WEST Dorset is a great place to live, a new survey has revealed.

Results just out from the West Dorset triennial residents' satisfaction survey reveal the district is bucking national trends, with the majority of people satisfied not only with the district as a place to live, but also the level of services.

A report to next Tuesday's meeting of West Dorset District Council's cabinet shows 88 per cent of those who responded are satisfied with their life in West Dorset.

The survey also reveals that 55 per cent are satisfied with the services provided by the district council - up one per cent from when the survey was last carried out three years ago.

Adrian Stuart, the council's finance manager is recommending the council celebrates the overall satisfaction of its residents especially in the light of falling satisfaction elsewhere in Dorset and the rest of the country.

He said: "The council should be absolutely delighted that it has marginally increased residents' satisfaction with the way it runs things overall.

"Via national surveys undertaken over the past three years MORI has reported a steady decline in residents' net satisfaction levels. West Dorset has therefore bucked the national trend.

"This position is reinforced by the results one of the survey questions in which two thirds of residents think that the council runs things the same as it did three years ago, one sixth thinks things are now run better and one sixth thinks things have got worse." And although the majority of people are satisfied with the quality of life and the level of services in the district they are keen to see more affordable housing provided in the district.

The report reveals 54 per cent of those surveyed believe affordable housing was the thing was needed the most to improve life in the district. Of those surveyed 36 per cent called for measures on traffic congestion.

Mr Stuart said: "The survey has provided invaluable performance management information which has enabled the council to monitor any changes in satisfaction levels over the past three years and will enable the council to set clear priorities and goals for future improvements."