There are many things which affect how we feel about our lives including:

Because we all have different needs and values, there are lots of things we could add to this list, some of which would be important to you and some to your neighbour.

The three main themes that determine Quality of Life in Allerdale, or anywhere else for that matter, are:

A thriving local economy usually produces high levels of employment and, so long as the jobs are reasonably well paid and rewarding, this allows people to enjoy a good standard of living.
Other parts of our lives can be improved by a prosperous local economy such as transport, leisure and education facilities.

It is wrong to think that improving our local economy will always damage the environment. New business developments are encouraged on brown-field sites which have previously been used and are very often derelict, are in danger of becoming so or the land may have been contaminated.
A good example of this is the new complex created by M-Sport on the site of the old hospital at Dovenby. Jobs have been created, old buildings have been brought back into use and the environment has been enhanced.

We often think of the Environment as the countryside, where animals, birds and flowers can be found.
Although taking care of the natural environment is important, we should also think about where we live, work, shop and play; our own local environment.

Many things which we know damage the natural environment can also make where we live unpleasant such as litter, pollution and the effects of traffic.

Decent housing, good schools and access to basic services are all important parts of what most of us expect in our society. Good public transport and high quality local council services, such as leisure facilities and clean streets, are also part of society's needs.

We also hope for good health, low crime levels and having a say in local decisions to help us feel part of our communities.

In 1992, one hundred and seventy-two governments met at the Earth Summit in Rio-de-Janeiro in Brazil. They all signed a global action plan for the 21st Century called Agenda 21 which aims to improve quality of life and protect the environment.

Local authorities throughout the world were asked to agree a Local Agenda 21 with their local communities. This means that individuals, businesses, community groups and governments all need to do their bit and try to achieve Sustainable Development.

Want to know more?

Download our Allerdale Futures - Our Local Agenda 21 further down the page