about the survey now? 

Manx Radio spoke to these residents on Strand Street: