Thornbury voted best place to live in the South West by The Sunday Times (From Gazette Series)

Thornbury voted best place to live in the South West by The Sunday Times

7:50am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Marion Sauvebois

THERE is no place like home-especially in Thornbury which has been voted one of the best towns to live in the South West by the Sunday Times.

Thornbury was described as "a little Nirvana" by the national newspaper which named it in its top 12 southern towns.

The broadsheet selected the winners after considering a range of factors including transport links, quality of schools, natural beauty, low crime rate, property prices, cultural life and unemployment figures. Each area was also assessed on its own individual merits, its idiosyncratic character and architecture.

Town Councillor Clive Parkinson told the Gazette that as a long-time resident he could not agree more with the Sunday Times.

"As someone who has lived in Thornbury for 37 years I can only but agree with the Sunday Times that it’s one of the best places to live," he said.

"The community spirit that exists and that makes the place full of vibrant flowers in the summer and special Christmas lights in the winter adds to the natural beauty of the town."

This represents another feather in the cap of Thornbury, which has established itself as one of the most attractive towns in the country at the Royal Horticultural Society's Britian in Bloom competition over the years.

Former Thornbury In Bloom chairman Sue Aitken said she was delighted with the news.

"I am sure that Thornbury In Bloom has made a big contribution in making the town look attractive throughout the year," she said. "However none of what we achieve would be possible without the tremendous sense of community that Thornbury has.

"The fact that we have people weeding, planting, collecting litter, removing graffitti and fundraising for In Bloom all year round make it a community project.

"The arts culture we have with plays, concerts, art clubs, the carnival plus the farmers’ markets, food fair, Christmas lights and numerous social clubs for all ages mean that we are a very well rounded and vibrant town."

It was selected overall winner alongside Wadebridge and Truro in Cornwall, Topsham and Totnes in Devon, Bruton and Wells in Somerset, Sherborne and Beaminster in Dorset, Oddington in Oxfordshire, Tisbury in Wiltshire and Tetbury in Gloucestershire.