To wonder why there is so much snobbery about Milton Keynes?

[Eastie77Returns]

Just back from visiting our former neighbours who have moved there from London. They have a lovely home, their DC attend a great local school and they are really happy with their choice. However they had to put up with sniggers and unpleasant comments from some of our mutual friends when they announced they were moving to MK. It seems like a completely inoffensive place to me. Yes, lots of new build estates, roundabouts and the wide boulevards are a bit odd but I’ve seen a lot worse!

One friend told me it was the most soulless place she’s ever visited, it felt like a dystopian sci-fi movie and her blood ran cold when drove around as there is something ‘chilling’ about the place. I don’t get why that vibe at all😂

I live close to MK and absolutely love it, as people have said great shopping, open spaces and the theatre is brilliant. Concerts at Campebell Park in the summer, lots of choice on restaurants.

I used to work there and honestly really miss it.

The villages around are also lovely, lots of great pubs. And Bletchley Park.

Try coming from East London or parts of Essex
You are looked down upon constantly
There are good and bad parts everywhere.

"It's also been basically built for people on housing benefit 😂 sorry."

You're an idiot.

I live in MK. It’s very practical and does what it says on the tin. I quite like it. I come from a hill top town in Yorkshire where lots of the streets are cobbled, have 20 percent gradients and ginnels and terraces. It’s very pretty but day to day getting around on car, foot or bike is hard especially for the elderly. MK has none of that. Is it the richer for it? No, probably not - but it’s easy living.

I can't think about Milton Keynes without picturing Marilyn Manson in all his corsety get up screaming it 😂

Never lived there but used to live thirty minutes drive away. MK has everything you need - great theatre, Stables (music venue with top class acts), shopping centre and a football team. The snow dome shops aren’t quite as good as they’re used ti be , but always fun watching the skiers. We considered living there or a village nearby, but a new job meant we relocated elsewhere.

I live in Herts which had some lovely old villages turned into new towns after the war. There is similar snobbery about Stevenage and Hemel.

I’m not supporting snobbery (though I think MK is a slightly different case - it has a better rep than Stevenage or Hemel) but I think these places were built at an unfortunate time in architectural history when Brutalism reigned supreme. I’m sure they have great communities and facilities but the contrast with the sweet old villages they once were is harsh.

Also - they were built and planned at a time when the car was king and some have grid plans, major roads and crazy ‘magic roundabouts’ going through the town centres.

My feeling towards these towns is based on resentment towards the architects and planners - I’m sure they are just as pleasant as communities as other, older towns.