76% (1,873) respondents are concerned about the role of genetic engineering in food and agriculture. Of these people 80% feel there should be clear labelling of food, 67% think there should be a ban on planting GM crops, and 65% want more research.

Just about everybody in Totnes is concerned about the quality of water in the River Dart.

Over nine out of ten respondents are concerned about the amounts of sewage (2,092) and pesticide (1,921) in the river and the volume, frequency and sources of pollution (1,975 and 2,107 respectively).

These numbers are high, indicating a serious problem. The technical side of it is not easy to grapple with, particularly in the absence of accurate information of a ‘comprehensible kind’.

The feeling that the responsible authorities do not do their job properly is widespread. 88% of respondents (1,850) want the relevant authorities to be more accountable and 69% (1,267) want more say in river management.

Improvements to riverbanks and riverside walks are also high on the agenda, requested by 88% (1,878) of respondents. In addition, 72% (1,439) would like to see the Steamer Quay area landscaped. However, there was a strong call for sympathetic schemes that would respect the natural environment and allow for ‘peaceful wilderness’.

The skip in Babbage Road was a very popular facility, used regularly by 1,008 households: 150 (10%) once a week, 281 (19%) once a month, and 577 (40%) less frequently.

About one third of responding households (32%, 305 households) always compost their kitchen waste and almost that many households (32%, 283 households) always compost their garden waste. A further 434 households would make use of a door-to-door composting collection service.

A collection service for the disposal of unwanted household appliances would be used by 656 households (55%), and about one in four households would use a recycling centre for their green waste (307 households), architectural salvage (210) and household appliances (249).

A number of people raised their concerns about the lack of facilities for safe disposal of used motor oil, old batteries, chemicals and other non-degradable waste (including that all- time bulky favourite – old mattresses).

High proportion of people (78%, or 1,846) were concerned about the structural state of all or some buildings in the conservation area.

Most people thought that traffic – especially vibrations from heavy vehicles (68%, 1,675) and air pollution (50%, 1,227) – were in some way to blame for damage. Another 1,197 (49%) attributed the harm to low level of maintenance.

The big business’ corporate culture was also mentioned as a potential threat to the individual character of our historic town.

Two thirds of respondents (1,581) were in favour of temporarily enhancing empty shops, for example by using them as temporary studios for artists and craftsmen.

There were also several comments about the need for enjoyable public green spaces.

This information will be passed to South Hams District Council and English Heritage.

The vast majority of people (1,843 or 83% respondents) see dog-mess as the most serious nuisance in the town. This was reflected in several angry comments.

In addition, litter and seagulls were seen as problematical by 55% people (1,220 and 1,232 respectively). Indeed, the two seemed to go hand in hand.