Bohemia Village Voice

The Voice went down St Peter’s Road last month for our series of residents’ opinions. Thirty percent of our questionnaires were returned, and our thanks, as always, to those of you who filled them in and, more particularly, those who added extra comments.
All but one of those who responded (87%) said they like living in Bohemia, and one said they don’t know. The same percentage think it is a friendly neighbourhood, though one person thinks it is not, and one said they don’t know. Yvonne said, “I love hearing the school playground at lunchtime – very soothing!” She added “We’re very lucky here to have the park and sea nearby.” Another lady commented about youngsters playing about by St Peter’s church. She said, “I watched two who were behaving suspiciously. I’ve had the windows smashed on my car and I think that’s what they might have been up to. They saw me watching and walked off, saying, ‘We’ll have to do it another night.’”
32% think that Bohemia needs a community centre, while no-one said no, and 56% voiced no opinion one way or the other. Yvonne said, “This area needs a child-friendly café – like the Rooms but closer.”
Phone boxes: 19% favour the idea of a red phone box and 19% are against the idea. 13% attend one of the local churches regularly, though 75% do not. Everyone (100%) thinks that the architectural features of Bohemia should be preserved.
87% of residents said they like to see street bobbies patrolling our streets, though one added “Haven’t seen any.”
Opinions on bus services were split equally (25% each), and 32% said they don’t know.
50% are satisfied with the provision of street lighting in St Peter’s Road, while 32% are not, and 13% had no strong feelings.

Bill Third being interviewed by Sue King.

St Peters Road, about 1910