WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? Sandy beaches, a great climate (okay, not so much recently), top schools and highly-rated healthcare but it doesn't cheer Poole residents. Picture: Sally Adams, with thanks to Bournemouth Helicopters ID: 6822906
SANDBANKS, golden beaches, top-class state education and a highly-rated hospital. What's not to like about living in Poole?
Plenty, according to its residents, who have just rated themselves among the most miserable people in Britain.
According to the British Household Panel Survey, Poole people rate themselves as unhappier than those living in Manchester (the second happiest place in Britain, despite being the hometown of that master of misery, Morrissey, pictured), Luton (60th) and Hackney (at 105th and frequently described as one of the most deprived areas in the UK). Only in 13 other places did people feel worse off than the people of Poole.
Elsewhere in the Daily Echo area, life seems a little more satisfactory, although in some cases not by much. Purbeck came 49th, the New Forest 93rd, Bournemouth 152nd and Christchurch a lowly 254th out of 273 places.
Unlike many similar surveys, which are published for commercial reasons, the British Household Panel survey is given more weight because it has been tracking the same 10,000 households since 1991.
However, unlike previous surveys, this is the first time the panel has attempted to measure something as subjective as happiness.
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Respondents were asked to answer questions usually reserved to examine conditions such as mild depression.
The headline for this story came from 2CR listener Adie of Ferndown who won the Headline Game on the Paul Bunker Show
One of the questions was: "Have you lost much sleep over worry?" Another was: "Have you felt constantly under strain?"
THIS CHARMING MAN: Council leader Brian Leverett is baffled by Poole peoples' disenchantment
However, the survey did not inquire into the reasons behind people feeling worried or strained.
Even the researchers admitted quantifying happiness is tricky.
Dimitris Ballas, of the University of Sheffield, said: "There's a lot of lively debate on what is the most appropriate measure. We found wellbeing is closely linked to staying at your current address.
"Living in your home for five years boosts happiness."
Being in an enjoyable relationship was arguably the prime cause of happiness, he said, and other factors are understood to include climate, hours of sunshine, noise and air pollution.
Given all this, the Poole public's conclusions seem even more puzzling.
They have certainly given borough leader Brian Leverett cause for thought.
"I'd contest that people are unhappy living in Poole," he said. "There is a tremendous pride of place and love of the town among residents.
"Poole has wonderful natural assets, a low crime rate and a prosperous economy.
"As a consequence, an increasing number of people are seeking to live in the town."
Gridlock,crane forests, overdevelopment and a council which is completely out of touch with the people who pay for its excesses. Leverett professes to be baffled by our unhappiness and well he might. He should try battling through the traffic or living within dust and noise distance of one of his pet construction projects.
Plus, with the prospect of yet another folly in the shape of a second lifting bridge funnelling yet more traffic into an already overcrowded town centre.....
When does he plan to retire? That might cheeer us up.
Gridlock,crane forests, overdevelopment and a council which is completely out of touch with the people who pay for its excesses. Leverett professes to be baffled by our unhappiness and well he might. He should try battling through the traffic or living within dust and noise distance of one of his pet construction projects.
Plus, with the prospect of yet another folly in the shape of a second lifting bridge funnelling yet more traffic into an already overcrowded town centre.....
When does he plan to retire? That might cheeer us up.
Posted by: DorsetSpeed, Poole on 9:15pm Sun 31 Aug 08
The biggest negative for me is the way the area is policed. Easy (but trivial) targets get the most attention (speed cameras, cycling on the promenade when deserted, etc), and the place is full of nasty people (aggressive kids, etc) who don’t seem to be targeted at all.
Greedy incompetent wasteful councils, massive over development, terrible traffic which seems to get noticeably worse every month, in fact, I agree with you AKK, I’ve been in Poole for 15 years, it’s really going down hill.
The biggest negative for me is the way the area is policed. Easy (but trivial) targets get the most attention (speed cameras, cycling on the promenade when deserted, etc), and the place is full of nasty people (aggressive kids, etc) who don’t seem to be targeted at all.
Greedy incompetent wasteful councils, massive over development, terrible traffic which seems to get noticeably worse every month, in fact, I agree with you AKK, I’ve been in Poole for 15 years, it’s really going down hill.
Posted by: DorsetSpeed, Poole on 9:16pm Sun 31 Aug 08
The biggest negative for me is the way the area is policed. Easy (but trivial) targets get the most attention (speed cameras, cycling on the promenade when deserted, etc), and the place is full of nasty people (aggressive kids, etc) who don’t seem to be targeted at all.
Greedy incompetent wasteful councils, massive over development, terrible traffic which seems to get noticeably worse every month, in fact, I agree with you AKK, I’ve been in Poole for 15 years, it’s really going down hill.
The biggest negative for me is the way the area is policed. Easy (but trivial) targets get the most attention (speed cameras, cycling on the promenade when deserted, etc), and the place is full of nasty people (aggressive kids, etc) who don’t seem to be targeted at all.
Greedy incompetent wasteful councils, massive over development, terrible traffic which seems to get noticeably worse every month, in fact, I agree with you AKK, I’ve been in Poole for 15 years, it’s really going down hill.
I agree. I ended up in Poole and have been here for 15 years. Since then I have seen the place go down. The High Street is dead, the bus station so unpleasant it is a disgrace. Poole is so very 2nd class to the rest of the area and seems to be full of dead beat 'underclass' people. The whole town has a very downmarket 'down at heel' feel to it. The atmosphere at teh Bournemouth air show seemd to highlight this. Bournemouth had a lovely vibrant fun atmosphere and people seemed to be capable of enjoying themselves without being 'chavvy' or drunk.
I agree. I ended up in Poole and have been here for 15 years. Since then I have seen the place go down. The High Street is dead, the bus station so unpleasant it is a disgrace. Poole is so very 2nd class to the rest of the area and seems to be full of dead beat 'underclass' people. The whole town has a very downmarket 'down at heel' feel to it. The atmosphere at teh Bournemouth air show seemd to highlight this. Bournemouth had a lovely vibrant fun atmosphere and people seemed to be capable of enjoying themselves without being 'chavvy' or drunk.
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