SarahBell Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30560011 Hart is UK's most desirable place1 Hart, Hampshire 2 Elmbridge, Surrey 3 Winchester, Hampshire 4 Rutland, East Midlands 5 Chiltern, Buckinghamshire 6 Uttlesford, Essex 7 South Northamptonshire 8 Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire 9 Wokingham, Berkshire 10 Waverley, Surrey Hart, which is centred on the town of Fleet, boasts vast open spaces of heathland and woodland, as well as the county's largest freshwater lake. More than 97% of residents report being in good health, and the average weekly wage is £839 - one third more than the UK average of £629. Employment rate is also high, with four out of five 16 to 64 year olds in work. So does that mean 20% unemployment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si1 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Yorkshire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erat_forte Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Really, all in the south-east of England? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkins Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 So does that mean 20% unemployment? It means no stay-at-home parents because house prices are too high to buy one on a single wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyguy Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Hart is a motorway service type of dull place. Wokingham is nice but dull. Its only appealing as the towns to the East (Bracknell) and West (Reading) are not. Bracknell makes the list, which is all you need to know about the skewed weighting. The best that can be said about the list is that most of the towns are dull and inoffensive. Totally fcking pointless list really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkins Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Really, all in the south-east of England? If the wages were adjusted for cost of living (housing) and the need for everybody to work all hours to pay for housing was seen as a negative rather than a positive this survey might have produced a different answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie_George Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Really, all in the south-east of England? Only boomers voted in this poll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) Glad my place isn't on the list. And Wokingham seriously? I was there for a few training days about a decade ago. Nice, but terribly dull. Commuting distance of London? Not a hell hole? Welcome to the UK's most desirable place. Edited December 21, 2014 by StainlessSteelCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormymonday_2011 Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 (edited) If the wages were adjusted for cost of living (housing) and the need for everybody to work all hours to pay for housing was seen as a negative rather than a positive this survey might have produced a different answer. Quite. It also begs the question how many of those who live in these areas within the South East work in London. I know for a fact that many local wages in Waverley District in Surrey are no where near the levels quoted while housing and other costs are very high. In addition Waverley is quite rural by Surrey standards so public transport, public services, shops and even taxi services are often poor compared to more urban areas. Having a few trees or lakes to look at does not really compensate for some of the drawbacks. The article should really state that these are the best areas in which to live if you have plenty of money. They may not be so great for those with more humble means. Edited December 21, 2014 by stormymonday_2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albimac Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I currently live in the Fleet area. Lots of trees, plenty of large detached houses (many seemed to be owned by the elderly), decent schools with involved parents, generally a nice area all round. However, lots of building projects on the go (started a couple of years ago), now adding to the traffic problems & local schools becoming over subscribed. Eye watering house prices (seems to be a personal opinion) & Fleet high street is dominated by estate agents, banks, charity shops, coffee establishments & hair dressers. It also suffers from empty shop spaces, especially the indoor shopping area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
200p Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Any sort of market town with no high rise tower blocks in the south east, and you've got a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 All these surveys produce 'best' towns loved by retired dog-walkers. Their big event of the week is seeing a woodpecker. It's those old buggers who complete the surveys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccc Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Edinburgh isn't in the top ten ?really ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zugzwang Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Pre-industrial English pastoral seems to be the defining archetype. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Most desirable place....where there are the most desirable people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Tamworth isn't on the list? Why not? Having high rises shouldn't be a bar to entry Cheap houses, good links therefore commutable, HS2 on the cards. What's not to like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justthisbloke Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 For a city in the SE, I'd vote for Portsmouth. It may be a dirty port town with low wages but I lived there once and it was great. Being packed onto an island, everything's on your doorstep - and it has a lot of life. If you want "out" then there's trains to London, ferries to Abroad - and the Isle of Wight. Or, just ride your bike to pretty glorious countryside not far away. Also, plenty of jobs if your an engineery-type. I've also lived in Cambridge which is officially Desirable with a capital D. But so far up its own ****, it should be given an award. For a rurality in the SE, I'd go for Northamptonshire or Norfolk. But, TBH, most SE countryside is full of commuters and dormitary villages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limon Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Employment rate is also high, with four out of five 16 to 64 year olds in work. So does that mean 20% unemployment? Most of those non-working 16-64 year olds will be students/sixth-formers, housewives/husbands, and early retirees. There's a difference between 'unemployed' and 'not in work'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Most of those non-working 16-64 year olds will be students/sixth-formers, housewives/husbands, and early retirees. There's a difference between 'unemployed' and 'not in work'. Many thousands work.....but not for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erat_forte Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Edinburgh isn't in the top ten ?really ? Not SE England = not desirable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmonitor Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 (edited) I know West Bridgford (Rushcliffe) pretty well, doesn't look that affluent...plenty of brick streets that resemble Coronation Street. In the centre the coffee shops outnumber all the other shops put together and everybody looks pretty well heeled. But other than the fact it is where the in crowd choose to live there are nicer parts of Nottingham. The town itself is ringed by the outer ring road, so zero access to the countryside. Cross the Trent bridge and you are hit by the Meadows and Sneinton...two of the poorest parts of Europe. Geographically a very depressing place to live imo. Edited December 22, 2014 by crashmonitor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patfig Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Scunnor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byron Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Tonypandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyguy Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 I used to live in Sandhurst and commute to Wokingham, it has the WORST schoolrun jams I've ever known, and very aggressive traffic wardens. When I worked in Bracknell (ICL) it was quicker to cycle than drive to work because the 'fast road' through the woods behind Crowthorne was a line of near-stationary cars every morning. I personally would not live anywhere that has chronic congestion. You know things are bad when there are traffic lights on motorway sliproads The traffic in the Thames Valley was pretty crap when I left in the late 90s. Its got noticably worse since. Tnere does not seem to be much more employment in he area, in fact there appears to be a lot less - of the few remaining companies in Bracknell, none appear to have grown. It used to take about 30 minutes Reading Bracknell. That commute is now well over 1 hour, which is stupid for a journey of less than 20 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy T Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 (edited) Can't believe Sandford isn't on the list Edited December 22, 2014 by Andy T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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