Is our town a shithole..

[FroggletTowers]

Or is this happening anywhere else?

I have been discussing this with friends, family and colleagues recently so won't name our town for privacy reasons, but it is a regular, large town in England, UK.
Nothing particularly special or awful about it, previously.

Since the pandemic, the entire vibe has changed. Almost unrecognisable.
Yes, we have some heavy shop closures like many towns, but the council kept it looking decent as much as it could. Some nice buildings and nature areas, etc.

What stands out most, apart from the general vandalism and dog shit is the weird accumulation of male groups hanging around boozing in public.

So far they have taken over the local park, river walks and nature reserves. They often cluster beneath bridges or across paths where people like to run, cycle walk dogs or take children, making it less safe and filling these areas with waste. Off road bikes have ruined the nature reserves, so less people visit

Sadly the authorities don't seem to be doing much about it, it is as if these people don't have to abide by laws that the rest of us have to. Some buildings adjacent to these areas have windows put through on a regular basis, even in what you'd call 'nice' areas.
Many of them cluster at river bridges and block the path for others, most are very drunk or out of generally.
It isn't unusual to see a large man passed out across the pathway, blocking anyone getting past. If you had a pram or bike it would be really uncomfortable to have to rouse a large drunk at 2pm in the afternoon. Most are local men, with a growing amount of middle eastern men. The vast majority of them are unstable.

We see less women out cycling, walking or exercising now, and this encompasses both MC and WC areas. These people seem to have just multiplied and spread across the entire borough and have taken over all public space.
We live in a decent area that is now seeming to go downhill.
It isn't unusual to see day drinkers sat alone, surrounded by cans on a quiet residential street. And they won't move to let you past.

It's really depressing.

Never voted farage in my life.

Please prove where I said that.

Nothing wrong with physical labour. Are you suggesting there is??

You’re a coward, simple.

I am not saying that.

I am saying in 2025 with contraception we can stop this cycle repeating.

From Breaking Barriers -
"84% of asylum seekers said that they did not have sufficient English language ability to get a job. Support with these issues is very limited – in some places waiting lists for English classes are two years long, and the majority of those in classes say that the classes they are doing are not sufficient to learn the language.

As a result, refugees in the UK are 4 times more likely to be unemployed than people born here, and on average earn about half the amount per week that UK nationals do. This is despite high levels of qualifications and skills. "

And even for manual work workers they need to be able to understand English to follow instructions.

It’s ok for posters to accuse other posters of racism, scroungers, scum. Fight back and call those posters back and you get reported.

cowards.

Physical work.

That’s what you need.

I do think you should maybe put the phone down and go outside for a bit @Slatterndisgrace. You seem very angry.

But what happens if a family falls on hard times? You can’t just blink kids out of existence because you’ve lost your job or are seriously ill

And here is another one of the crew.

I’v been accused of all kinds of things.

Yet one of your cowards go running to the mods.

Pathetic.

I suggested you all do some physical labour. Shocking, I know.

See, this poster has absolutely no legitimate reason to believe I ever supported farage, but they said it anyway. Do you’d see how this crap works?

I have never voted farage.

lol.

@alikelylass

So are you making a case for supporting asylum seekers and refugees with language learning to facilitate their employment, and maybe also acknowledge that hatred of asylum seekers and racism might have some contribution to this group having more difficulty with obtaining employment even once they have permission to work?

Or are you using these statistics to argue that we should stop offering asylum to anyone?

Many of these groups or lone men unemployed and drinking through the day are 'refugees' that the government have placed in hotels or other accommodation up and down the country. Thats why this behaviour has seemingly happened all of a sudden. Its become endemic across swathes of cities, towns and villages where 'migrant hotels' have been implemented. A corresponding uptick in harassment, assault and anti-social behaviour is common.

@Slatterndisgrace

I'm still really confused about why you keep angrily insisting that people take up manual jobs.

Do you think that if I was still working in hospitality scraping shit out of customer toilets I'd hate and resent immigrants as much as you obviously do?

Can you explain the mechanism for that?

Only having children when you are in a secure position will not stop the possibility of hard times but it will certainly mitigate the situation.

Too many are having children in a dire set up!!! They didn't have them when life was wonderful and then it went spectacularly wrong.

I realise the idea is an anathema to you but it would really help you find a soul.

@Slatterndisgracedon’t worry about it. It’s to rile you up, just ignore.

You see, that’s all you’ve got . Calling me a racist!

All I’m saying is get yourself some physical labour, get that nonsense out of your system and be a better human being. Find a soul (I assume there’s one hanging around and you might get lucky).

But, you just can’t handle it.

It’s hilarious.

Are they refugees or 'refugees'?

You appreciate that the immigrants that people spend most energy demonising - Syrians, Iranians, Somalians, Indians, who make up the majority of asylum seeker numbers, are Muslims, most of whom don't drink alcohol?

Street drinking is a problem wherever it happens and always has been. Police need to address it.

Thanks EasternStandard

Yes, you’re right.

I allowed myself to get sucked in.

I'm not making a case for anything.

I was asked for statistics about asylum seekers and their lack of English literacy, and I provided those statistics.

@EasternStandard I took you for having higher standards than being supportive to someone going round calling people total twats and bone idle wasters etc - I may not agree with you politically but am suprised you think that posters language and tone was ok

@Slatterndisgrace

Are you drunk? This was you being abusive to someone who picked you up on a dickish comment about a homeless person's sleeping arrangements.

"Oh piss off. If you’re needing somewhere to make a bed find a better place than an underpass. What’s going to happen, is the person going to claim it as their own bedroom eventually? A public underpass. Don’t come the bleeding heart with me, you don’t know me."

I think accusing posters of drooling over a politician will rile them up.

It could be aimed at anyone, ie Starmer too and is rarely helpful.

Good luck with your job.