The village of Albinen “breathes tranquillity”, according to its mayor AlamyWith stunning views, clean air and a dry climate it is easy to think that Swiss mountain towns would be ideal places to live. However, Albinen, a town in the Valais canton with a population of 240, is so worried about an exodus of residents it plans to pay newcomers to live there. Families willing to move there will be offered up to SwFr70,000 (£53,500) under plans proposed by the mayor of Albinen. His town has only five children of school age and so had to close its school. Under the scheme, which will be put to a referendum on Thursday, each adult would be paid SwFr25,000 plus SwFr 10,000 per child.

Source: The Times November 25, 2017 00:01 UTC