Monmouthshire most desirable county to live in Wales
Here at Basepoint Chepstow we love living and working in the glorious county of Monmouthshire. So we were delighted to learn that it has recently been described as the most desirable county to live in Wales, according to a new survey.
The 2014 Halifax Quality of Life Survey recognises factors such as high levels of employment, low crime rates, population density and good broadband internet access.
Monmouthshire residents’ have the best health and life expectancy, overall well-being and with a healthy employment rate of 74.6%. It also sees above-average weekly earnings of £685.
The town of Monmouth itself was, in March, named as one of the best places to live in Britain, with 10 other Welsh towns and villages making it into the top 100, according to the Sunday Times supplement.
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium and a Monmouthshire councillor, who lives in the idyllic village of Llanover on the River Usk, said she is not surprised by the findings.
“I am very lucky to say I’ve always lived in rural Monmouthshire. It truly is a beautiful, vibrant county filled with wonderful heritage, culture and leisure attractions. As someone who enjoys eating out I would definitely say we’re the food capital of Wales with some wonderful restaurants and pubs many of which are Michelin star. The county is the gateway to Wales, with so much to offer with the mix of wonderful landscapes and towns and with the many major events which our council are working hard to deliver here such as the National Road Cycling Championships.”
Placed second in Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan was ranked next best for quality of life, with employment at 71.3% and average weekly earnings are £641.