'There's nothing now' How crime, unemployment and derelict high streets left Blackpool in ruins

"25 years ago we were thriving, now there's nothing."
Residents in Blackpool tell Times Radio why they think their town has the lowest life expectancy in the UK.
📻 Listen to Times Radio - www.thetimes.co.uk/radio
📍 Subscribe to our channel - / @listentotimesradio
🗞 Subscribe to The Times www.thetimes.co.uk/subscribe/...
📲 Get the free Times Radio app www.thetimes.co.uk/radio/how-...

[@richardjames3022]

You mean your the Blackpool Tory didn't level up??? That's the Tories for you

[@griswald7156]

Maybe he promised “level It” his promise is coming good..

[@stephenbrown8744]

A couple of headlines from today's Blackpool Evening Gazette ... Woman left with ‘significant injuries’ after being attacked by group of thugs on Egerton Road in Blackpool. Her mobile phone was stolen during the attack... Man approached by gang armed with knife near Coral Island arcade in Blackpool

[@griswald7156]

London is far worse…

[@bowjana8128]

Claremont is a dump

[@mileshigh1321]

Time to vote in a city council that will make changes and put the money where it counts. But it seems to always be the idiots that get voted in!

[@pip1723]

Council funding comes from central government using the Barnett formula .

[@stalyirmangin6249]

Really interesting perspective from those native to Blackpool. Sad to see so little investment in the 'back yards' of such a hallmark of our nation. I hope it picks up for everyone, truly (although I can't see Starmer et al doing much...), I hope Blackpool receives the help it needs to get back to prosperity. Sending best wishes from Scotland 💙🤍💙

[@saba1030]

Well, the nicely restored Blackpool Tower, the whole seafront including the beach and the coastal protection, including the coastal road = was paid with EU subsidies...still 75ish % of Blackpool voted for Brexit...as the major of Blackpool stated "without the EU subsidies ALL of this would have been crumbled by now". Greetings from the EU27 🖐

[@toxictony4230]

Blackpool decided, some decades ago, to cash in on the pink pound and be the Brighton of the North. Problem was, what few families that where still coming to the resort, stopped and it's been in a death sprial ever since. The Talbot road gateway, leading from the station to the prom, is getting ever more run down and all you need to do is go a couple of streets back from the prom to see what a mess the town's in. It's depressing to think what it was like in the 80's and 90's compared to the state it's in now.

[@damianleah6744]

That’s nonsense, how about all the stag and hen parties ruining it for families? The place is a tired mess at the moment and blaming one section of society isn’t helping.

[@icu17siberia]

The UK needs to get back in the business of making things. Aerospace, ships, steel, good heavy manufacturing jobs. Stop catering only to white collar industries and become more independent so young people can be employed.

[@copaloadofthis]

Nothing stays the same forever…

[@skysoftware4581]

Last time i went to BP for a weekend my new 250 quid coat got robbed from the bar stool lol

[@Archiesquaddy]

Blackpool - it's all front!

[@ohdearism]

Plenty of corporate and council corruption too. However, I do appreciate your pun.

[@beyourselfbrave4115]

Town centre, the rough area !!!😧😮😯😲 How is it at the outskirts then !?!

[@pip1723]

The damage form austerity measures will never end .

[@matthewbeumer3168]

So many social problems have pulled many of the seaside towns down to their knees and we abandoned them for the Costa Brava!

[@jasonking6892]

Expat 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 left England 30 years traveled the world ended up in Colombia 🇨🇴 Safe Police everywhere they dont mess around Send them to Blackpool cleaned up in one month Colombia 🇨🇴 No drugs all goes to the US and Europe more money the 🇬🇧 are you kidding Lovely Jubilee 😅

[@rog3833]

My young children got quite scared when we visited years ago. It only seems to be catered for there, if your a raging alcoholic with all the bars and clubs.

[@rafalgan-ganowicz]

As usual the boomer has no idea what's going on in society

[@andrewdickson8682]

And you do.

[@scoobysnax9787]

From the mouths of locals. They know the problems but take time to work out the solutions. Life goes on, bad things don't always have to happen. It's all up to you / us to help. Not just Blackpool but everywhere we are seeing this.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

Doe,s it stll have a train station?

[@jasonking6892]

PS the old Boy was Classic ...who lol😅

[@lynnescaddan8919]

What year round employment is there for young adults other than the entertainment industry ?

[@vickyking3408]

Went for a day trip...stepped off the coach and regreted straight away hate the place

[@petersmith6974]

I have not seen Blackpool since the 70s. Went to Canada for 35 yrs. I returned to live in England in 2015. Immigration ruined England.

[@Andygb78]

People are fleeing from the fighting in Blackpool.

[@Baschn66]

The name doesn’t help to promote it as a tourist destination. Maybe for a Gothic convention.

[@user-oq7nr3mv6d]

She said it's very layed back. Under statement or what.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

LABOUR ARE AS BAD.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

THE TROGAN HORSE IS IN.

[@caval141]

Brexit meant that northern towns. cities, like Blackpool were going to be economically better off and with the tories promising to level up too, it was going to be a win win scenario. In reality, those that voted for Brexit and the Tories were shafted good and proper. It was never going to happen and even Rishi was caught on camera saying that he had taken money away from deprived areas and given it back to those previliged areas in the UK.

[@damianleah6744]

It’s been on the decline since the mid 1980s. It need billions of investments . Like many seaside towns.

[@Andygb78]

MBGA Make Blackpool Great Again.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

Get Dyssney to open..Dysany world uk.

[@songscoops4205]

What's going to change

[@In_Paradiso58]

'Most of em are crackheads'...i wonder why???

[@ohdearism]

George Formby once sang: "With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rockin' up"

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

DRUG S FROM ALL THE FORIGNER S.

[@griswald7156]

People love airports and foreign holidays…then moan Blackpool isn’t the same….use it or lose it..

[@stephenbrown8744]

20 million visitors last year.

[@griswald7156]

@@stephenbrown8744 day trippers ? Or two weekers ?

[@brianwillson9567]

Sunshine, warm blue seas, Greek Island or Blackpool. A no brainer.

[@griswald7156]

@@brianwillson9567 Blackpool leave it to deteriorate and support your Greek sunspot, then moan about the state of British resorts..a no brainer..

[@brianwillson9567]

Ha ha. Greek Islands, Egypt, canaries, Caribbean, Cape Verde. Never a problem with 'loss'of Blackpool. There are enjoyable UK resorts which we would miss for UK breaks, but Blackpool, 'tick the box' by going up the tower once and that's it.

[@jamesdean4100]

labour will save the day watch this space lol

[@debsmith5520]

Perhaps interview the Drug Dealers? They're doing well in these communities. Then, the Crime Commissioners and Police who don't seem to be doing a great job tackling these criminals.

[@cyberash3000]

there is not much they can do, as locals wont report it

[@jasonjordan1936]

silly people voting for labour i hope you get lots of migrants in your town😄

[@anthonyrybicki1000]

New Labour policy is to relocate new immigrants to Tory towns in rural areas.Karma.

[@jamesdean4100]

flood gates will open

[@ohdearism]

Asylum seekers are housed in the poorest areas, by central government, because it's cheaper than housing them in the home counties, where wealthy Tory politicians live. The next Labour government will be a glimmer of hope for the entire nation, including those who are desperate and feared, by people who are unable to use punctuation.

[@coastliner5848]

The numbers coming will be off the scale...

[@jasonjordan1936]

and labour will give them houses in blackpool to get the vote

[@danshaw3239]

tories

[@cyberhermit1222]

Blackpool has been a sh'thole for decades

[@danshaw3239]

@@cyberhermit1222 tories