Are things becoming just a little bit shit?

[Bloomsburygirl]

I was wondering if anyone else has started to notice the deteriorating standards in public services and private businesses. I went to London over the weekend, and I was shocked by the filth and litter. I moved to the UK in 2011, and I visited many times before I moved. I do not remember rubbish strewn across streets like it is now. And every place I seem to go gives off a feeling that there simply are not enough staff anymore. Restaurant toilets and public toilets are filthy, it takes an age to be served, and don't get me started on public transport (I read the recent thread on this and agree with every word). It seems to me like the consequences of Brexit/pandemic are really starting to bite, and to be honest, I miss the way it was pre-2016. AIBU, or do others feel the same? And is this the new normal? Disclaimer - I still adore the UK and would never want to live anywhere else!

All of the above and more besides (how long have you got)? But at least the Tories know what a woman is apparently and many will gleefully vote for them again. "A hill to die on" and all that.

I have found that since most toilets in public spaces/ restaurants are now “unisex” they are absolutely foul. Bring back women’s loos where no one (usually) pisses all over the floor.

the80s - Why would people fly tip just because you have to book a tip run. I went last week and booked it on Friday for the Sunday at a time convenient for me. I prefer this new system as you're not queuing for ages.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX i agree.
I just thought it was something of passing interest and coincidence given the op topic.

The Tories priority seems to be focused on fighting to send about half a dozen migrants to Rwanda at a cost of £10m a head, whilst trying to get jobs on GB News.

Meanwhile the countries decline accelerates. The world must be watching open mouthed wondering what happened to the governance of this country.

I don’t think the grass is greener anywhere else tbh.

The kind of people who would fly tip would do so because they have to book the tip. You have to make it easy to take things to the tip.

This loo in Asda was a combined disabled / male / female toilet. I had to hold my nose it was that bad.
I did write to Sainsbury’s to have a moan about their store having a leaking roof and dirty toilets last summer and was told that they were looking into it , but nothing was done and they just rope off the aisle with the leak

this

Totally agree with this. They are pissing our money up the wall to try and get votes.

I just think that the general attitude towards anyone at the tip would put people off as they really did quiz us about what we were tipping
It has decreased the queues, but I have a feeling that people are not bothering to use the online system as hardly anyone is there now , but only my opinion
Plus not everyone is capable of using the system if they don't have a phone or computer etc

Well exactly. Rising and falling. That's how it's always gone.

I agree with London, we recently went for a day trip, and it was rank...and was smelly because of all the rubbish bags dumped everywhere and overflowing bins!

Everyone is so stretched though, the councils and the government are expecting public service workers to deliver the exact same standards as before, with half the staff and a third of the budget! its rubbish!

mantyzer - There's nothing difficult about booking a tip run. I'm quite sure that in this day and age of having to book most things on the internet that people are more than capable. It's just laziness.

The whole Rwanda/immigrant thing is because many people still think everything is the fault of the immigrants!

Do people really think social care & the NHS will work better without immigrants?

Now there are legitimate discussions about immigration but it’s irrelevant now, the ship has sailed. Many people like cheap labour & of course it has made some rich. The gov hasn’t invested in young people so we don’t have the workforce we need & there aren’t enough young people.

One of the (few) benefits of getting older is that you start to see things in cycles. That’s not to downplay what’s happening now, as I truly believe the UK is in the worst position it has been in during my lifetime. It does, however, mean I have a little hope that things will start to get better again in the next few years.

I’m imagining that it’s 1996 and we’re currently at the under-invested public services, Cones Hotline, Tory scandals stage (badgers, oranges, park benches - crazy times). Help is coming over the horizon and, whilst it’s not going to be easy, we will all know the ship is, at least, headed in the right direction.

The worry is whether the great majority want that help.

No we (restaurants) don't have enough staff. We can't afford to thanks to the increase in price of produce and less customers. We're fucked as we're working 7 days a week to be able to pay the rent. We try our best!!!

I agree, in the main.
But dirty toilets have been left dirty by the people who have used them - blaming the stores is only part of the issue, why are people such disgusting pigs?? Same goes for litter and rubbish. WE are responsible. Those of us who choose to just dump their crap anywhere.
And yes, I know there are are exceptions - seagulls pulling rubbish out etc.,, but in the main it is us, members of society, who are making the mess.

As for the rest, I despair.

I honestly don't think it matters who is in government, the problems they face are insurmountable, simply because career politicians are never going to make the tough decisions that need to be made, knowing that us - yes, the same people who can't clean their own shit up - will vote them out at the next election.

There are huge problems, I agree, but we need to look to ourselves before pointing the finger at everyone else.

@LadyRoughDiamond its true there are cycles but we never had the boom after 08 & the big factor now is the demographic shift.

the80s - All the council workers at my local tip are really helpful, help unload cars and are friendly. Yes, sometimes they do ask to look in bags but that's because they have different sections so have to make sure it goes in the right place.

Yup. Everything looks grotty, nothing works properly, no-one has enough money. Everyone is a bit miserable. This is what happens at the tail end of a Tory government. Anyone remember the late 80s/early 90s? Same vibe.

Except this time, there's no money. Brexit has fucked us. We need to go back into the EU (and we will), but that will take years to sort out. Labour won't be able to redirect spending like they did in 1997, because there's no money to spend. They will make an attempt though, which is better than nothing.

If people want public services - including a functioning NHS, buses, clean streets, decent schools - they need to stop voting for the Tories. That's the only solution.

I don't blame the staff for dirty facilities at all , they are probably cleaned in the mornings and nobody has time to check them during the day
I do blame the big supermarkets for maybe leaving hand dryers to be out of order for days at a time, but that might be a maintenance problem. I do think that it's little things like that though that isn't seen as a priority and then it all just goes to shit. Then you read that they made zillions in profits, but it's not used on upkeep of the surroundings or facilities, just keeping the shareholders happy etc

Empty premises, poor service, litter, beggars and people sleeping in the street, generally very depressing for what used to be a beautiful city.

Toronto was like this in 2008 when I visited. I was shocked at the level of homelessness juxtaposed with swathes of abandoned houses.

I was unlucky with my ' tip experience then ! I've seen the workers stare at people struggling with bigger items and glare if you get a bit lost or headed for the wrong bin with something
It's not pleasant at all.

There are huge problems, I agree, but we need to look to ourselves before pointing the finger at everyone else.

I don’t think the majority of the electorate wants to hear the truth tbh & would vote for the person telling the truth.