Coatbridge, where I live, is famed for many things. It has the highest rate of heart disease in Western Europe, is the home of deep fried Mars bars (could the two be connected?) and was given >the Carbuncle award (unfairly in my opinion) for worst town. However, things are looking up. Monklands (of which Coatbridge is part) has just been named in the top five 'happy' places in Britain. So has Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.
This conclusion was reached by a research team from Sheffield and Manchester universities, who took data from the British Household Panel Survey and used it to draw a 'happiness' map of Britain. This involved questions about peoples' sense of wellbeing, coupled with data about employment and environment. I haven't been so pleased since Albion Rovers came top of the league (the third division league, that is.)
Ps Cumbernauld and Airdrie (the other half of Monklands) have also won the Carbuncle award for worst town. Is there a connection between concrete and happiness?
