Report paints a pretty picture of Cotswolds (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Report paints a pretty picture of Cotswolds

THERE is so much space in the Cotswolds that there are just 69 of us in each square kilometre.

According to the latest survey of regional trends, the tourist brochures are right - if you want to get away from it all then the Cotswolds really is one of the best places to come.

And in North Wiltshire there are still only 164.

But if it's space you're after it's probably best to stay away from Islington, East London, where there are 12,181 people per square kilometre.

The Cotswolds is also one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Nearly a third of the whole of the South West region (712,00 hectares) is of outstanding natural beauty.

And this lovely scenery makes up more than a third of the total AONB in England.

However the survey, published by the Office for National Statistics, indicates that it might be harder for a woman to find a man to settle down with in our area.

Women outnumber men at 41,000 to 39,000.

Perhaps this explains why nearly a third of people living in the Cotswolds live on their own (28.8 percent).

And those who have found a stable relationship are less likely to get married.

Between 2001 and 2002 the South West had the highest proportion (31 percent) of non-married people aged 16 to 59 who were cohabiting.

The survey also shows that classrooms will become swamped in the future if current trends continue.

In 2002/3 almost 16 percent of classes in maintained primary schools in the South West had more than 30 pupils, one of the highest proportions in the UK.

The South West is projected to become the second fastest growing region in England and Wales between 2002 and 2011.

Already the Cotswolds has recorded the biggest proportional population increase in Gloucestershire at 14.1 percent between 1982 and 2002.

The booming population will also find it hard to find somewhere to live as it's bleak news for first-time buyers in the region.

Many have had to borrow even more money with the average house price increasing from £123,740 to £157,068.

House prices grew by a huge 26.9 percent between 2001 and 2002, the second highest increase in England and Wales after the East Midlands.

But in April 2003, the average council tax in the Cotswolds, at £1,141, was £42 cheaper than our neighbours in Stroud, £23 cheaper than the Forest of Dean and £1 cheaper than the county average.

In North Wiltshire it was £1,126.

We're a healthy bunch too. Fewer than average smoke in the South West.

Nine percent of men smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day while only five percent of women do.

Nineteen percent of men drink more than eight units on their heaviest drinking day in a recorded week, while eight percent of women drink more than six units on their heaviest drinking in a recorded week.

In the South West we spend more of our leisure time hiking, reading, walking and doing DIY than any other English region.

We're also among the keenest gardeners, spending 13.5 minutes in our plots each day, four minutes more than the national average.

Seventy-two percent of Cotswolders claim they're in good health, four percent higher than the national average, but two percent lower than people in North Wiltshire.

The Cotswolds has a high number of pensioners which may explain why people feel healthier in North Wilts.

Almost a quarter of Cotswolds citizens(23 percent) are pensioners but in North Wiltshire there are less at 17.3 percent, while 61.4 percent are aged between 16 and pensionable age, three percent higher than in the Cotswolds.

Perhaps surprisingly despite the high average house price in the South West, a less than average number of households (17 percent) earn £750 or more each month.

The national average is 20 percent, and in London the level is double, at 33 percent.

But in London you are twice as likely to be the victim of a sexual offence, as you are living in the South West, five times as likely to be the victim of robbery, and twice as likely to have your car stolen - although you have about the same chances of being burgled.

There are 500 unemployed people in the Cotswolds and less than 50 of them have been unemployed for more than a year.

In North Wiltshire the figures are twice that, 1,000 people are unemployed and less than 100 have been unemployed for more than a year.

The South West had 198,000 new registrations for cars in 2002, the second lowest for any English region.

But although we are driving older cars we use them more than the national yearly average, which is 5,719 miles.

South West drivers clock up an average of 6,015 miles each year. We also prefer to drive rather than use public transport.

In the South West we travel just 592 miles a year on public transport, the lowest amount in England, while we walk 178 miles and cycle 41 miles, again both are lower than the national average.

In London people drive just 3,647 miles a year, but travel 1,536 miles on public transport.

They also walk 237 miles and cycle 32 miles.

Regional Trends, which was published last week, brings together regional information and is used by planners, policy-makers, marketing professionals and teachers.