Harwich residents are the least satisfied with their area out of the whole of Tendring, a survey has revealed.

The first citizen's panel has been interviewed by survey experts MORI to assess residents views on living in the district and the services provided by the council.

It found that attitudes in Harwich are less positive than elsewhere in the district and people from the town are the most critical in Tendring.

Neighbouring Manningtree was the most satisfied with the way Tendring Council is running the area whereas Harwich was the least satisfied.

On Tuesday night town councillors attacked Tendring Council after its grants' committee tried to throw out a cash bid for a millennium party in Harwich which will now be decided by full council.

Town councillor Lawrie Payne said this was a prime example of why people are dissatisfied.

He said: "Here's the people of Clacton dictating to us what can and cannot be done. It was all Harwich people who were dissatisfied with services from Tendring Council and this is indicative of this.

"It is disgraceful and a shame."

The survey found 51 per cent of Clacton residents were satisfied with the way the council was running compared to 33 per cent in Harwich and 54 per cent in Frinton and Walton.

Harwich residents are also the most inclined to view the council as remote and impersonal with Manningtree again at the other end of the scale feeling the authority is not too remote.

In contrast to the other areas surveyed - Manningtree, Frinton and Walton, Brightlingsea, Clacton and rural areas - less than one in ten people from Harwich cite shopping as one of the good things about the area.

However, Harwich is positive about public transport whereas people living in other areas, particularly Brightlingsea, are more critical.

Frinton, Walton and Manningtree residents are the most likely to feel they are getting value for money from the council.

Tendring Council's assistant chief executive Roger Stewart said: "We will be feeding the public's views about strategic priorities into the community planning process.

"We'll recognise in future public consultations how different groups of residents would like to be consulted.

"The wide range of comments about the council's services are being taken up as we look at improvements and performance targets."

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