'Not sure who they asked': Locals react after Black Country spot named among best places to retire
Forget dreams of retiring to Spain or sunnier climes than here in the UK, a new survey has rated Wolverhampton as one of the best places to settle down post career.
The study, carried out by Health Connect Global, underpins The Sunday Times’ new Growing Old Index, which ranks the healthiest and happiest places to retire in England, assessing six factors including average life expectancy, GP provision, the number of care home beds, and each area’s score in the ONS happiness index
Wolverhampton takes fourth place - just behind Solihull - driven by shorter A&E waits and a higher-than-average number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people. It also scores well on the number of GP surgeries per 100,000 people, a key factor which also gets Walsall an honourable mention.
So what do the people of Wolverhampton think of the city as a potential place to either retire to, or stay in once they do.
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June and Jill, both aged 66, from Pelsall were all for moving to Wolverhampton. Jill said: "If you have more chance of surviving in this area then it is probably worth a move.
"It's all about getting up and getting out every day in older age and it seems like Wolverhampton rates well for health which is very important obviously."
Another person shopping in Wolverhampton but from outside of the city was Keith Whitehouse, aged 81 from Dudley who cited the Grand Theatre and varied shopping as well as convenient public transport for him and his wife.
He said: "A lot of places get some bad press over shops having closed and that is the same everywhere, probably nationwide.
"But we shop here regularly, we get the bus which is convenient and regularly use the theatre which is superb, you look out from your seat and it is wonderful.
"And the shops which are varied with it being a large area so I can see why Wolverhampton is popular."
Read more here: Black Country neighbourhood named among best places to retire in England, according to The Times
But someone who is from Wolverhampton said he was shocked at the findings. Ken Batson, 70, from Ettingshall Park said: "I just find it like a shell of what it used to be, there used to be covered walkways and arcades and now there are empty shops and not as many people using it.
"I like walking every day and there are plenty of places to do that so I do think it has that going for it."
Jane Walters , aged 59 from Coven said: "I'm not sure who they asked but I wouldn't retire here. What's in the city for retired people? You can get to the art gallery. We've got a theatre and a cinema and that's about it - what else is there to do in Wolverhampton?"
Catherine Brazier, aged 90, from Merry Hill, lamented the closure of Marks & Spencer. She said: "But it's gone, you know, it's a real shame."
The final world went to Stanley Mann who lives in Wolverhampton. The 75- year old said: "I've been all around the world and I always come back to Wolverhampton. My children live in Coleshill and Nuneaton but the thing about Wolverhampton is its central and convenient. I consider it a lovely place to live."
