To nominate as the country's worst town centre....

[moogster1a]

...Rochdale.
Good God it's a god forsaken place. There appears to be half a dozen payday loan shos, a few poundland things and some mobile 'phone shops.
It's got so bad that even maccy d's has shut down.
It's only redeeming feature is that Gabbots farm is still clinging on.

[blackoutthesun]

northampton

its got a shopping centre with about 5 shops in

[Toomanyplates]

I second the Northampton suggestion. What a shithole

[Methe]

You have obviously never beer to Dudley!

[bushymcbush]

Spennymoor.

[BrianCoxHasScaryHair]

St Helens.

Northampton a close second.

Personal favourite not of mine is Crawley.

It is many years since I've been to either Crawley, Northampton or St Helens and admittedly I didn't have very nice experiences whilst in any of them so that could be clouding my judgement.

I love my town but a lot of people slate it, I get uppity on it's behalf (as am sure the residents of the towns I have mentioned will do ) I'm not saying where I'm from though.

[Toomanyplates]

My husband is originally from Dudley. He moved away. Many miles away. Sounds like he did the right thing

[GrahamTribe]

Oh god no, not "Spenny-mooo-er", as it's known locally. And given that you know Spennymooooer, I think that you'll agree with me on Crook, Bushymcbush?

[Sapphirefling]

I give you Stoke On Trent.
Which doesn't actually have an official centre really but is made up of these bizarre five towns The busiest bit is Hanley which is the 'officail' city cente if the road signs are to be believed.
Which is only slightly less grim then Burslem, Longton, Tunstall and Stoke.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Colchester. It's grim.

[Wittsend13]

Noooo Crawley isn't a bad town. My vote goes to West Croydon. Now that's a dump!

[Sirzy]

Briancox - st Helen's has only got worse in recent years. The only good thing going for it now is the new rugby ground being so close to the centre.

[MissMarjoribanks]

Have you ever been to Rochdale OP? Didn't think so.

I work there. It has a Grade I listed town hall, one of the most amazing buildings I have ever been in. It has a Grade II* listed post office, designed by Edwin Lutyens. It has a fantastic new 6th form college. It is where the co-operative movement started and there is loads of history. There are two museums and two art galleries, one a little independent one. There are cranes in the town centre, in sharp contrast to the rest of the country. Things are happening.

The town centre is run down, but it has a lower vacancy rate than Altrincham. You can't buy a deli sandwich, but you can get your trousers altered for £8 and your eyebrows threaded for £5. I have never been anywhere with friendlier people in the shops.

So don't criticise somewhere you have never been. And don't take what is shown on the telly as a true representation of a place.

[tethersend]

Stevenage.

[Spuddybean]

ellesmere port

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Morecambe. Hellish place.

Ooh just remembered Millom. Oh the horror.

[imoanruby]

I have to agree with Wittsend13 West Croydon is the most depressing place, closely followed by North, East and South Croydon!

[LaFilleSurLePont]

YABU.Cumbernauld wins.

[RustyBear]

Bracknell.

[ButterPopcorn]

I see your Spennymoor, and can't decide whether to raise you a Billingham or a Peterlee...

[Spuddybean]

oh god! i've just remembered swindon!

[deemented]

Take a walk down the road from Rochdale and you'll come to Rawtenstall.

Now theres a shite hole if ever there was one. Thank feck they are knocking it down.

[northernmonkey]

Rotherham!!
That town would win hands down

[CuffingChunt]

Rotherham.
All the decent shops have relocated to the out of town shopping retail park (Parkgate).
Utter shite is left in town centre.