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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To nominate as the country's worst town centre....

787 replies

moogster1a · 17/02/2012 22:15

...Rochdale.
Good God it's a god forsaken place. There appears to be half a dozen payday loan shos, a few poundland things and some mobile 'phone shops.
It's got so bad that even maccy d's has shut down.
It's only redeeming feature is that Gabbots farm is still clinging on.

OP posts:
BrianCoxHasScaryHair · 17/02/2012 22:53

[beccles] Grin

Beamur · 17/02/2012 22:54

I lived in Hull about 30 years ago - it's much improved these days. Back then the highpoint was the cinema - the 'Cecil' I think it was called.

thenightsky · 17/02/2012 22:55

69 posts and nobody has mentioned Gainsborough Shock

InterruptingCow · 17/02/2012 22:55

Redcar. Half the shops aren't even real shops - they are just empty buildings with pictures of shops pasted over the windows.

MissMarjoribanks · 17/02/2012 22:55

TBH you'd have to be more not right in the head than Hitler not to like the town hall. It's even better inside.

Apologies for being prickly OP but it is attitudes like yours which make my job even harder than it is already. It pisses me off when I spend a week trying my hardest to improve the place then someone comes on MN and slags it off.

Spuddybean · 17/02/2012 22:56

there is a yearly list of nominated crap towns:

www.amazon.co.uk/Crap-Towns-Worst-Places-Live/dp/0752215825

colette · 17/02/2012 22:56

Luton ?

BrianCoxHasScaryHair · 17/02/2012 22:56

Last time I was in Crawley was 2002 Witts and it was a strange time in my life, so as I said up thread, it may have clouded my judgement. It is close to London and Brighton though, so I may have to remove it from my list for that reason alone Wink

LilacWaltz · 17/02/2012 22:56

Scunthorpe any good these days?

wonkylegs · 17/02/2012 22:57

Agree with Stoke - god I'm depressed & confused every-time I have go there Sad
Billingham is odd, Spennymoor well hardly inspiring
What about Blyth or Ashington ?Middlesbrough - has lots of money partially invested so now bits of it just look shiny & crap Sad

Original poster
moogster1a · 17/02/2012 22:57

Prickliness accepted. If my job was to imprve the town centre's image I ould also be tired and emotional by Friday Smile

OP posts:
GrahamTribe · 17/02/2012 22:57

Thornaby? Oh. My. God.

I went to Bath recently for the first time in years. I was dismayed at how much it had changed for the worse. Loads of shops closed down, some pretty grim run down parts, loads of chain stores and yet more tourists than ever.

NeldaAufwader · 17/02/2012 22:58

Rhyll.

On my first and last visit to the town I spotted a really really long queue, ooh what attraction is that for? I thought to myself, reader it was for the lottery.

I should have known as we drove in, the sea was brown, the drizzle was thick, I dont want to talk about the car park and there was a whole tank of fish in their Sealife equivalent all covered in tumours.
Some really lovely old seafront houses but god it was a bit miserable and shabby.

Clayhead · 17/02/2012 22:58

Sapphirefling

Stoke may be grim but has six towns - you forgot Fenton (can't imagine why...Wink)

Casualty · 17/02/2012 22:59

Spuddybean - Aldershot seems to get worse with every visit [shudders]

Original poster
moogster1a · 17/02/2012 23:00

"furnished and burnished by Aldershot sun" I've always thought of it being a nice place ( based on a poem I learnt for o' levels)

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 17/02/2012 23:00

DH and I went to Dover once.
We wandered into an indoor market out of desperation and there was a pet stall with a massive fish in a tank with a sign "My name is Kevin".

Our car engine was still warm when we left!

BrianCoxHasScaryHair · 17/02/2012 23:00

Am heartened that my home town has yet to make an appearance.

I will get really upset and uppity if it does though - just warning.

I'm not going to say though, in the hope it doesn't get mentioned.

thenightsky · 17/02/2012 23:01

LilacWaltz Scunthorpe is lovely compared to some mentioned so far. Scunny has lovely green areas and parks and an amazing new leisure centre. I like Scunny.

D0oinMeCleanin · 17/02/2012 23:01

My mum reckons they interbreed in Billingham, it would explain a few things Hmm

R2PeePoo · 17/02/2012 23:01

Colchesters fine during the day, it has a shop that sells nothing but fudge. And you can watch them making it through the window

Lots of independent shops, most of the big names, several grocers, butchers, fishmongers and Guntons which is the best old fashioned delicatessan/dry goods shop in the world. Lovely cheese, racks of coffee beans in jars.

Cupcake stall at the market and over priced bread and a lovely stall that sells awesome homemade curry. And a fab cafe in a saxon church which has the most wonderful cakes. New chinese supermarket next to the sushi/noodle bar.

But I wouldn't go anywhere near the towncentre at night.

I'd like to nominate Orpington.

Clownsarescary · 17/02/2012 23:01

Tethers and SouthEastra

I just knew Stevenage would get a mention. I've recently been there, oh my it is is grim. Even worse than my SE London town.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 17/02/2012 23:01

MissMarjory, you're sounding a bit bonkers I'm afraid Grin

Aaaaanyhow OP. I'll see your Rochdale and raise you Rhyl.

Wittsend13 · 17/02/2012 23:02

I'll add a few more:

Finsbury park N London. Horrid, horrid place. Infact the worst place I've ever had to live.

Redhill (Deadhill)

Sutton (Slutton)

Streatham (Don't have a name)

Birmingham

Wolverhampton

Whispers Blush

Spuddybean · 17/02/2012 23:02

neld a friend with very little glamour and imagination took his girlfriend for a night camping in Rhyll. They left at 6pm and were home by 9am the next day. When they told us where they were going for their romantic break we couldn't hide our horrified faces.