Published: 07/10/2009 00:00 - Updated: 21/10/2009 10:19

The worst estate to live on unveiled

BY JESSICA CUNNIFFE

Netherfield is the worst place to live in Milton Keynes.

The estate has made it back to number one on Milton Keynes Council's list of the 20 'estates with difficulties', after two years off the top spot.

The yearly ranking is part of the Social Atlas 2009, a statistical snapshot of the city which was published on Monday.

Beanhill, crowned 'worst estate' for the past two years, is down to number two, while Coffee Hall has crept back up to third place.

It has also exposed the widening inequalities in the city - namely that if you live in the Woughton area, which includes areas like Netherfield, Coffee Hall and Eaglestone and you are likely to die 12 years earlier than if you live in Middleton.

Life expectancy ranges from 74.4 to 86.2 - far greater than one year ago when the discrepancy in mortality was eight years.

For some estates there may be cause for cheer.

Fishermead has dropped seven places to number 10, while Springfield and Far Bletchley have made their way off the damning list.

The Atlas ranks all 108 estates, towns and villages in Milton Keynes on the basis of various factors, including benefit uptake, 'workless' households, violent crime, criminal damage and teenage pregnancies.

At the other end of the spectrum are places such as Weston Underwood, Loughton Lodge and Kingsmead.

Ranked 108th - and by implication the best place to live - is the village of Gayhurst.

Netherfield resident Joyce Hall said: "I'm really surprised Netherfield is back at the top. I fail to see why. We work so hard to make it a nice place. We're discriminated against. We seem to get a label stuck on us and we're stigmatised. But I love living on Netherfield."

Margaret Roberts, Beanhill Action Group spokesman, said: "We don't tend to take a lot of notice of the list. We know what the estate's like, and it's getting better, with a new doctor's surgery and children's centre. The bungalows are being painted. Crime's gone down. I can't see why we're still up there."

Council leader Cllr Sam Crooks was 'very

concerned' when he read about the increased gap in life expectancy, but justified the process of rating estates.

He said: "A lot of funding decisions are made on the basis of evidence we gather.

"We want to publish it in the public arena so people know what's going on.

"The statistics can also be used by academic institutions such as the OU."

Do you agree or disagree with this list. Let us know your opinions by emailing

editor@mk-news.co.uk.

The list in full:

1. Netherfield

2. Beanhill

3. Coffee Hall

4. Tinkers Bridge

5. Conniburrow

6. Fullers Slade

7. New Bradwell

8. Stantonbury

9. Water Eaton

10. Fishermead

11. Eaglestone

12. Fenny Stratford

13. Peartree Bridge

14. Hodge Lea

15. Greenleys

16. Neath Hill

17. Granby

18. Bradville

19. Central Milton Keynes

20. Stacey Bushes