RIGA, Oct 17 (LETA) - This fall, residents of Liepaja are mostly worried about energy price hike, according to a survey conducted by SKDS pollster and Liepaja local government, LETA learned from the local government's representative Zita Lazdane.

Respondents were asked to assess how much they are concerned about different problems in Liepaja and what they think about development of different areas in the city. Also, residents were asked to give their assessment on the work of the local council lawmakers.

Like residents across the whole country, also Liepaja residents are most worried about the energy price hike (91 percent). Also, 83 percent are worried about accessibility to medical specialists, 79 percent are concerned about low wages, 61 percent are concerned about availability of places of residence, 53 percent about the quality of infrastructure outside the city center, and 51 percent about the quality of streets, roads and pavements.

Almost half of respondents believe that life in Liepaja is much the same as in Latvia in general, 39 percent said that life in Liepaja is better than in Latvia, and 3 percent believe that it is worth than in Latvia.

Liepaja municipal council chairman Gunars Ansins (Liepaja Party) believes that the opinion and assessment of Liepaja residents on developments in the city is one of the main measurements in the work of the local government. 

Most of respondents gave a positive assessment of the latest developments in Liepaja. Also 78 percent of respondents gave a positive assessment of the work of the Liepaja local council, while 12 percent had a negative opinion about it.

Asked to assess the work of local lawmakers, Ansins got the highest score of 48 points, followed by Uldis Sesks (Liepaja Party) with 38 points and Janis Vilnitis (Latvia's Association of Regions) with 35 points.

More than 53 percent of respondents believe that Liepaja residents with their opinion and proposals can change the situation in the city.

The survey was conducted by SKDS on September 15-26, polling 400 Liepaja residents over the age of 18 in a telephone interview.