Totnes pedestrianisation: Paula Black's survey results analysed

By PRSD, on Thursday, December 3, 2009

We love South Devon Green Party Devon County councillor Paula Black and her predilection for using bonkers statistics. No really, we do!

Regular PRSD readers (for there must be some) may remember that she’s been out and about recently asking traders in Totnes’s Narrows whether cars should be banned from the main street.

Her survey produced some pretty staggering results, which we present below in a handy cut-out-and-keep stylee.

It’s hard to quibble with figures like these – primarily because they don’t make much sense. Still, her heart’s in the right place, etc etc.

Amount of time Paula spent talking to each trader (according to the Totnes Times):
Two hours
[PRSD Analysis: 36 shopkeepers x two hours = 72 hours – more than two working weeks at seven hours a day (not including lunch)]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers in favour of pedestrianisation (Totnes Times):
76 per cent of 36
[PRSD Analysis: That's 27.36 pro-pedestrianisation shopkeepers]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers in favour of pedestrianisation (Herald Express):
80 per cent of 37
[PRSD Analysis: That's 29.6 pro-pedestrianisation shopkeepers]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who ‘talked about some form of pedestrianisation’ (Herald Express):
73 per cent
[PRSD Analysis: 73 per cent of the Herald Express' 37 shopkeepers = 27.01]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who want a wider pavement to be built from the church to the arch (Totnes Times):
93 per cent
[PRSD Analysis: 93 per cent of Totnes Times' 36 shopkeepers = 33.48]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who are ‘happy with the status quo’ (Totnes Times – paragraph 10):
Two
[PRSD Analysis: Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt are co-founders of boogie-woogie rockers Status Quo. They do not own shops in Totnes (note to sub - please check)]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who are ‘happy with the current situation’ (Totnes Times – paragraph 13):
One or two
[PRSD Analysis: As opposed to 'the currant situation']

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who went out of business while Paula was carrying out her survey (Totnes Times):
One
[PRSD Analysis: If Paula's survey had lasted a year, 121 Totnes shopkeepers would've gone out of business - that's one every 72 hours]

Number of Totnes shopkeepers who want something done about rat running (Herald Express):
93 per cent
[PRSD Analysis: 93 per cent of the Herald Express' 37 shopkeepers = 34.41]

Increase in Green party membership in South Devon since Paula was elected (Herald Express):
400 per cent
[PRSD Analysis: For example, if Paula was the only member of the South Devon Green party, and signed up her husband and three children, that would be a 400 per cent increase in membership]

Age Paula left school to live in a ‘squat’ (Herald Express):
17

• What percentage of time do you spend on statistics? Comments below, please. Also, if our maths doesn’t add up, post a comment and show us your workings!