Home town going downhill

[Kris02]

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.

That was the noble idea behind the Green Belt but I think it's now used as an excuse to prevent encroachment into the countryside.

Happening everywhere sadly

There are a few of these going around, it happened in a town I lived in. I know people whose business is providing these homes. They don't tend to live in the same town.
With council properties in London being scarce and expensive I imagine it's happening in a lot of places.

I’d really like to know the town

Hmm, where I live the canal meets the sea, it is considered unique. Its historical, its a haven of wild life, tranquil and accessible to all
The council have given themselves PP to build million pound apartments on it
Every agency has advised against it
Money is the king
Disgraceful

Colchester

Sounds just like Colchester. The local authority get paid to house people here because it’s cheaper than housing them in London. The demographic has changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years.

@disconnecteddrifter
Funny you should say that.

My husband and I are looking to move away from Maidstone.
We went to Colchester a couple of weeks ago, to check the area out.
It was exactly like Maidstone.

Nail bars, tattoo parlours, endless takeaway fry up shops, boarded up premises, vape shops.

It was like a home from home. :((0

Basingstoke?

I disagree with people saying it sounds like Maidstone. I live near Maidstone and find it a lovely town centre to visit with no issues at all.

Are you in Swindon?

Right, have crossed Maidstone and Colchester off the future flat search list.

@VioletCharlotte , I thought Basingstoke was ok? I stayed there last year (admittedly on the outskirts) and found it to be fine. Good centre with decent shopping centre, places to eat and that museum (Milestones, iirc?).

'Problem family' ?? Where have you heard that?? Or are you referring to affording housing on all new estates??

Yes, sounds like mine too op, our greenbelt is being built on and eroded.

Roads are ridiculous and constantly jam packed.
Leisure areas are also absolutely rammed all the time and other amenities are gone.

I guess problem family has asbos?
Problems with discipline and social behaviour?

Sounds very similar to mine OP and im at the other side of the country

Not Northampton? That's 60 miles by road and rail, as a wonderfully awful song once put it.

I used to live on that road in Dover (my Mum still does) and it's a shithole, despite the new attempts at gentrification.

I initially thought Ashford as Maidstone is only 30-odd miles from London, but as others have noted, the list of other towns suggests this is a wide-ranging problem.

Ironically, my home town (Folkestone) is actually better in many ways than when I grew up there in the 80s/90s

I don’t find Maidstone too bad either.

However, Hastings was a disappointment when I visited recently, despite being popular with lots of people. Folkestone definantly seems to be on the up.

Is it Colchester?

I don't think it's Basingstoke because the rings of new build housing estates started there in about the 90s

Sounds a bit like Aldershot but it’s not such a distance from London. The building of new homes there is ridiculous considering the centre is so poor as in run down and derelict. The star attraction- an M & S outlet shop has long gone.

This could be any identikit city /town in the UK. A Greg's, bookies, mobile phone cover shop, charity shop. Hey presto anywhere in the UK.

Folkestone is definitely better than it used to be. Getting quite gentrified in places (not all of it). I like Deal too. Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury going downhill sadly. Canterbury is another place with a large London estate, specifically bought by a London housing association (local council outbid).

It sounds to me very much like Ely.