Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority will now share the same breathing apparatus sets as its neighbours in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

A joint £1.7 million investment means firefighters across all three counties are now using the same lighter and fully adjustable equipment when responding to emergency incidents, tackling fires or entering other hazardous environments.

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The alignment between the services has seen more than 4,000 items of new kit, including new air tanks and a Bluetooth communication system, rolled out to firefighters at 60 stations across Thames Valley.

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It comes after Bucks firefighters warned in December that they ‘did not have the resources to meet the demands of their communities’.

Their warning followed a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services that found Bucks Fire Service was ‘overly reliant’ on neighbouring services and was ‘inadequate’ at protecting the public.

Following the report, Louise Harrison was appointed as the new chief fire officer for the region. Her appointment was criticised by Fire Brigades Union due to the former directors lack of experience working in the fire service.

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Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service Station Commander Dave Tubbs, project lead, said: “BA is one of the key pieces of equipment used by all firefighters.

“Alongside alignment of the contracts and equipment used by the three services, firefighter safety and satisfaction were the key elements we aimed to deliver from this project.”

By Danny Fullbrook

BBC News, Buckinghamshire

A historian has created a new podcast defending her hometown of Milton Keynes.

Anouska Lewis, 26, was born in the Buckinghamshire city and is the presenter of BBC sounds podcast Hometown Boring.

She said it was only when she went to university "it really hit home with how supposedly boring Milton Keynes is".

Through her podcasts she wanted to explore places that may not have "cool reputations" like her hometown.

"I wanted to make a history podcast that was relatable and light-hearted and fun, but also educational," she said.

"But I also wanted to spotlight places that have a similar reputation to Milton Keynes, ones that often get dismissed instead of being a cool city like Liverpool or Manchester."

Hometown Boring is made up of six episodes that visit towns such as Slough, Plymouth and Chepstow in Wales.

Each podcast highlights lesser-known history from the featured area in a bid to demonstrate how interesting the location really is.

In Milton Keynes Ms Lewis explored the city's involvement in 1990s rave culture.

She spoke to DJs who performed at the Sanctuary Music Arena, which closed in 2004 but would attract people from across the country.

Ms Lewis was surprised to discover the city's rave history.

"When people [who are into rave] think about their teenage years they think Milton Keynes," she said.

The podcaster said when she first returned to Milton Keynes from university she was surprised by how "comforting" she found the town.

Ms Lewis said: "I realised how comforting the dual carriageways and the greenery around the roads was, which is so weird."

The Milton Keynes resident said she often feels protective of her hometown when it is "misjudged or dismissed by others".

She said there is a lot to love about the city and praised the "innovative design" of the town as well as the "hippy" shopping centre.

"I have got to give a shout-out to the roundabouts, I low-key love the roundabouts," she added.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830

Around the BBC

By Danny Fullbrook & Jonathan Vernon-Smith

BBC News, Buckinghamshire

An MP has said that the way Milton Keynes has been portrayed in EastEnders was "out of order".

On Monday the character of Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer, returned to screens in scenes set in her home in Milton Keynes.

One viewer, who has lived in Milton Keynes since the 1970s, said: "They've chosen my city, my home, as a place to depict as being a slum."

The BBC press office declined to comment.

In one scene a child character living in Milton Keynes was described as not being in school and instead "roaming the estate, carting drugs around, eating out of bins".

Shortly afterwards an argument began and a brick was thrown through a window by Bianca.

Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said he was unhappy with the portrayal.

The Conservative MP said he would be contacting producers of the programme to suggest writing another storyline about "some of the brilliant parts of Milton Keynes".

He said the programme's characters could be shown to walk around Willen Lake. He added: "I am quite positive about Milton Keynes and I want them to show the good side as well."

He added: "Like every city we got parts that aren't as good as the others, but the characterisation is completely out of order."

The scenes for the episode were filmed in Barnet, London, and saw characters Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and her partner Zack Hudson (James Farrar) visit Bianca who has not been seen on the programme since 2019.

A caller to the JVS show on BBC Three Counties Radio said he had to switch off BBC1 when he watched the programme.

Arthur, who has lived in Milton Keynes since the 1970s, told Three Counties Radio: "They've chosen my city, my home, as a place to depict as being a slum.

"If [the city] was a business the producers would have lawyers sitting on their doorstep looking to sue them."

Destination Milton Keynes, the city's official tourism service, said: "We'll leave it up to a fictional soap opera to choose how they want to depict Milton Keynes.

"But we know it to be a thriving, multi-cultural community with more than 6,000 acres of free green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy and with a booming visitor economy worth over £230m a year.

"[The city] regularly features as one of the fastest-growing and most prosperous cities in the UK."

Mr Everitt said that although the depiction was not a major political issue, it was important to him that the city be represented fairly.

He said: "It's fiction, it's a soap opera, it's just the telly... I'm just not happy it's Milton Keynes."

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If you want to leave London for some peace and quiet, Buckinghamshire is the place to be.

Rather than traditionally picturesque spots the Chiltern Hills and pretty market towns like Winslow, though, Milton Keynes is apparently the most calming place to be.

It’s an unexpected choice, given critics have called the city ‘soulless’ and ‘grey’ due to its many roundabouts and concrete structures – and comedian Bill Bailey even dubbed it ‘Satan’s layby’.

But according to Compare The Market’s analysis of factors like noise levels, air quality and happiness ratings of residents, there’s no better place in the UK for a tranquil lifestyle.

Milton Keynes was followed by Preston, Oxford, Sheffield, and Wigan, scoring particularly highly for green spaces (93.4 out of 100) and air quality (86.8 out of 100).

The comparison site also found locals had access to 54 walking trails and 76 spas in the vicinity of the commuter hub, so whether it’s a stroll or massage that helps chill you out, you’re all set in MK.

The top five most calming cities in the UK

1. Milton Keynes

Total score: 7.88

2. Preston

Total score: 7.61

3. Oxford

Total score: 7.48

4. Sheffield

Total score: 7.14

5. Wigan

Total score: 6.91

Via Compare the Market.

The fact is, Milton Keynes’ bleak, industrial reputation didn’t come from nowhere.

When it was formed in the 1960s, the ‘new town’ was mapped out with a series of grid roads designed to encourage driving and industrial estates to encourage business.

As such, its landscape can appear somewhat block-like and unnatural.

Get past the stereotypes, however, and you’ll realise that this is only half the story.

Yes, Milton Keynes is new, only awarded city status in 2022. But alongside its gigantic shopping centre and wealth of car parking spaces, it features over 22 million trees and shrubs in public open spaces.

In fact, approximately 25% of the urban area in MK is parkland or woodland, and it boasts two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Howe Park Wood and Oxley Mead.

The city also has more waterfront than the island of Jersey, 186 miles of ‘redway’ cycle paths, 200 public works of art, a 1,400 seat theatre, and three museums showcasing everything from history to computing.

Milton Keynes has been touted as a hub for urban technology testing in recent years, and in 2020 has the ‘world’s largest autonomous robot fleet’ delivering products across the city.

And with an average house price of £346,695 (according to Rightmove) compared to £776,533 in London, it’s potentially where smart money is headed.

Even if you work in the capital, it’s less than an hour on a train in to Euston, with 222 direct services from Milton Keynes Central to London every day priced from £6.50 each way.

Locals are fiercely defensive of their town; expected given the ribbing it gets,

Reddit user Diexters, who moved there three years ago after spending the last 14 years in London, said he was ‘pleasantly surprised,’ adding that Milton Keynes is ‘a really good place to live and bring up a family.’

xxmekailxx added: ‘Having lived here for my whole life so far, I have grown up to love this place and call it my home. Accessibility, cosy estates, a modern look town/city centre, lots of green spaces and a good mix of urban and rural are all great and unique things about MK.’

So perhaps we shouldn’t turn our noses up at life in Milton Keynes. If it’s as relaxing as they say, maybe we could do with a taste of it.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Buckinghamshire is flush with huge new transport projects, with a host of massive infrastructure planned across the county in the coming years. New train lines are being built in the area as we speak.

East West Rail will connect the north of the county with Oxford and Cambridge, adding to a county with extensive road links to other major cities. Of course, the controversial HS2 project is also being constructed - but won't serve communities in Bucks.

Despite that, the county remains difficult to get around via train. There are no rail links between Milton Keynes - our only city - and the rest of Buckinghamshire.

Read more: We asked AI to create a tram system in Milton Keynes - here's what it could look like

Trying to get from MK to Aylesbury or High Wycombe is nigh-on impossible via public transport, while other parts of the county are without any rail links at all.

So we took to the task of asking AI chatbot ChatGPT to create a blueprint for a Buckinghamshire Underground network. What if the Metropolitan Line wasn't the only Tube in town?

Initially, ChatGPT created five lines on our new transport network. But these clearly didn't go far enough, so we asked it to add in three more to take the total number of links to eight.

With a focus on using existing lines and connecting areas that you currently can't travel to directly, our AI companion even suggested routes and names for each line. Check out the end result on our interactive underground map below, courtesy of tennessine.co.uk's metro designer tool.

The map includes rivers and the M1 and M40 motorways for connectivity, as well as existing rail lines such as those operated by Chiltern Railways. We've also zoned off the five districts of Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe much like the TfL network.

We've altered the titles of the routes and where they serve to make them a bit snappier and sensible with where they call. Here they are with a quick explainer for each line below the map.

This is the major line running throughout the county. Starting and ending at Milton Keynes Central station, it stops at most of the county's major towns en route to Marlow at the other end. ChatGPT said: "This line forms a crucial link between major towns in Buckinghamshire and extends the reach of the existing network, offering enhanced connectivity and convenience for residents and visitors.

"This line would serve as a major artery connecting urban centres, suburbs, and scenic areas, contributing to the overall accessibility and development of the region."

Creating a new link between Aylesbury Central and Chalfont & Latimer, the Chiltern Express gives faster trains to the rest of the TfL network. Chat GPT said: "This line connects key towns in the Chiltern Hills area, catering to both commuter and leisure travel. It offers a scenic route through picturesque landscapes."

Stops: Aylesbury Central - Wendover - Great Missenden - Chesham - Amersham - Chalfont & Latimer

The only of our new lines to call outside of Buckinghamshire - thanks to the handy Elizabeth Line and proximity to Slough - this loop is aptly named. Chat GPT explains: "Catering to the towns along the River Thames, this line provides access to both local and regional services, enhancing connectivity and tourism opportunities."

Stops: High Wycombe - Marlow - Taplow - Burnham - Slough

Buckingham is in an odd predicament for transport, given that it no longer has its own train station. The Grand Buckingham Line changes all that, linking the town with Aylesbury, Wendover, Chesham and Amersham.

Chat GPT said: "This line connects the major towns in the heart of Buckinghamshire, offering efficient transportation and stimulating economic development."

Stops: Buckingham - Winslow - Aylesbury Central - Stoke Mandeville - Wendover - Amersham - Chesham

The aptly-named MK Loop provides a new way of getting around the new city. It provides a comprehensive loop connecting the major estates in Milton Keynes and its old towns.

There's also a stop for the city hospital and at Broughton to change for the M1 and MK Coachway. ChatGPT said: "This loop serves the diverse neighborhoods and estates within Milton Keynes, promoting local connectivity and providing an efficient means of travel for residents. As always, the design and implementation of such a line would require careful consideration of the city's layout, population density, and existing infrastructure."

Stops: Newport Pagnell - Wolverton - Stony Stratford - Milton Keynes Central - Bletchley - Fenny Stratford - Broughton Interchange - Newport Pagnell

Another new line connecting the Chilern and Aylesbury Vale districts, the line provides fast links between the Metropolitan Line and Aylesbury. Chat GPT said: "Focusing on cross-connectivity, this line links towns on different sides of Buckinghamshire, facilitating rapid travel across the county."

Stops: Amersham - Chesham - Aylesbury Central - Haddenham & Thame Parkway

Named after the canal that runs through northern MK, the Grand Union line offers a super-fast link between Aylesbury and "the growing urban centre" of Milton Keynes, as ChatGPT put it. This line serves as a "vital link" between them while also connecting Buckingham and Wendover

Stops: Milton Keynes Central - Buckingham - Aylesbury Central - Wendover

Finally, the Chiltern Hills line offers a route through the stunning landscape to connect Beaconsfield with Chalfont St Giles and Princes Risborough. ChatGPT says it "provides a direct link to the existing network and contributes to regional transportation".

Stops: Beaconsfield - Amersham - Chesham - Great Missenden - Wendover - Princes Risborough

What do you think of our Underground map? Let us know in the comments.