Critics rap survey claiming Blackburn folk aren’t satisfied with their lot (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Critics rap survey claiming Blackburn folk aren’t satisfied with their lot
1:53pm Friday 27th July 2012 in Health
By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter
HAPPY FACES Pupils from St Annes Primary, Blackburn, and St Francis, Cherry Tree, show their smiles for the Queen’s visit
A £2 MILLION happiness survey championed by Prime Minister David Cameron has found people in Blackburn with Darwen are among the least satisfied in the country.
But the study has been blasted by critics for being unscientific and council leisure chief Damian Talbot said the investigation pointed to ‘high expectations’ among local people more than anything else.
An Office of National Statistics survey found people in the borough rated their ‘life satisfaction’ at 7.10 out of 10, with only Thurrock and the West Midlands lower at 7.09.
Lancashire, covering rural Ribble Valley as well as Accrington, Burnley and Colne, comes in at 7.48 compared to the national average 7.41. Orkney and Shetland was the highest at 8.1 out of 10. However the ONS survey admits things like being in work, owning your own home, whether your are happily married and being a highly-paid doctor or lawyer all affect happiness.
Critics, including Blackburn with Darwen Tory leader Michael Lee, said the whole survey was a waste of time while the number of people taking part was too low to be accurate. In total 858 people in Blackburn responded and 1,563 in Blackburn. Coun Lee said: “Filling in forms makes people depressed anyway, especially when the weather is bad.”
When it comes to how ‘worthwhile’ people’s lives are, Blackburn rated 7.41, Lancashire’s 7.78 and the national average 7.66.
Asked “how happy were you yesterday?” Blackburn rated 7.02 out of 10, Lancashire 7.34 and the national average 7.28.
For yesterday’s anxiety levels Blackburn’s 3.33 out ten was worse than Lancashire’s 3.02 and the national average of 3.14.
ONS statistician Lucy Tinkler maintained the figures were ‘robust’ despite admitting their was an error margin with all statistics.
Blackburn with Darwen’s executive member for leisure Damian Talbot said he sceptical about the results. He said: “I just think people in Blackburn have high expectations and that’s reflected in this survey.”
And the views of the famous
Carl Fogarty, Blackburn-born superbike racer
“I am obviously happy otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I was born here. My family is from here. It is my home town and I love it. If anybody said anything bad I would jump down their throats. I am so proud of where I am from.”
Jack Straw, Blackburn MP
“I love Blackburn. The best bit is the people. I travel the country and I can see the town is more vibrant than any other. It has a fantastic countryside, its schools have improved and crime is relatively low. And of course there’s Rovers too.”
Gary Aspden, fashion designer, from Darwen
“Growing up in Darwen, I loved Bold Venture Park, Pickup Bank music festival, acid house parties and there were loads of good looking girls.”
Jim Bowen, comedian
“I was happy there in the ‘70s. It was a nice, decent area, the people were nice. But I wouldn’t like to live there now, it is not nice with the recession. The area’s suffered.”
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Comments (22)
2:14pm Fri 27 Jul 12
A Darener says...
2:31pm Fri 27 Jul 12
gazp64 says...
2:41pm Fri 27 Jul 12
jimpy0 says...
3:43pm Fri 27 Jul 12
Noiticer says...
4:35pm Fri 27 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
5:09pm Fri 27 Jul 12
davidinburnley says...
There is talk of how wonderful the countryside that surrounds Blackburn is - that's true, but it is actually in the Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.
There is talk of how friendly Blackburn is - erm, to whom?
There is talk of how well the town has been 'rebuilt' from its former industrial mess - really? Are you being serious? A road system that is constantly clogged, constantly being changed and probably the most illogical layout in the country.
Of course, the residential areas are 'top notch'. I love driving through places like Accrington Rd, Bastwell, Roe Lee, Bank Top etc etc etc etc etc etc - it really makes me realise how lucky (and happy) I am not to live there!
5:35pm Fri 27 Jul 12
stan the man says...
5:52pm Fri 27 Jul 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
5:54pm Fri 27 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
5:59pm Fri 27 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
8:07pm Fri 27 Jul 12
davidinburnley says...
My point is that Blackburn (that apparently used to be part of Lancashire) is a sh!thole and there ain't nowt you, or anyone else, can say that will change the people who are fortunate enough not to live there.
If you want to believe it's an 'ace' place then a) you're deluded and b) you really need to get out more.
9:24pm Fri 27 Jul 12
Good call says...
10:07pm Fri 27 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
12:19am Sat 28 Jul 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
9:07am Sat 28 Jul 12
The-Jerome-and-Steve-Show says...
9:39am Sat 28 Jul 12
davidinburnley says...
Ever visited Towneley Hall, Gawthorpe Hall? Ever been to the Cliviger Gorge, the Singing Ringin Tree? Ever seen the beautiful old houses along Todmorden Rd, Padiham Road, Ighten Park Lane etc? Ever seen the beautiful parks we have? Ever seen the stunning countryside that lies within the borough of Burnley or the views of the Yorkshire Dales from Burnley?
Like every other town, Burnley has its crappy parts - the difference is, here they are they exception rather than the rule. How is it over in Blackburn.... struggling to find the 'nice parts'?
9:55am Sat 28 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
10:04am Sat 28 Jul 12
RUinsane says...
It just doesn't compute if you know what I mean.
2:09pm Sat 28 Jul 12
Reality50 says...
6:13pm Sat 28 Jul 12
peely says...
11:04am Sun 29 Jul 12
jack daniels says...
10:39am Mon 30 Jul 12
verbal discharge says...
The place is a dump and is going downhill rapidly, full of inbred peasants defecating in the street.
Horrible, dingy, run-down, smelly hovel.