SOUTH Cambs has been ranked in the top 10 best places to live in the country – but a county councillor says the district is still blighted by pockets of deprivation.

The Halifax Quality of Life Survey saw the region placed ninth, but Cllr Susan van de Ven thinks the area still has its problems.

“I would agree it is a very nice part of the world to live in, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have pockets of deprivation,” said the Liberal Democrat representative for Foxton, Heydon, Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth, and the Chishills.

“I was doing a lot of work during the holidays on the number of young people not in education or training, or employment.

“It is absolutely a great place to live, but there are people who fall through the cracks, and one of the real concerns is 16-19-year-olds who are NEET (not in education, employment or training).

“South Cambs is entirely rural and this brings its own transport problems.

“Because it is so affluent there is an assumption that everyone can afford a car, and we also have the train line.

“But if you don’t have access to the public transport network and you don’t have private transport it can be very isolating.”

As part of the study, more than 400 districts in the UK were compared, with factors including employment and earnings, quality of housing, and crime rates taken into account.

North Herts also places highly – at 20th – with the district council welcoming the news.

Cllr Lynda Needham, leader of NHDC, said: “It’s good to see our district recognised this year as being one of the best places to live in the UK, an acknowledgment of the work of a wide range of organisations which help keep North Herts special.

“We are proud to have played our part in that, helping to protect our beautiful green belt, maintaining award-winning parks and open spaces, and investing in our town centres for the good of local economies.”

Number one in the good living hit parade was North East Hampshire.