"BASINGSTOKE is a good place to live.”

That was the conclusion of an interfaith meeting hosted recently by the Town Chaplaincy.

People are safe, despite some feelings of insecurity at times. Some people are a bit fazed by the multitude of languages heard around town but those wearing a head covering of any sort are not singled out for abuse.

There are also comments about the number of beauty parlours and hairdressers in the town, but they seem to be busy a lot of the time. There is a wide range of cuisine at the restaurants, partly thanks to the great cultural mix of people living here.

Churches and mosques do provide good facilities for younger people. The Hindu Society and Irish Centre are both very active and much goes on at Chute House.

But there is a shortage of meeting places open in the evening that do not primarily serve alcohol. Perhaps more can be made available for teenagers, or youth clubs formed to enable further integration.

The lack of urban planning over many years shows.

The parks are pleasant and we are surrounded by beautiful countryside. There are places for entertainment in the town centre, more are coming. Basingstoke has good rail and road links to other places.

Basingstoke has a low unemployment rate and there are jobs around.

Sadly, the demand for help from the Foodbank and from some other charitable services is growing, but there is a lot of generous giving to support those in need.

In general, the police have a good reputation and the hospital staff well praised despite the building crumbling around them.

And that is what really makes a place: the people. Gone are the tensions between local and London overspill. And although the town has grown rapidly there is plenty of interaction between people.

Yes, there are things to be improved and problems to resolve too. But there are so many positives to living here they outweigh the negatives. Generally, it is a friendly place and Basingstoke people are caring.

John Hayward

Basingstoke Town Chaplaincy

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