Leeds - what a dump!

[IanD]

I nominate everyone else's home town.

 

[Oswyntail]

Seeing as this thread seems to have turned into the online equivalent of Crap Towns, I nominate Coventry.

Could we try to turn it into something a little more positive? I'm sure everyone knows I agree that Leeds is not the best of cities, and we can all think of similar eyesores. But what about pleasant cities, with well-kept centres and not too depressing suburbs. Hard to think of any, though. Edinburgh? Oxford and Cambridge are special cases.

 

[DarloRich]

Another pointless thread about litter then. Another thread exactly the same as the litter on train thread and could have been any town or city visited.

Leeds isn’t a dump because it has some litter. it isnt really a dump. It has arrears of terrible poverty like many northern (and some southern) towns. Leeds is no better or worse than many other post industrial northern towns or cities.

Perhaps the OP can set out, sensibly, which extra services the Local Authority should cut to provide the army of litter pickers the OP seems to desire.

 

[WestCoast]

I've never had a particularly strong feeling about Leeds really, although it does have some pleasant architecture in the centre. Mind you, when you live in Birmingham, anything that it isn't 1960s concrete or outlandishly modern starts to look attractive :-x (although I do like the area I live in now).

Poverty exists everywhere, pretty much every town and city in the world has areas which aren't so great. Even when I lived (briefly) in Switzerland, I managed to find areas that were rather depressing.

 

[Mr Spock]

Just to change it a bit, when it was said that Leeds was dirty I thought we were talking about the football team

 

[87019Chris]

Regardless of litter, or poverty one of the worst places I have been to is Luton, I found it to be horrible, and I'm from Bradford if that isn't saying something then I don't know what is seen as someone compared Bradford to the slums of Mumbai

 

[Donny Dave]

For crap towns, can I nominate Scunthorpe? Apart from an area around John Leggott College, and Silica Lodge, the whole place is a dump. The part of town I live in (David Barrett will know it well), used to be 1 of the areas in the country outside of Bradford with the highest concentration of Pakistani's and other people from countries surround Pakistan living here. Now it's mostly people from Poland, Lithuania and other Eastern European countries living here. The common factor in both those situations is that British People (like myself) are in the minority ....

 

[anti-pacer]

Another pointless thread about litter then. Another thread exactly the same as the litter on train thread and could have been any town or city visited.

Leeds isn’t a dump because it has some litter. it isnt really a dump. It has arrears of terrible poverty like many northern (and some southern) towns. Leeds is no better or worse than many other post industrial northern towns or cities.

Perhaps the OP can set out, sensibly, which extra services the Local Authority should cut to provide the army of litter pickers the OP seems to desire.

Another pointless thread about litter? So it doesn't bother you then?

You now live in the Milton Keynes area so I'm guessing your locality is clean. You're from Darlington though so I can imagine it being a dirty place.

Believe it or not Darlo Rich, most people want to live in clean surroundings and litter is amongst the top of most peoples local issues. Maybe not yours though.

I'll make no apologies that I wish to live in a clean region, and it is my every right to discuss it under "General Discussion" on this forum, as it is everyone else to discuss their issues. If cleanliness doesn't interest you, simply refrain from commenting, if this issue is so pointless.

 

[shires666]

I like the OP lives in Wakefield and know it well, As well as Leeds.
Leeds is just like any other city good and bad as is Wakefield There is no need for this pathetic digging other each others place of residence which some people are proud of!

 

[anti-pacer]

I like the OP lives in Wakefield and know it well, As well as Leeds.
Leeds is just like any other city good and bad as is Wakefield There is no need for this pathetic digging other each others place of residence which some people are proud of!

I'm proud of Leeds, just wish it was cleaner. I'm not quite sure what is wrong with that.

 

[chorleyjeff]

Leeds 10 years ago used to be such a nice city. It was clean, inviting, and prosperous.

Now it's getting dirtier by the day and seemingly full of scrotes.

I've just been to Roundhay which is one of the better areas, but not especially clean, and my journey back on the bus via Roundhay Road highlighted just how grim Leeds is. I know many inner city areas are dirty but I challenge anybody to show me a more litter strewn area. Even the city centre is filled with peoples cr*p.

Got help us this summer when the Tour De France comes here. We'll be a national laughing stock.

I'll raise you one and nominate Chorley.

 

[jon91]

I'll raise you one and nominate Chorley.

Another raise, Accrington...

 

[CC 72100]

Not a Town anywhere.

And re the TdF - Have you seen the Paris Suburbs?

Although the Southern suburbs (for example, those which the race passes through on the final day) are not too bad. I mean it starts off near Versailles.

Don't get me wrong, there are some really bad suburbs (mostly in Seine-St-Denis), but the majority of suburbs are pretty bland. Not particularly chic, nor particularly unsafe - not much to say about them really.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

It seemed to me that this week's extraordinary weather has toppled over lots of filled wheely bins and blown their contents far and wide. It just takes one box containing beads of white plastic packing-filler to cover an area in thousands of pieces of apparent litter.

This has happend in many areas across the UK. Yesterday I was removing a bright orange umbrella from a tree with a 3 meter pole. I would be wrong to blame that, and the litter nearby, of the attitude of the local residents.

 

[fowler9]

Could we try to turn it into something a little more positive? I'm sure everyone knows I agree that Leeds is not the best of cities, and we can all think of similar eyesores. But what about pleasant cities, with well-kept centres and not too depressing suburbs. Hard to think of any, though. Edinburgh? Oxford and Cambridge are special cases.

Edinburgh has some very rough suburbs with pretty much no redeeming features, They are down there with the worst Liverpool has to offer. I've seen some unpleasant parts of Oxford as well although they weren't quite as unpleasant as the bad bits of larger cities.

Sorry mate, you did say you would like something more positive. Edinburgh and Oxford are lovely cities as is Liverpool. I quite like Leeds and even enjoyed the 4 years lived in Bradford at Uni, though it is a bit rough around the edges. Was never that keen on Birmingham although I can't judge the place as I've not seen much of it since the 80's at which time Liverpool wasn't particularly pleasant either.

 

[DarloRich]

Another pointless thread about litter? So it doesn't bother you then?

You now live in the Milton Keynes area so I'm guessing your locality is clean. You're from Darlington though so I can imagine it being a dirty place.

Believe it or not Darlo Rich, most people want to live in clean surroundings and litter is amongst the top of most peoples local issues. Maybe not yours though.

I'll make no apologies that I wish to live in a clean region, and it is my every right to discuss it under "General Discussion" on this forum, as it is everyone else to discuss their issues. If cleanliness doesn't interest you, simply refrain from commenting, if this issue is so pointless.

What on earth are you talking about?

My view is that you have an obsession with litter that prevents you from objectively assessing the state of any town you visit. You see litter and simply stop looking.

I will ask again - Which extra services should the local authority cut to provide your army of litter pickers?

And whilst i agree it is your "right" to raise the subject, it is my "right" to respond in any way i see fit.

 

[anti-pacer]

What on earth are you talking about?

My view is that you have an obsession with litter that prevents you from objectively assessing the state of any town you visit. You see litter and simply stop looking.

I will ask again - Which extra services should the local authority cut to provide your army of litter pickers?

And whilst i agree it is your "right" to raise the subject, it is my "right" to respond in any way i see fit.

My 'obsession' with litter is in fact a 'desire' to want to live in a clean area.

Which part of that is wrong, or do you actually 'like' litter?

 

[DarloRich]

My 'obsession' with litter is in fact a 'desire' to want to live in a clean area.

Which part of that is wrong, or do you actually 'like' litter?

So what do you want to do about it? You seem very good at whinning and very poor at suggesting anything to sort out the problem.

Start with a simple question: Which extra services should the council cut to offer you an army of litter pickers. I note this is third time i have asked this question!

No body likes litter, just some of us dont obsess about it and allow it to drive our opinion of everything! To you, Leeds is a dump to you because you came across some litter! There seems no other criteria in your decision. :roll:

 

[YorkshireBear]

If you feel so strongly write to your MP local council etc etc.

None of us on here are going to do/can do anything about it.

 

[tony_mac]

Start with a simple question: Which extra services should the council cut to offer you an army of litter pickers.

It's weird that you obviously believe the ONLY places that are clean must have "an army of litter pickers".
I can assure you that isn't the case!

 

[DarloRich]

It's weird that you obviously believe the ONLY places that are clean must have "an army of litter pickers".
I can assure you that isn't the case!

eh?

Who cleans up if it isn't the council workers? Who empties the bins? Who sorts out the waste?

 

[anti-pacer]

So what do you want to do about it? You seem very good at whinning and very poor at suggesting anything to sort out the problem.

Start with a simple question: Which extra services should the council cut to offer you an army of litter pickers. I note this is third time i have asked this question!

No body likes litter, just some of us dont obsess about it and allow it to drive our opinion of everything! To you, Leeds is a dump to you because you came across some litter! There seems no other criteria in your decision. :roll:

Anybody who's been unemployed for 12 months or more should be made to do 2 days a week of civic duties such as litter picking, graffiti removal, landscaping in public areas, etc. Not only will it help reduce the benefits lifestyle culture, it will also instill a sense of community pride in people.

People on Community Payback should also be made to do this, rather than projects such as painting a church that only a few will benefit from.

Also, people caught littering should be made to clean the streets for a week instead of a fine they're unlikely to pay. If they refuse, let them face criminal proceedings.

Businesses are put off locating to places that are dirty, for obvious reasons. It's just one of the factors they consider of course, but it is one. Also, dirty areas are more likely to suffer higher crime levels.

This country, in parts, and more so up north, is getting dirtier. Councils shouldn't have to spend OUR money on cleaning up after inconsiderate peasants who don't know what bins are.

 

[90019]

Edinburgh has some very rough suburbs with pretty much no redeeming features, They are down there with the worst Liverpool has to offer.

Such as sunny Wester Hailes, which is a total dump.

 

[anti-pacer]

Such as sunny Wester Hailes, which is a total dump.

My partner's first view of Edinburgh from the train was Wester Hailes, and at this point she questioned where I'd brought her.

Luckily her views changed on exiting Waverley Station.

 

[Bevan Price]

Almost all towns & cities have "good" and "not so good" areas.

Litter is common because far too many British people are too ****** lazy to find a litter bin, or take their litter home.

It is quite some years since I was last in Germany, but it was noticeable then that the worst amounts of litter were in towns that had the misfortune to be near a British or U.S. military base.

 

[hassaanhc]

Regardless of litter, or poverty one of the worst places I have been to is Luton, I found it to be horrible, and I'm from Bradford if that isn't saying something then I don't know what is seen as someone compared Bradford to the slums of Mumbai

I have visited Luton twice for a few hours to see the Uni of Bedfordshire. I only stayed in the town centre but it did look horrible and run-down, and as the accommodation is also in the town centre I knew I wouldn't be able to stand it. I actually declined the place I got at the uni and instead applied to the Uni of East London which is based next to the more beautiful Royal Albert Dock and London City Airport . Although we don't really have anything more than a corner shop, two DLR stations, doctor surgery and Asda (for one end of the campus anyway) in walking distance (vs wide range of shops and a major railway station in Luton) but thats a minor issue I think, same would have been the case if I got into Nottingham Trent Uni (where I really wanted to go but didn't get the grades for ).

 

[fowler9]

Anybody who's been unemployed for 12 months or more should be made to do 2 days a week of civic duties such as litter picking, graffiti removal, landscaping in public areas, etc. Not only will it help reduce the benefits lifestyle culture, it will also instill a sense of community pride in people.

People on Community Payback should also be made to do this, rather than projects such as painting a church that only a few will benefit from.

Also, people caught littering should be made to clean the streets for a week instead of a fine they're unlikely to pay. If they refuse, let them face criminal proceedings.

Businesses are put off locating to places that are dirty, for obvious reasons. It's just one of the factors they consider of course, but it is one. Also, dirty areas are more likely to suffer higher crime levels.

This country, in parts, and more so up north, is getting dirtier. Councils shouldn't have to spend OUR money on cleaning up after inconsiderate peasants who don't know what bins are.

I'm sorry mate but I don't agree with that at all. For most people on JSA looking for a job is a full time occupation and you are making it sound like a lifestyle choice which needs to be punished. The job market at the minute is terrible, I have just come out of a 7 month spell of unemployment, the job I got last month was one I originally applied for last September and didn't even get an interview, I re applied in December when they advertised 2 months work and actually got an interview following which they instantly offered me a permanent position. But hey, a few more months on the dole and you would have me picking up litter to teach me the error of my ways. This despite the previous 15 years working and paying in to the system to cover myself if things went wrong.

 

[Darandio]

Anybody who's been unemployed for 12 months or more should be made to do 2 days a week of civic duties such as litter picking, graffiti removal, landscaping in public areas, etc. Not only will it help reduce the benefits lifestyle culture, it will also instill a sense of community pride in people.

Sorry, but utter guff.

fowler9 sums it up pretty well.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Anybody who's been unemployed for 12 months or more should be made to . . . . .

Really?
I wonder what the rest of your policies for social engineering look like.

But just before you reply with the rest of your "people should be made to . . . " policies, reflect on this:-
If you imagine a state in which compulsory participation in social activities was enforced, please try to answer these questions:
Who would enforce it and with what tools will it be enforced?
Would you prefer to compell the involuntary unemployed to work on the streets and parks, or would you prefer to compell the secure and insulated professionals to work on the streets and parks?
Would you choose litter picking and landscaping as your compulsory duties over, caring for the infirm, caring for the abandoned, caring for children, caring for the distressed, caring for the cold, lonely and hungry?
In your social engineering, would you place litter picking and landscaping above: protecting our heritage? celebrating creativity and the arts? providing sports and welfare facilities for all? providing access to education and professional devlopment for all? providing access to warmth, friendship, nutrition, knowledge and health care?

I'm really struggling with your focus on litter as being worthy of regulation in which "people should be made to . . . "

 

[jon91]

Really?
I wonder what the rest of your policies for social engineering look like.

But just before you reply with the rest of your "people should be made to . . . " policies, reflect on this:-
If you imagine a state in which compulsory participation in social activities was enforced, please try to answer these questions:
Who would enforce it and with what tools will it be enforced?
Would you prefer to compell the involuntary unemployed to work on the streets and parks, or would you prefer to compell the secure and insulated professionals to work on the streets and parks?
Would you choose litter picking and landscaping as your compulsory duties over, caring for the infirm, caring for the abandoned, caring for children, caring for the distressed, caring for the cold, lonely and hungry?
In your social engineering, would you place litter picking and landscaping above: protecting our heritage? celebrating creativity and the arts? providing sports and welfare facilities for all? providing access to education and professional devlopment for all? providing access to warmth, friendship, nutrition, knowledge and health care?

I'm really struggling with your focus on litter as being worthy of regulation in which "people should be made to . . . "

Be glad that folk like anit-pacer don't get the chance to make such policies...