Having read the article in lasts weeks Bucks Herald, from Mary Baldwin(Lib Dem county councillor-Aylesbury North) regarding quality of life in Aylesbury.

I would like to tell Mary that 'yes, I think you are in a small minority! (made up of people who perhaps have never lived elsewhere)' who don't recognise that living in Aylesbury is an absolute pleasure compared to some places in the country!

My husband and I moved from Harrow-Middx, some 9 years ago and have since raised our family.

We frequently tell our friends that we love living in the countryside and for many reasons would not choose to live anyway else, now!

In response to each point;

1) The town isn't gridlocked,(except perhaps for an hour or so in rush hour), she wants to try and travel a mile across town in Harrow, it will take you triple the time and you'll be bothered enroute by someone wanting to clean your windscreen, for a fee!

2) Houses prices are rising I accept, but they are no-where near house prices in Middx(hence our reason for moving out in in the first place. Besides, house prices are rising everywhere!)

3) You don't have to travel to work by car, hence causing more congestion! You could use many of the wonderful bus routes/trains now created for us, in and out of the town!

4) Mary says that 80 per cent of our children go to schools which perform below the national average? Our local school has been voted in the top ten in the country and I have several friends whose children go to several different schools in Aylesbury and are doing very very well AND we are still very fortunate to have grammar schools!

5)Mary suggests that somebody come and see for themselves that living here, isn't a good quality of life and Aylesbury has suffered years of neglect.

Maybe so, but why then, is she complaining that roads are being dug up and the district councillors are spending too much time over the NEW Waterside development.

The answer is simple, because they are no longer going to 'neglect' your town and are spending time and money on the improvements and want to get them right!

I say 'yes' come and see Aylesbury, it has a much better quality of life than a lot of towns, i can assure you!

Not only do we have vast countryside, good air quality , fantastic children's facilities, great access routes to other major towns, a superb hospital and friendly people who want to say 'hello' when you pass in the village (rather than steal your purse!)

If Mary's quality of life is quite low, then she needs to 'Buck' up her ideas and think more positively about the changes that are happening around her!

I thought councillors were supposed to be positive and forward thinking people, adaptable to change!

Cheer up Mary, it's not that bad!

If you don't agree, then perhaps you need to move!


J Baldwin(no relation!)
Aylesbury resident

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