The rankings of the worse places to live 2022 where published this week by the satirical website iLiveHere.
Didcot ranked as the 11th worst place to live in the country.
Didcot mayor, Mocky Khan defended the town, he said: “I don’t think it reflects Didcot, a town which has a new shopping centre and great community spirit – people might be going off past perceptions.”
Even though many do not believe that Didcot is a great place to live, here are five reasons why it is:
Rich history
Didcot has a medieval past. The first settlement was Iron Age in origin, after the conquest became Romano-British and eventually a Saxon settlement.
The town was little affected during World War II and became a refuge for hundreds of evacuees from London during the war years.
In the early 1970’s, the Didcot Power Station was completed, and the chimneys and cooling towers became a symbol for the town. In 2020, the last part of the coal-fired power station was demolished nearly seven years after it closed.
A railway powerhouse
The arrival of the Great British Railway in 1839 alongside the siting at Didcot of the Branch Junction to Oxford and the erection of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's covered station of 1844, established Didcot as an important junction and created the basic conditions for its future growth.
Didcot Railway Centre, by the train station, is a former Great Western Railway engine-shed and locomotive stabling point.
It is a railway museum and preservation engineering site ran by the Great Western Society. It has a working steam locomotive, an engineering maintenance centre, and railway line offering short rides to visitors.
Arts centre
Built in the heart of Didcot, the Cornerstone Arts Centre opened its doors in 2008. Run by South Oxfordshire District Council, it is as a multi-purpose arts venue for the local community to enjoy a wide range of events. Some of these include classes like tap and life drawing, Visual Arts Gallery with work created by local and national artist; cinema, screening new films as well as being the host of Didcot’s film club.
Training ground for potential Olympians
People in Oxfordshire who look to follow a career as professional boxers do not have to go far. Last year, Didcot Amateur Boxing Academy became an affiliated club to England Boxing, the governing body for the sport.
According to founder Kieran Davids, this allowed the town to establish a future of probabilities within English boxers. Their boxes can go to championships and follow a path that ultimately could lead to the Olympics.
Location and transport links
The town offers a great balance of town and country as it is surrounded by farmland and beautiful villages. The recent redevelopment of the Orchard shopping centre offered more shopping options for people to enjoy.
Didcot’s location can be considered an advantage, as it has convenient railway links to London and Oxford. From Didcot Parkway, London is just 40 minutes away, and Oxford just over 20 minutes.
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