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Home town going downhill

73 replies

Kris02 · 22/06/2022 16:39

I have lived in the same town since the 1970s, but have really noticed a change in the last five or six years.

Basically, I live in a medium-sized market town about 60 miles out of London. Since the early 2000s, the population has massively increased. In other words, it's now a market town with the population of a small city. The town itself is ringed by horrible new housing estates with hundreds of awful rabbit hutch 'new builds' jammed together. The roads have become utterly hellish as well, and all you hear morning and night are modified engines screeching up and down. Basically, there are too many people squeezed into what used to be a sleepy market town.

But it's also the people themselves. Apparently, there is some kind of deal/policy to move 'problem families' out of London and onto a couple of these new estates. I went into town today and felt really uncomfortable. In the middle of the high street, a BMW had parked, engine running, on a double yellow line. Drill music was blaring out and four young guys were sitting in it, obviously waiting for someone. As I passed, the driver leaned out and said "what da fuck you lookin at?" It really shook me. This was the middle of the day! Everywhere I went there seemed to be groups of young guys wandering about, trousers half way down their legs. There have also been several stabbings recently (none fatal, thankfully, but I guess it's only a matter of time). It used to be a relatively quiet, relatively pleasant town. I now hate the place. That's the last time I'll be going in for a while, that's for sure.

OP posts:
SouthernFashionista · 22/06/2022 16:40

Sounds grim OP.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 22/06/2022 17:18

Your rabbit hutch is somebody elses loved home.

WishILivedInThrushGreen · 22/06/2022 17:20

Sounds like Maidstone, if I'm honest.

Anotherusernamethisweek · 22/06/2022 17:25

Sounds like High Wycombe but that's only 30 miles outside London.

buggeringbuggery · 22/06/2022 17:25

@Kris02 I'd have thought you were talking about Aylesbury, but it's not 60 miles from London.

ChagSameachDoreen · 22/06/2022 17:25

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 22/06/2022 17:18

Your rabbit hutch is somebody elses loved home.

🙄

justasking111 · 22/06/2022 17:30

My DS went back to his university home town three years ago he was upset at how it had gone downhill in the 17 years since he left. Whereas the home town he grew up in and returned to in his thirties hasn't.

Unicornspirit · 22/06/2022 17:34

Sounds like Maidstone, it's turning into little London!

BrambleyHedge · 22/06/2022 17:34

Bicester? Doesn't sound like High Wycombe. HW been big for ages and no significant new housing estates ...rest may be true...

user1471538283 · 22/06/2022 17:36

This is happening where we are as well. Less and less areas are desirable.

Tania64 · 22/06/2022 17:37

You will have to try & move away it will only get worse. I would say more but someone will complain & my comment would be deleted.

NippyWoowoo · 22/06/2022 17:44

Apparently, there is some kind of deal/policy to move 'problem families' out of London and onto a couple of these new estates.

Where did you get this information?

AmberLynn1536 · 22/06/2022 17:45

I think a lot of towns across the country are heading this way, shops closing down in the high street and staying empty or being replaced by takeaways, nail bars, pound shops, vape shops etc. Online aggression is spilling into real life aggression, I don’t think your town is unique, and with the cost of living crisis I think things are just going to get worse.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 22/06/2022 17:48

WishILivedInThrushGreen · 22/06/2022 17:20

Sounds like Maidstone, if I'm honest.

I was just thinking this!

OompaLoompaa · 22/06/2022 17:53

I haven’t heard the term ‘problem family’ for years.

MrsOwainGlyndŵr · 22/06/2022 17:54

Swindon?

WhatALoadOfWankiness · 22/06/2022 18:01

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 22/06/2022 17:18

Your rabbit hutch is somebody elses loved home.

That's not the point @Kris02 was making 🙄

MayBeee · 22/06/2022 18:12

The above replies with suggestions of places suggest that everywhere these days are quickly taking a nosedive .

Riverlee · 22/06/2022 18:35

AmberLynn1536 · 22/06/2022 17:45

I think a lot of towns across the country are heading this way, shops closing down in the high street and staying empty or being replaced by takeaways, nail bars, pound shops, vape shops etc. Online aggression is spilling into real life aggression, I don’t think your town is unique, and with the cost of living crisis I think things are just going to get worse.

I agree with this. There’s been a decline in a lot of high streets.

ironically, non-major high streets seem to be doing better.

Dover non centre high street

MintJulia · 22/06/2022 18:58

I know how you feel op. We've gone from sleepy market town with a real community to somewhere with tattoo parlours, vape shops and nail bars whose staff really worry me.

I moved here from the market town I grew up in. I guess the time for me to move again, further from London, is approaching. Just trying to raise Ds somewhere safe. 🙁

chloworm · 22/06/2022 19:02

Yep sounds like Maidstone! Can’t move for traffic and soaring crime rate. Canterbury heading that way too.

Georgeskitchen · 22/06/2022 19:25

Tbh you could be talking about any town in the UK these days

Westfacing · 22/06/2022 19:40

The town itself is ringed by horrible new housing estates with hundreds of awful rabbit hutch 'new builds' jammed together

Houses have to be built somewhere - not allowed to touch the Green Belt or the rural folk will get upset.

Westfacing · 22/06/2022 19:42

Apparently, there is some kind of deal/policy to move 'problem families' out of London and onto a couple of these new estates.

I've not heard of that... can you elaborate.

torfa · 22/06/2022 19:44

Westfacing · 22/06/2022 19:40

The town itself is ringed by horrible new housing estates with hundreds of awful rabbit hutch 'new builds' jammed together

Houses have to be built somewhere - not allowed to touch the Green Belt or the rural folk will get upset.

The green belt is a protected ring around cities to prevent urban sprawl and help ensure openness for those living in said cities.

Nothing to do with 'rural folk'

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