Daily Mail reports Bournemouth is Britain's happiest town

12.37.18pm GMT Sun 11th Mar 2007

Bournemouth's environment helps people to feel happy here.

Residents of Lib-Dem Bournemouth are the happiest in Britain. This is the result of an independent survey, for First Direct bank, which found that 82%, more than four in five residents, said they are happy.

The survey concluded that there were a number of reasons for this, including:

• Our miles of golden beaches.

• A buzzing town centre packed with shops and restaurants, theatres and nightspots

• Award-winning gardens to relax in.

• A wide range of sports - from lawn bowls to sailing - and soon, Europe's first artificial surf reef.

• The countryside and forest around Bournemouth.

'We know from our own surveys and from talking with residents that keeping Bournemouth a nice place to live is important,' says Councillor Andrew Garratt.

'After keeping the Council Tax down, residents say their priorities are fighting crime and antisocial behaviour, protecting the environment, and stopping over-development.'

The Lib Dems are continuing investment across Bournemouth. For example, this has helped is win four blue flag beaches, eight green flag awards for parks, and the president's cup at Chelsea Flower Show.

'We've cut the rise in Council Tax every year, easing the strain on people's finances,' adds Andrew.

'There is a lot of support for the Lib Dem proposals for the Winter Gardens and real alternatives to pubs and clubs in the town centre. The Conservatives meanwhile would sell the site for luxury flats. They say we should make do with the BIC and Pavilion.

'The same Conservatives who put up Council Tax 50% and cut front-line services like street cleaning, want to you forget the past and put them back in power.'

'Do you want to live in Conservative-run Bournemouth again?'