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It'll be lonely this Chirstmas: NEARLY TWO MILLION WILL SPEND THE BIG DAY ALONE

5 years ago by Rob Tyler

It'll be lonely this Chirstmas: NEARLY TWO MILLION WILL SPEND THE BIG DAY ALONE

3% of people will spend Christmas without friends or family

The festive period is about togetherness, spending time with friends and family. However, a new survey from independent research company Viewsbank1, has found that nearly two million people in the UK will spend December 25th on their own.

When asked how they would spend Christmas Day, 3% of consumers replied that they would not be spending the day with friends or family and would be on their lonesome. That is the equivalent to 1.9 million people in the UK2.

Two-thirds of people will be spending the day with their partner, while half will spend it with children. Just short of half (45%) will see their parents. Just one in 10 will spend the day with friends rather than family.

David Black of Viewsbank said: "Christmas is a fantastic time for people to get together and spread the festive cheer, but you have to keep in mind that not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to spend the day with.

"On the other hand, some of those 1.9 million people may be very happy to spend the day on their own, away from all the stress and strain that often comes with Christmas dinner with the family."

Ends

1 Online survey of 1,982 adults conducted by Viewsbank between 29th November and 2nd December 2013

2 Based on World Bank UK population figures of 63 million: http://data.worldbank.org/country/united-kingdom

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DRIVERS WILL WALK HALF A MILE TO AVOID PARKING CHARGES

5 years ago by Rob Tyler

DRIVERS WILL WALK HALF A MILE TO AVOID PARKING CHARGES

Viewsbank members recently gave their views on the subject of parking and parking costs.  Here’s the press release that will be going public in the next 48 hours.  Thought you might like to see the results.  Regards, Rob.

  • Parking charges at hospitals are biggest issue for drivers
  • One in three admit to not paying in pay and display car parks
Motorists are voting with their feet over parking charges with the average driver willing to walk around half a mile rather than pay a fee, new findings1 from independent market research firm Viewsbank shows.
 
The nationwide study among motorists shows rising resentment over parking fees across the country with just 11% of motorists saying they would rather pay a fee than walk. On average drivers are willing to walk up to half a mile and over a fifth of motorists are willing to walk a mile or more rather than pay up.
 
The study found 32% of motorists admit to having gambled on parking in a pay and display site without paying – and possibly as a result two-thirds (66%) say they have had one parking fine in the past three years.
 
Recent research from the RAC Foundation found councils in England made a profit of £565 million in 2011/12 from on and off street parking including fines – and that is likely to have increased in subsequent years.
 
The Viewsbank research shows parking fees at hospitals cause the most resentment – 86% of drivers feel aggrieved at having to pay in hospital car parks compared with just 37% who are unhappy about charges at airports and 47% who don’t like paying to park at railway stations.
 
However the pressure on parking spaces is highlighted by the fact that 18% of motorists find it difficult to find space for their car near their own homes.
 
David Black of Viewsbank commented: “There is a balance to be struck between cutting traffic congestion and costs for motorists but for many the balance is tilted too far against drivers.
“People are literally voting with their feet and taking direct action to avoid paying a fee with the average motorist willing to walk half a mile. There clearly is a problem with parking with many people struggling to find a space near their home.”
 
The research shows 76% of motorists say car parking charges deter them from shopping in their local town centre and 89% say free parking would encourage them back into high streets rather than out of town shopping malls.
 
And intriguingly drivers claim to be honest about damaging other cars in car parks while suffering the exact opposite from other motorists.
 
Nearly half (49%) of all motorists claim their car has been damaged in a public car park at some point with just 11% saying the person who caused the damage left a note admitting it and leaving contact details.
 
However just 8% of motorists admit to having damaged another car in a car park – and 67% say they left their contact details.
 
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