Page 23 | Is our town a shithole..

FroggletTowers · 2025-06-12T12:53:23+00:00

Or is this happening anywhere else? I have been discussing this with friends, family and colleagues recently so won't name our town for privacy reasons, but it is a regular, large town in England, UK. Nothing particularly special or awful about it, previously. Since the pandemic, the entire vibe has changed. Almost unrecognisable. Yes, we have some heavy shop closures like many towns, but the council kept it looking decent as much as it could. Some nice buildings and nature areas, etc. What stands out most, apart from the general vandalism and dog shit is the weird accumulation of male groups hanging around boozing in public. So far they have taken over the local park, river walks and nature reserves. They often cluster beneath bridges or across paths where people like to run, cycle walk dogs or take children, making it less safe and filling these areas with waste. Off road bikes have ruined the nature reserves, so less people visit [sad] Sadly the authorities don't seem to be doing much about it, it is as if these people don't have to abide by laws that the rest of us have to. Some buildings adjacent to these areas have windows put through on a regular basis, even in what you'd call 'nice' areas. Many of them cluster at river bridges and block the path for others, most are very drunk or out of generally. It isn't unusual to see a large man passed out across the pathway, blocking anyone getting past. If you had a pram or bike it would be really uncomfortable to have to rouse a large drunk at 2pm in the afternoon. Most are local men, with a growing amount of middle eastern men. The vast majority of them are unstable. We see less women out cycling, walking or exercising now, and this encompasses both MC and WC areas. These people seem to have just multiplied and spread across the entire borough and have taken over all public space. We live in a decent area that is now seeming to go downhill. It isn't unusual to see day drinkers sat alone, surrounded by cans on a quiet residential street. And they won't move to let you past. It's really depressing.

Richiewoo · 12/06/2025 18:17

I think all towns and cities are getting run down. Shops closing. Less police and less investment.

Jibberjabba · 12/06/2025 18:14

Slatterndisgrace · 12/06/2025 18:05

I can’t speak for the OP but I’m guessing they mean this : The phrase “Middle Eastern” refers to people of West Asian or North African descent. The term “Middle East” itself is rooted in Eurocentrism, as it references the region's location relative to Europe rather than its actual geographical location.

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Of which the vast majority of those countries main religion is Muslim

WestwardHo1 · 12/06/2025 18:14

Quirkswork · 12/06/2025 18:09

The opposite is true in my market town which is thriving. The town planners have just done a great job with the layout. They've built a really lovely shopping arcade right off the high street with lots of chains...but higher end ones so there's lots of footfall encouraging more and more shops to come in. Started off with Hobbs, Crew Clothing and Seasalt etc Shops are coming in stages. We now have the White Company, Oliver Bonas, Hotel Choc etc. And an M&S with a food hall. Decent parking that isn't a hike. Its not too spread out so theres hustle and bustle.It's been done really well. Hats off to them.

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It sounds lovely, but the kind of town/area which has money. Nothing will entice some of the chains you mention to our town, because it's seen as a poor relation to some of the posher Cornwall and Devon towns. Therefore we need to rely on ourselves. The low end chains we had all closed down - Peacocks is pretty much the only on remaining.

80smonster · 12/06/2025 18:10

We lived in Bethnal Green in the 00s, whenever the sun came out so did all the crackheads. OP, it does sound like a bit of a shithole, are you able to move?

Quirkswork · 12/06/2025 18:09

WestwardHo1 · 12/06/2025 18:03

The type of high streets which are thriving are the ones which have destination specialist independent shops rather than generic chains which are all closing down. Which is possibly why my town is continuing to do ok, because it never had many chains to start with - it was always considered too remote.

Towns need to start encouraging these kind of businesses somehow though for many places I guess it's too late. Who wants to open an independent craft shop or specialist bakers if they have to step over crackheads every morning?

The opposite is true in my market town which is thriving. The town planners have just done a great job with the layout. They've built a really lovely shopping arcade right off the high street with lots of chains...but higher end ones so there's lots of footfall encouraging more and more shops to come in. Started off with Hobbs, Crew Clothing and Seasalt etc Shops are coming in stages. We now have the White Company, Oliver Bonas, Hotel Choc etc. And an M&S with a food hall. Decent parking that isn't a hike. Its not too spread out so theres hustle and bustle.It's been done really well. Hats off to them.

RedhairDL · 12/06/2025 18:07

cardibach · 12/06/2025 17:30

And if the third has a label saying it’s going to electrocute and kill you?

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It doesn’t. It has a label saying it’s going to be the biggest and the bestest light ever, and you won’t have to worry about light again, plus, it’s going to be cheap light.

It may or may not be useless in the end, who knows? But it can’t be any worse than the light in the fitting that doesn’t turn on and is still costing you a fortune.

The problem is that you don’t like the manufacturer because they wanted to leave the EU.

RosesAndHellebores · 12/06/2025 18:06

Ours is lovely. Pro Cook, Rituals, Oliver Bonas have all opened this year, plus a little gallery. Waitrose, M&S are fab. Lovely little market in the square on Saturdays and a couple of week days.

All that irks are the banks of Deliveroo bikes. Excellent schools.

Meetmeundertheclock · 12/06/2025 18:06

What is Northampton like these days?
Last time I drove through most of Kettering Road consisted of Middle European food shops, stores or take-aways.

Slatterndisgrace · 12/06/2025 18:05

Jibberjabba · 12/06/2025 18:01

How do you know the men are Middle Eastern? Majority of the Middle East are Muslim, so not sure they would be getting half cut

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I can’t speak for the OP but I’m guessing they mean this : The phrase “Middle Eastern” refers to people of West Asian or North African descent. The term “Middle East” itself is rooted in Eurocentrism, as it references the region's location relative to Europe rather than its actual geographical location.

WestwardHo1 · 12/06/2025 18:03

The type of high streets which are thriving are the ones which have destination specialist independent shops rather than generic chains which are all closing down. Which is possibly why my town is continuing to do ok, because it never had many chains to start with - it was always considered too remote.

Towns need to start encouraging these kind of businesses somehow though for many places I guess it's too late. Who wants to open an independent craft shop or specialist bakers if they have to step over crackheads every morning?

EasternStandard · 12/06/2025 18:03

Slatterndisgrace · 12/06/2025 17:50

Check out YouTube videos of Kensington, Philadelphia and the drug problem there. A new drug called tranq makes people appear zombified. How do these drugs come to be, are big pharmacies experimenting on how to completely fuck up human beings?

edit, I appreciate I’m a little off topic.

Edited

I hadn’t heard of it so googled NYT article. Geez some terrible effects there.

Jibberjabba · 12/06/2025 18:01

FroggletTowers · 12/06/2025 14:32

Ah, true, not aware of kids and social issues in general, but the male drinking thing is rife.

The middle eastern guys are only interesting because it is new, never witnessed them in the drunk and distressed crowds previously.
I don't know if it is unemployment or something else.

Edited

How do you know the men are Middle Eastern? Majority of the Middle East are Muslim, so not sure they would be getting half cut

Quirkswork · 12/06/2025 18:00

Lilactimes · 12/06/2025 17:57

It’s chicken and egg tho …. Amazon has more choice and is generally cheaper and more convenient so local shops stopped being able to compete and started to close - You’re witnessing the results of online shopping in terms of the deterioration of town centres. we haven’t yet found something to replace the shops to create bustle. Possibly if we weren’t feeling poorer there would be more demand for other forms of entertainment/ places for people to meet.

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Some towns are thriving though with great high streets; ours has improved amazingly over the last ten years. What seems to be the reason is plenty of people living an an area with money to spend and a good active local council. Unfortunately the council has now just changed so it will be a good experiment to watch how the new lot do.

WestwardHo1 · 12/06/2025 18:00

I am finding the causes of decline to be varied, a lack of resilience and not adapting to change is the the main thing.

Really good point. We need more flexible planning rules about changes of use. Too many people just moan on social media that towns aren't like they were in the 80s, without acknowledging that if they are part of the vast majority who use out of town retail and internet shopping, they have been part of the decline. People need a change of mindset. Our high street is starting to tackle this quite well.

PomeloOud · 12/06/2025 18:00

No. I live in the south east and out local town has become more gentrified, if anything.

Midnightlove · 12/06/2025 17:58

OhPatti · 12/06/2025 14:04

Well, OP mentions river walks so this isn’t a seaside town she’s talking about…

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You get rivers near the sea you know 😂

PandoraSocks · 12/06/2025 17:58

ERthree · 12/06/2025 17:52

In the last 5 or 6 months our local town has changed drastically. Since Covid the amount of shop closures is heartbreaking but the increase in skanky drug users is infuriating and really does stop people using the town centre. Why should decent people be accosted by these lowlifes begging for money for their next fix, trying to rob OAPs, lying on the pavement comatose, no wonder tourists don't visit anymore. In the last few months it is large groups of men leering at young girls and women, asking them for sex and getting mad when they are turned down. I am surprised we are not in the same position as Ballymena.

I am surprised we are not in the same position as Ballymena

Are you in Northern Ireland?

Lilactimes · 12/06/2025 17:58

couchparsnip · 12/06/2025 17:56

I am literally writing a dissertation about this as we speak.
(Well I should be doing that anyway and not being on Mumsnet)
I could go on for ages about this. There are so many towns like this now. Low footfall, low value shops, vacancies. I just looked at a few.

I am finding the causes of decline to be varied, a lack of resilience and not adapting to change is the the main thing. Obviously COVID, online shopping, out of town shopping centres and a lack of investment have an effect, but in some places there is 'negative branding'. People just love to hate their town. That's a big factor.

We have to accept now that town centres will have to change to survive, retail can't be the big draw any more. The towns that do well are the ones with a unique selling point, where those in charge care about the look and feel of a place ....

I've not read the comments before mine. Sorry if I have repeated things. I got excited you were talking about my topic!

Yes - great points

Lilactimes · 12/06/2025 17:57

WitchesofPainswick · 12/06/2025 15:46

Well it's all by convenience. If I could get what I buy on Amazon in my town centre, with decent customer service, then I would. Amazon fills a consumer need - quality goods, fast delivery.

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It’s chicken and egg tho …. Amazon has more choice and is generally cheaper and more convenient so local shops stopped being able to compete and started to close - You’re witnessing the results of online shopping in terms of the deterioration of town centres. we haven’t yet found something to replace the shops to create bustle. Possibly if we weren’t feeling poorer there would be more demand for other forms of entertainment/ places for people to meet.

couchparsnip · 12/06/2025 17:56

I am literally writing a dissertation about this as we speak.
(Well I should be doing that anyway and not being on Mumsnet)
I could go on for ages about this. There are so many towns like this now. Low footfall, low value shops, vacancies. I just looked at a few.

I am finding the causes of decline to be varied, a lack of resilience and not adapting to change is the the main thing. Obviously COVID, online shopping, out of town shopping centres and a lack of investment have an effect, but in some places there is 'negative branding'. People just love to hate their town. That's a big factor.

We have to accept now that town centres will have to change to survive, retail can't be the big draw any more. The towns that do well are the ones with a unique selling point, where those in charge care about the look and feel of a place ....

I've not read the comments before mine. Sorry if I have repeated things. I got excited you were talking about my topic!

WestwardHo1 · 12/06/2025 17:56

LlttledrummergirI · 12/06/2025 17:52

We don't have that problem with men in my local parks.

We do have a problem with fewer families, mums dads, granndparents etc though. In my opinion, this is because they closed the toilets. It means you can't take a picnic, or spend the time there that you would like because humans need to pee. This means you are more likely to go elsewhere or just not bother.

Whn people stop using places, they become a magnet for those who want to avoid busy places.

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This is such a massive no brainer.

Yet councils across the country are continuing to close public toilets, saying that they are "not a statutory requirement".

RedhairDL · 12/06/2025 17:55

Tiredalwaystired · 12/06/2025 17:44

Let’s say that third lightbulb had an obviously faulty connection. Wouldn’t you risk assess before you tried?

I mean, on the basis of what you said, if that third party said “we want to murder all first born” as a policy then would that be ok on the basis that they were untested?

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Nonsense. If parties were going around saying stuff like that then they of course wouldn’t be voted in. Reform are saying nothing of the sort. I find it risky to stay with the status quo. I’m also concerned about what our country will look like in 4 years.

Quirkswork · 12/06/2025 17:53

Dappy777 · 12/06/2025 17:34

Yes, I have noticed this. The population of my home town seems to have exploded recently, and the place feels cramped and suffocating. I often see groups of young men in the middle of the weekday wandering around aimlessly. They don't seem to be addicts though. And they don't seem to be homeless either. I think the majority are recently arrived immigrants. I only say that because I work in town and often go for a walk during my break. When I walk past them, they're almost never speaking English.

There are just too many people crammed into this small island. I'm sorry but there are. In the last decade I have watched the countryside near me slowly destroyed by developers. My local woods have been hacked down to make way for two new estates, and now the fields in the centre of the village are going to be built on as well. Anyone who lives in a city and thinks they're going to retire to the countryside is living in la la land. By the time most of us retire there won't be any countryside – just a sea of new build rabbit hutches jammed on top of one another.

This is very much how I feel about the increase in population. I love our countryside and everywhere now feels so full.

ERthree · 12/06/2025 17:52

In the last 5 or 6 months our local town has changed drastically. Since Covid the amount of shop closures is heartbreaking but the increase in skanky drug users is infuriating and really does stop people using the town centre. Why should decent people be accosted by these lowlifes begging for money for their next fix, trying to rob OAPs, lying on the pavement comatose, no wonder tourists don't visit anymore. In the last few months it is large groups of men leering at young girls and women, asking them for sex and getting mad when they are turned down. I am surprised we are not in the same position as Ballymena.

hazelowens · 12/06/2025 17:52

I live on a seaside town and it's all poundshops, vape shops and charity shops. We had 3 Greggs on one street but they moved it into the big Tesco. We also have random fires happen in graded buildings and shops that the council took control of they found big amounts of a certain plant after the council had had control for say a year. We had a massive hotel connected to the train station and the man who owned it just left it to go to ruin. The council took control and twice it's been on fire 2nd time it got out of control and they had to pull most of it down and you couldn't get a train you had to go to the next station but I think you can use it now.