Melton is the happiest place in the county

Melton Mowbray viewed from the Burton Street bridge EMN-200109-163304001

A study carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) scored Melton the highest for three of the four categories it looked into.

The borough, which recorded its best results since data was first collected nine years ago, came out on top of the Leicestershire data for life satisfaction (an average 8.2 out of 10), how worthwhile people feel in their lives (8.5/10) and happiness (8/10).

The new was hailed as ‘wonderful’ by Melton Borough Council leader, Joe Orson, who said: “It is great to hear that the residents enjoy what Melton has to offer and I hope we can continue to see happiness levels increase in the future.”

He described why the survey results should come as no suprise to those living in the borough: “We are in the heart of the beautiful countryside and have a rich history to explore.

“The borough has fantastic businesses within it, including independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as some outstanding parks and open spaces. “The council is continuously committed to investing in and developing Melton as an attractive place to live, work and visit.

“As a rural market town, we have the pleasure of hosting not only regular weekly markets but many varied specialist events and fairs throughout the year which always offer up something new and exciting to discover.”

The study also showed that anxiety levels in Melton are at their lowest since the survey was first taken back in 2011, decreasing by 1.56 per cent from last year to 2.2/10 – resulting in the lowest anxiety levels in the county.

In contrast to the results shown in the borough, the average ratings of happiness in the UK fell by 1.1 per cent in the year ending March 2020, compared with the year before, with anxiety levels increasing by 6.3 per cent.

Melton took the overall title as Leicestershire’s happiest place from Charnwood, which had been top for each of the last two years.

What do you think? Are you happy or unhappy living in the Melton borough? Write with your views via email to [email protected] and explain why you have that view.