“Todmorden is not just a place, it’s a community" - Mayor reacts as town features on Sunday Times Best Places to Live list

The Calderdale town is part of a list of 10 locations in the region chosen by The Sunday Times to represent the best of Britain in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

Mayor of Todmorden Coun Ruth Coleman-Taylor, said: “Todmorden is not just a place, it’s a community. People are friendly but also they care: so many local people and organisations have been helping the vulnerable during the Covid pandemic as they do when floods strike.

“We have the market, the butchers and shops like Tod Almighty providing delicious local food, and good places to eat out that have cleverly become takeaways for the moment. Good transport links, too, for work or tourism.

“Above all, wherever you are in Todmorden, when you look up you can see the beautiful countryside that surrounds us, so near, so accessible.”

This is what the judges had to say about Todmorden: “A healthy dash of alternative spirit and cheaper houses than Hebden Bridge are the big attractions for the judges here.

“They were impressed with the scenery too - especially the view from Stoodley Pike.The judges also admired the grow-your-own-food movement, Incredible Edible and the charitable efforts of a local wild swimming group raised £45,000 for Crisis through sponsored dips in frozen tarns and freezing waterfalls and lakes.”

The Sunday Times’ expert judges behind the guide assess a wide range of factors, from schools, air quality, transport and broadband speeds to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.

They look for improving towns, villages or city centres, for attractive, well designed homes and locations bursting with community spirit - which the pandemic has shown to be the most vital quality of all.