A new survey has found that two Cambridgeshire districts are among those named as the most desirable places to live in the UK.
East Cambridgeshire was the highest ranking area in the county as it was placed in 4th position in the sixth annual Halifax Quality of Life Survey.
East Cambridgeshire was ranked in 22nd place last year and made a big leap past South Cambridgeshire which is now 9th; down from 5th position in 2010.
The scores were complied based on several criteria including education, health, jobs, housing and crime. Other factors that were considered were traffic, weather and even broadband access.
Cambridge was not listed in the top 50, but some of the other highly ranked local areas included Uttlesford at 18th, North Hertfordshire at 20th, and Huntingdonshire that was listed in 34th place.
Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Peter Moakes, said that the result was a great accolade for the area, especially since Ely’s city centre had been criticised by Mary Portas in her report on the state of Britain’s high streets.
He said: “We are delighted that the survey recognises the area’s educational possibilities, the low crime rate, and the attractiveness of the centre of Ely both for people who live here and visitors.
“This vindicates our responses to the comments made in the Mary Portas report which rather knocked Ely and said it was unattractive and had a lot of boarded-up shops.”
Leader of South Cambridgeshire District, Council Cllr Ray Manning, was not too disheartened about the drop of his district from 5th to 9th place.
He said: “This survey is further confirmation South Cambridgeshire is one of the best places to live and work in the country and follows recognition earlier this year when we were voted as the top rural district.
“To make sure our residents continue to benefit from a high standard of living we are developing ambitious plans to make the area even more attractive for businesses, create new jobs and boost the economy.”
The top position on the survey was taken by Hart in Hampshire, followed by Elmbridge in Surrey and Wokingham in Berkshire.