Comments from the Street Party Capital survey

In what ways do you feel different about living in the street?

I feel more at home.
The street feels more friendly.
It feels more neighbourly and safer.
I have just moved here and it has really helped me get to know people.
It feels nice to know that there are so many friendly faces.
It's even more of a community now. We look out for our neighbours.
We pass time with more people when we see them in the street.
I feel more positive about the street as I feel I know people better.
More people to smile at and acknowledge.
Have more of a feeling that people 'looking out for each other'.
Appreciate neighbours more - great people.
I like Easton even more. Feel more relaxed - feel part of a community.
Now more acknowledging neighbours in street.
Nice to put names to faces.
People say hello more! I realised that others want to talk more as well.
Feel more at home, nicer neighbourhood.
More united front when a resident was burgled shortly afterwards - a real neighbourhood watch.
A sense of shared space.
Nice to see how friendly neighbours are.
Know more faces, chat more.
Good chance to make new friends.
I had lived in the street for ages but met people for first time!
Feel like I could knock on a neighbour's door if I needed to.
Know people better; don't feel as if I'm living among strangers.

My daughter played with new friends and without worry.
Daughter has been asked to babysit for neighbours we previously didn't know.
My kids made new friends.
Fantastic to see kids playing safely in street, and together.
I never knew there were so many kids living in the street - really nice to see them all having fun together.
Was our daughter's birthday so the bouncy castle outside was a dream come true.
Wish it could happen every day for the kids, so good without the cars.

What I hate about where I live is the traffic. It was so wonderful to see the children all playing together just as the fancy took them. Normally I can't allow them out of the front door!
More determined to see less traffic - and for it to be a safer street for all.

We are people from different countries, and if you didn't get on well with different people from all walks of life, your life would be miserable.
The street is more diverse than I realised.
I met people from all over, all eating & sharing a laugh and a story.
There were people with different backgrounds all together which made me feel everyone's got respect for each other.
I really like the diversity in this street - different cultural backgrounds, different ages.
Some people say you can't do mix up - I do mix up. Lovely people.

I think the street party was lovely. Great idea that went well.
I hope this is the first of many.
Is there anything we can do to get everyone together again? Next summer seems a long way away.
The food was fantastic and we can't wait 'til next year.
Really good day with a good vibe and atmosphere.
No cars and no selling - great.
Everyone moved their cars without being difficult.
Everyone looking out for each other on the day.
Please can we make this an annual event?
Good for first time - hope to build on it.
I was really, really pleased that the music finished when they said it would and the street was nice and tidy afterwards.
Thank you for Streets Alive's support in organising this event - nice piece of work.

Those that I don't know were sat separately.
There were still little groups of people, the ones who are normally together.
I was unsure about it to start with, especially as we've never had one before - I thought there would be lots of loud music and people from other areas coming in, but it seems it was fine.
Sometimes there is excessively loud music.

February 2005