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Our unique and historic District
St Albans and District lies in the heart of Hertfordshire, only 20 miles from central London. Not only does the District enjoy the strong economic influence and facilities of London, but also it is set in beautiful rolling countryside and is rich in history. The District is home to around 133,500 people living in St Albans city, the town of Harpenden and many villages, all with their own distinctive features and characteristics.
St Albans District is highly regarded as a place to live. Provisional results from the most recent resident survey, conducted at the end of 2008, rated the District top in Hertfordshire on various measures, including 90% of people who are satisfied with the area as a place to live (up from 84% in 2006/07).
Evidence from various surveys suggests that the following are viewed as positive features of living and working in the District:
- Historic environment, green spaces and good transport links
- Low levels of crime
- Good access to services
- Good sports and cultural facilities, parks and open spaces
- High levels of employment and qualifications
- High life expectancy and low rates of premature death
- High levels of volunteering and levels of turnout at local elections
However evidence from surveys also points to areas where we need to make improvements:-
- Affordable housing
- Providing accessible facilities and activities for young people
- Encouraging a diverse and sustainable economy
- Tackling traffic congestion
- Road and pavement maintenance
- Reducing health inequalities
- Supporting older people
- Reducing pockets of social and economic inequality
- Protecting our environment for the future
- Encouraging community engagement and participation
Some of the key data sources used to get to know our communities are available to download here...