This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6564215.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scots areas top happy family poll | Scots areas top happy family poll |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two Scottish districts are considered the best places in the UK to bring up a family, a poll has suggested. | Two Scottish districts are considered the best places in the UK to bring up a family, a poll has suggested. |
| First place went to East Dunbartonshire in the Reader's Digest poll which quizzed parents and looked at official data; East Renfrewshire came second. | First place went to East Dunbartonshire in the Reader's Digest poll which quizzed parents and looked at official data; East Renfrewshire came second. |
| The report's authors said "safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns" backed by a strong community appeared to link the winning places. | The report's authors said "safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns" backed by a strong community appeared to link the winning places. |
| Reading in Berkshire was ranked last, in 408th place. | Reading in Berkshire was ranked last, in 408th place. |
| Good state schools and a low crime rate were seen as the most important requirements for a family-friendly area, the poll suggested. | Good state schools and a low crime rate were seen as the most important requirements for a family-friendly area, the poll suggested. |
| 'BEST' FAMILY PLACES 1. East Dunbartonshire2. East Renfrewshire3. Forest of Dean, Glos4. Vale of Glamorgan5. Hambleton, North Yorkshire6. Fareham, Hampshire7. West Lothian8. South Gloucestershire9. Ribble Valley, Lancashire10. Uttlesford, Essex Source: Reader's Digest | 'BEST' FAMILY PLACES 1. East Dunbartonshire2. East Renfrewshire3. Forest of Dean, Glos4. Vale of Glamorgan5. Hambleton, North Yorkshire6. Fareham, Hampshire7. West Lothian8. South Gloucestershire9. Ribble Valley, Lancashire10. Uttlesford, Essex Source: Reader's Digest |
| These were closely followed by good local hospitals and affordable family housing, the researchers concluded. | These were closely followed by good local hospitals and affordable family housing, the researchers concluded. |
| A low risk of flooding was rated as the sixth most important factor by parents. | A low risk of flooding was rated as the sixth most important factor by parents. |
| Reader's Digest polled 1,162 parents with children under 16 and asked them to rate the characteristics of family-friendly locations - giving these a rating from 1 to 10, depending on their importance. | Reader's Digest polled 1,162 parents with children under 16 and asked them to rate the characteristics of family-friendly locations - giving these a rating from 1 to 10, depending on their importance. |
| The factors were then weighted depending on the importance parents gave to them. | The factors were then weighted depending on the importance parents gave to them. |
| We consider Milngavie to be a slice of paradise Gilbert McVean class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6161&edition=1&ttl=20070418111411">Send us your comments | |
| Reader's Digest also used official data, such as Home Office crime figures, and Land Registry house price figures, to rank each area. | Reader's Digest also used official data, such as Home Office crime figures, and Land Registry house price figures, to rank each area. |
| The survey's authors then visited winning areas to hear from parents about what was important to them. | The survey's authors then visited winning areas to hear from parents about what was important to them. |
| 'WORST' FAMILY PLACES 399. Oxford, Oxfordshire400. Lewisham, London401. North Lincolnshire402. Rother, East Sussex403. Kingston upon Hull404. Haringey, London405. Hastings, East Sussex406. North East Lincolnshire407. Waltham Forest, London408. Reading, Berkshire Source: Reader's Digest | 'WORST' FAMILY PLACES 399. Oxford, Oxfordshire400. Lewisham, London401. North Lincolnshire402. Rother, East Sussex403. Kingston upon Hull404. Haringey, London405. Hastings, East Sussex406. North East Lincolnshire407. Waltham Forest, London408. Reading, Berkshire Source: Reader's Digest |
| They concluded: "If a single thread runs through the fabric of all these places, large and small, it is the golden one called 'community' - the concerned neighbours, teachers and community groups that stand behind safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns." | They concluded: "If a single thread runs through the fabric of all these places, large and small, it is the golden one called 'community' - the concerned neighbours, teachers and community groups that stand behind safe streets, strong schools and thriving towns." |
| Marion McVean, 48, and her husband Gilbert, 52, are bringing up their two children in Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire. | Marion McVean, 48, and her husband Gilbert, 52, are bringing up their two children in Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire. |
| "We're very happy," Mrs McVean told the researchers. "There's always familiar faces coming and going and there's lots to do, especially in sports - but there are drama and music clubs too." | "We're very happy," Mrs McVean told the researchers. "There's always familiar faces coming and going and there's lots to do, especially in sports - but there are drama and music clubs too." |
| Mr McVean added: "We consider Milngavie to be a slice of paradise." | Mr McVean added: "We consider Milngavie to be a slice of paradise." |