Is our town a shithole..

This has nothing to do with poverty. I call people like this scrubbers. It’s a choice. You choose to throw your rubbish on the floor. You choose to shout and swear in public. You choose to dress like a tramp- yes it is cheaper to buy smart looking clothes than branded trainers and branded sportswear.
It is awful to see this behaviour. Close to where I live they are demolishing several flats. It’s already made the area better. No idea where the residents have gone but the number of men roaming around town drinking, shoplifting and generally not adding any positivity to the place has decreased.

Sounds interesting and timely. It is something I often ponder on as what I see in my city is replicated to a greater and lesser extent throughout the country. Of course there are many reasons and I think that Covid accelerated the changes brough about by online shopping, people going into town less, city centres needing to reasses what their purpose is now that in-person shopping is not the thing is used to be or will ever be againl Good luck and now get back to work! 😅

I lived in a hamlet where that happened. Park up in field gateway, admiring the bright yellow Rape field. Chuck the MacDonald detritus and leave.
The logic of it puzzled me. Then I realised it was a finger up to those who were able to live there.

The reason you're seeing more marginalised people on the streets - and that's what you're seeing - is the accumulated effect of years and years of cuts to addiction services and the near collapse of community mental health services.

I live in a very poor area. The council places many of its most vulnerable residents in HMO's near me - there are two HMO's in my road, and a number of hostels nearby. Many of the people you see on the streets are estranged from family members, because of mental illness and substance abuse. They're often destitute, spending all their benefits money on alcohol and weed to get them through the day.

The reason why people gather in groups is because they're human, and one of the few things that gives comfort and pleasure to these folks living on the margins, is human contact with other people.

I'm sorry you're offended by the sight of them. Just try to remember, these are someone's brother, son, nephew. Imagine someone you love leading that sort of life.

Well aware of why there is always an excuse especially at this time of the year to riot. Our town is full of tension right now, and it won't take much to ignite.

The agency here that works with and houses homeless people many of whom have multiple complex needs had around 44% of its projects, hostels and supported accomodation in my area, It is a poor and deprived area and it makes it worse to have so many people with high levels of need in such a small area. Drug dealers work like any business, they go to where the custom is so we have open drug dealing out on the streets, men who are pissed up outside the many off licenses and beggars by the cash point, I really believe in helping homeless people but I think that all areas should take a share but of course a "better" area ofen organises opposition to a hostel being built. There is a supported house on my street and the dealing there used to be wild, people coming and going at all hours, fighting in the street, threats to kill, you get the picture! All of us who live close by had to keep a diary of the many events and the tenants did get kicked out in the end but I think many MNs would have had an attack of the vapours coping with such events

@lifeonmars100 clearly Nottingham - so sad -

My town has actually got better over the years, some really quite nice improvements.

@Mimilamore
Oh yeah there are a lot of kids on bikes here too. They often wear balaclavas.
Same issue with fly tipping - the alleys are disgusting.

I think we can conclude you live in a shithole.

I'm in a Northern city and there's a massive drugs problem. I've had to call the police to move users on from near where we live. I've picked up needles outside of our doorway before as I didn't want the children stepping on them. It's depressing that my kids even recognise the people as addicts. They also recognise the stench of cannabis too. I do have a lot of sympathy for some of these people though, life has probably treated them really hard. It just makes it miserable to witness. They regularly fight, throw up, urinate everywhere etc.

These are almost always local, working class men. We do have a lot of Eastern Europeans here and people of Asian descent but it's not them (however much Reform like to push that's the problem).

I also agree with another poster that a lot of mums seem quite rough at the moment. At the school gates there are men with huge dogs. I've moved a few times along the coast and it's been the same everywhere.

Despite all of this, the city still has humour and a warmth. I'm happy here!

The town I live in is a sadder sight since the pandemic IMO. There are more feral kids on bikes being intimidating and using catapults to shoot at animals. However the streets are more or less deserted in the evenings and pubs restaurants empty in the week, leading to many only opening Thursday to Sunday…
The whole place has been neglected and is very run down although levelling up money is being used to try and improve things. There is are a lot of people litter picking in lots of areas, sadly there are lots of people throwing rubbish and fly tipping alleys…. so yes I think things have changed for the worse… less dog poo on streets though as I think more people are aware of how disgusting it is…

Hello fellow Nottinghamian! Hyson Green I presume?

So what do you all propose is the actual solution for this? I feel the same by the way….but rather than just sharing anecdotes, experience and complaining….WHAT needs to happen?

I live in a nice crime free village. If I leave any power tools in the garden, they'll still be there in the morning.
Young people here are lovely. Always say hello, no graffiti etc.

Local Coop was refurbished. Only one proper checkout, the other tills are on the cigarette counter. Before refurbishment, they were open, now there's high perspex protecting it all.
That's not to protect anyone and anything now, that's future planning. Even if the locals stay law abiding, there's always outsiders who go where there are easy pickings.
I'll go in there of a late evening, no customers, just a couple of staff stocking shelves. They are so vulnerable. The nearest police are stationed seven miles away.

PP nailed it partly, there's no collective shame, I live on the edge of a town surrounded by fields, walking my dog today and various contractors parked down a small lane doing some work, all of whom had thrown their filthy fucking mcdonalds out the window so litter strewn everywhere, scum. They obviously have no shame though, and have been brought up like this, god knows what their delightful children will behave like, maybe just eat from the floor do away with any utensils etc.? Won't have to worry about what to do with litter then. And no before anyone says anything I didn't challenge them, I can pretty much guarantee what the response would have been to a lone older woman, and I doubt very much they would have picked up the litter so no point.

I was born and broought up in Peterborough, it was dull but spotless and reasonably prosperous. Last time I went there it was unrecognisable, it is a wreck of its former self

my city in the k Midlands is in a real state and it is so sad to see. It is not especially wealthy but has always been lively, with a lot of positve things happening and it has two universities. I am in a rough area, it used to be rough and ready but full of life and it was always clean. The council is broke and struggling to provide essential services. Community centres and libraries are being shut or only opening for very restricted hours, the streets are filthy and even the pest/rat catchng service has been axed to cut costs! Where I live is just vile now, used to be a bit scruffy but it looks almost Dickensain now, the only shops that are ooen are takeaways and off licences, there is a big supermarket but it is a gathering place for drinkers, drug users and beggars, I have walked past people smoking crack in the afternoon in full view of kids coming out of school. One of my friends lives in one of the "better" areas and I have noticed that this is on the slide now, i have seen drunks on the streets there in the middle of the day, they have people rough sleeping in the door ways of the boarded up Wilko and fly tipping is creeping in. City centre is just like so many others, nail bars, vape shops, chicken shops, burger places, discount stores and would be hard pressed to count all the coffee shops. We have a big M and S and a big John Lewis , a large Next, a Primark and that is about it. Loads of beggars and rough sleepers in the city centre and there is an air of tension at times. We have had quite a few stabbings too, most recent one was in the middle of the day in the middle of the city centre. Grim times

Bahahaha. What????

I live 15 miles down the road and have vowed never to visit this shithole again. It’s a shame as I always loved Peterborough as a teen. John Lewis rightly shipped out and it’s getting worse there. It’s literally the boil on the arsehole of humanity.

I live in a midland town and we have our fair share of immigration. Most of the Eastern European’s here do bring plenty to the table, but some of the men do loiter in the back of supermarkets etc, drinking openly. I also happen to live along a river bank but have seen anything like this there. The drinking behaviour seems to happen around the shops and off licences that sell the booze. These places also stink of piss.

Interesting to see several mentions of Peterborough here - agree it is absolutely dire. It has always had its problems but the city centre isn't worth going to any more - so many shops have left. Yes there are plenty of restaurants but the atmosphere is awful. Men hanging around, groups of addicts behaving erratically, just a general very depressed air, rubbish everywhere, vape shops and empty premises. Teenagers fighting in the shopping centre. Drug use along the riverside walks. It's a shame as there are some nice areas of the city but everyone I know agrees there is no reason to actually go into the centre any more.

I work in central London and next to my office is a tent city. Row upon row of tents and rubbish. People passed out on the street or begging or fighting. It stinks to high heaven and is intimidating.