To ask how ‘rough’ is this rough area?

So ... You can definitely have windscreen wiper damage anywhere. Or kids writing on walls with pens. You don't Really know whether it's a prostitute who lived near you. The death was before your time (how long ago?)

Dog bite, loud arguments and someone trying to cadge money are things you have personally suffered and which sound 'dodgy area' to me. Along with criminals living nearby and police using battering rams on a regular basis this edges into rough. TBF this could be a couple of bad families.

Burned out motorcycle dumped, parked up cars with couples having sex, lots of police activity involving helicopters, stealing wreaths from war memorial, fly tipping including of cannabis farming debris sounds rough, but all actually happened at upmarket village property.

What's on fire? If there's not at least one sofa burning in the street, it's fine.

Seriously, though, that sounds grim. Move if you can.

Sounds grotty - is it full of feckless people with four children who are expecting a 5th?

I live in a supposedly very deprived town. I can see trees and a river outside my front door and the hills from the back bedroom window.
We do have anti social behaviour in the town centre but it's mostly groups of teenagers and the odd 'well known' drug dealer.
If I lived somewhere like OP describes I would have to move, even if it meant working two jobs I would have to go!

She described the area and the reasons why if you have another read.

Because it’s a public forum where people chat, ask questions and opinions, seek advice, have a laugh, commiserate, celebrate and discuss.

What is it if it’s not the dole??

Pip ? Edit: I only hear of these two benefits- no other name.

In all honesty, it sounds just like the council estates near where I grew up in the 90s. Not the estates of houses, but the old high rise blocks of flats.

A relative of mine is in a flat in social housing in the same area and it's a beautiful flat in a nice area. It's on one of the new developments of houses that they had to build a certain % of social housing. I'm sure it has problems and many of the properties are certainly overcrowded, but I've not heard such horror stories. She's very happy there, albeit a little cramped.

The old blocks have all been knocked down and replaced with better quality housing, but the reputation of the location has remained and similar issues to what OP had described are still present even though the blocks are now smaller and nicer to look at.

Stop judging and deal with the immediate problems you say you have. Unless you’re looking for attention with this post.

Indeed. It was the dole in my mother's generation. Back when you had to take your giro to the post office to cash in.

It kind of depends on a few other things.

I lived in an East End borough for a few years and all of these things will have happened within two streets of where I lived - but because of the incredibly mixed nature of London boroughs, there were also 1/2 million pound homes (20 years ago, so 1.7m now). There were a couple of walkways you'd NEVER go down after dark, but also very well equipped schools, craft markets, independent coffee shops and gorgeous restaurants coming out of your ears, lots of "family bikes" (though also lots of potential for them getting nicked!).

🤣 And a bit of foil, missus?

I work in a 'rough' London borough and live in one that's very slightly nicer. What you've described doesn't sound lovely, but it also doesn't sound the worst. If you feel safe in your own home once you lock your door, if you can turn down the requests for loans without feeling threatened, and if you're not regularly woken up by police raids, then I'd say you could be much worse off!

I'm from a "rough" area and the worst we have is ASB from kids
No needles, drugs, dog bites etc

Lol do you live in Catford ?

It’s made where I live in SE London look like Kensington.

It sounds rough but what matters is how you feel.

If you feel safe can relax once indoors then it’s fine.

I lived in a block where there was drug dealing outside, fighting on the street and a prostitute next door and it was hell for me. I never felt relaxed there. Thank god I was able to move out after 6 months.

I didn't know Margate had got as bad as that OP, but yes it (or at least this bit of it) sounds dreadful and if possible I'd be off

Not all lower income areas are as bad though. My son lives in one (disabled needing easy access to town, and inner city areas are rarely that good) but the community is amazing with everyone looking out for everyone else.
Yes there are a few you'd avoid down a dark lane, but most have hearts of gold and I've never seen an XL bully or even much of the police

I haven't heard the phrase on the dole for at least 15 years. It's usually on benefits

It was right next to a waitrose and had lots of green spaces and nice friendly neighbours.

^

No waitrose in op's area, not even a Booths

Op - Blackpool??