STANDARD readers have hit out at a recent survey which claimed Redditch was one of the UK’s unhappiest towns.
According to the research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the town was ranked as one of the lowest in terms of how ‘happy’ residents said they were.
People took to social media in their droves, with many saying that Redditch ‘is a beautiful place to live.’
Helen Eas said: “People are never happy with anything and feel they are owed something.
“We might not have bowling or ice skating but we don’t need to go far for those things.
“Plus if we can improve our town attracting footfall we might get those things.
“It’s always been a lovely place to be – maybe people who are unhappy could leave and find a place that they are happier.”
Sophiee Rose added: “Happiness comes from within, I love Redditch I’ve seen a lot worse places to live. It’s what you make of it.”
Redditch was famously once the home of the world’s fishing tackle and needle industries.
According to records from the Forge Mill Museum, at one point, 90 per cent of the world’s needles were said to be produced here.
But happiness seems to be the most challenging catch in the town which had an average happiness of 6.8 out of 10.
At the other end of the scale, Torridge, in north Devon, ranked as the UK’s ‘happiest’ area, followed by Pendle in Lancashire and Lichfield in Staffordshire.
The data, which the ONS says is just one wellbeing measure it records alongside overall life satisfaction, worthwhile, and anxiety, was compiled from April last year to March this year.
The responses, which were taken at different points throughout the year, were then pulled together to create an average ‘happiness’ for each area.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said she preferred to have a ‘glass half full’ mindset.
“The negative coverage of Redditch we’ve seen in recent days serves only to fuel the narrative of our town which we’re working flat out to change.
“Redditch is made up of 85,000 people – I don’t believe everyone in our town took part in this survey, so it’s hardly representative.
“And in fact not long ago I read a totally different survey that found that Redditch was the most community minded place in the UK – and has the most people willing to volunteer for various causes.
“So it just goes to show it all depends if you have a glass half full or a glass half empty mindset, and I know which I’ve got.
“And whilst it appears easy for some to talk our town down, I’m with the vast majority of my constituents who are proud of Redditch and its history, as well as our exciting vision for the future of our town.”
