Plans unveiled for design of Blackburn's ambitious Cathedral Quarter (From Blackburn Citizen)

will not work, save the money. Our town is dying a slow death and has been for the past 10 years nearly now

Looks vile. What an ugly monstrosity and no doubt the hotel will be some downmarket chain like Travelodge. Blackburn has hardly any buildings of note and now these buffoons intend to cloak the Cathedral in mammon. As with all artists' impressions the reality will be even worse.

I, sure the rodents that stroll around brazenly through the daytime will be very impressed with this wide open space for a bit of leg stretching.

This could be really great for Blackburn. However, it would be fantastic if some additional revenue could be raised (or some of this revenue used) to revamp the old victorian shops in Blackburn to their former glory - mainly Darwen Street, and the numerous satellite streets that run into the town centre. If you need an example of what I'm referring to, there are thousands of photographs of lovely old shop fronts on the Cottontown website alone, nevermind in countless books about Blackburn. BwD even have a shop front design guide as part of the planning policy for Blackburn, and this states that shop front design should be sensitive to the age and style of building.

If Margo Grimshaw can not make a go of building apartments just around the back of the Cathedral Quarter, What will make this hotel work? It all looks good but is it going to work?
At least the drunks in the Cathedral gardens will have something nice too look at.

Black Car Guy. wrote:
If Margo Grimshaw can not make a go of building apartments just around the back of the Cathedral Quarter, What will make this hotel work? It all looks good but is it going to work?
At least the drunks in the Cathedral gardens will have something nice too look at.

Correct and after 3 years of failure the hotel will revert to a massive modern bail hostel

People will now see where the cuts are being spent. Try getting a grip on society before giving them nice things to play with.

Frisson wrote:
will not work, save the money. Our town is dying a slow death and has been for the past 10 years nearly now

Been shopping in Blackburn today and I didn't feel it was dying a death. In fact, it was very lively. And I see no reason why the hotel would not be successful. That said, I will be very sad to see the end of the boulevard.

Its not a touch on the Vatican!

Wait till a few of the "Shad residents " give it a visit !

Brun House Mark 2

No doubt the Cathedral will be ruined by another monstrosity, probably with a (communist) flat roof. From the drawing it looks like badly designed, oversized greenhouse. I agree that this will prove to be too little too late. Blackburn is now a segregated dying town. It has no night time economy, no civic pride and not much of a future to look forward to. Empty shops and Market stalls are evident and I am afraid that Blackburn has been in the media for all the wrong reasons, namely Criminality and Terrorism. It gives me no pleasure to say this but, in my honestly held opinion, Blackburn is a living example of how not to engage in "social engineering". A once thriving town has been ground down into a shell of its former self, It has become "A Northern ill Town". Who do we blame for this? Politicians, Council leaders and Councillors of course. We deserve better we really do.

Deus Vobiscum

DEO VOLENTE wrote:
No doubt the Cathedral will be ruined by another monstrosity, probably with a (communist) flat roof. From the drawing it looks like badly designed, oversized greenhouse. I agree that this will prove to be too little too late. Blackburn is now a segregated dying town. It has no night time economy, no civic pride and not much of a future to look forward to. Empty shops and Market stalls are evident and I am afraid that Blackburn has been in the media for all the wrong reasons, namely Criminality and Terrorism. It gives me no pleasure to say this but, in my honestly held opinion, Blackburn is a living example of how not to engage in "social engineering". A once thriving town has been ground down into a shell of its former self, It has become "A Northern ill Town". Who do we blame for this? Politicians, Council leaders and Councillors of course. We deserve better we really do.

Deus Vobiscum

Well said, but the majority voted for those who now turn the wheels who have made Blackburn what it is today. But one things for sure, they’ll all get a bigger wage packet than the majority who are reading this will?

This is a total waste of money. It would be far better spent turning the boulevard into a proper bus station. The only attribute the town has, is the buses are right outside the station, well most of them, if they (whoever they are) had desiged the boulevard with less room for pedestrians and more room for the buses, we wouldn't be changing it again.

We need a four or five star hotel in Blackburn town centre,this is a good news a major hotel chain is investing in Blackburn,We have a cathedral,university but no hotel like the ones in Preston,Blackpool and Bolton.If Blackburn was to get the city status it deserved then we need a hotel.The Cathedral investments would further complement the regeneration around the town centre.The new bus station needs to be built for the 21st century like modern airports with shops,cafes,toilets,
bus departures and arrival boards and passenger waiting area with confortable seatingsBlackburn is still far behind Preston,Blackpool and Bolton in retail,leisure,hotel
s,restaurants,pubs and clubs..

M.DANNY wrote:
We need a four or five star hotel in Blackburn town centre,this is a good news a major hotel chain is investing in Blackburn,We have a cathedral,university but no hotel like the ones in Preston,Blackpool and Bolton.If Blackburn was to get the city status it deserved then we need a hotel.The Cathedral investments would further complement the regeneration around the town centre.The new bus station needs to be built for the 21st century like modern airports with shops,cafes,toilets,

bus departures and arrival boards and passenger waiting area with confortable seatingsBlackburn is still far behind Preston,Blackpool and Bolton in retail,leisure,hotel

s,restaurants,pubs and clubs..

What ever you are on I'll Have a pint as well

I,d like to know where they,re going to conjure up all the people from ,who are going to use all these retail / leisure and hotel facilities. Pubs & clubs in the town centre are all dying a slow death,the only restaurants that are busy are the ones with 2 meals for £10 .Apart from pound shops and charity/ mobile phone shops the town would be like a ghost town.

It won't get built anyway haha

M.DANNY wrote:
We need a four or five star hotel in Blackburn town centre,this is a good news a major hotel chain is investing in Blackburn,We have a cathedral,university but no hotel like the ones in Preston,Blackpool and Bolton.If Blackburn was to get the city status it deserved then we need a hotel.The Cathedral investments would further complement the regeneration around the town centre.The new bus station needs to be built for the 21st century like modern airports with shops,cafes,toilets,

bus departures and arrival boards and passenger waiting area with confortable seatingsBlackburn is still far behind Preston,Blackpool and Bolton in retail,leisure,hotel

s,restaurants,pubs and clubs..

That is so funny, you'll have people believing you're serious. And so badly punctuated!

Why can't they leave the buses where they are and build the shops and hotel including an entertainment complex theatre nightclub whatever ABOVE the revamped bus station?

May I cite the following words as worthy of consideration when making these plans for us, the common folks..
"Enabling the client community to be involved in the detailed process of design rather than exclusively the local authority, is I am sure the kind of development we should be examining more closely. Apart from anything else, there is an assumption that if people have played a part in creating something they might conceivably treat it as their own possession and look after it, thus making an attempt at reducing the problem of vandalism. What I believe is important about community architecture is that it has shown 'ordinary' people that their views are worth having; that architects and planners do not necessarily have the monopoly of knowing best about taste, style and planning; that they need not be made to feel guilty or ignorant if their natural preference is for the more 'traditional' designs - for a small garden, for courtyards, arches and porches; and that there is a growing number of architects prepared to listen and to offer imaginative ideas." As spoken by HRH, The Prince of Wales, as part of his 'monstrous carbuncle' speech in 1984. And here we are, near 30 years later, planning to build another featureless block of concrete and glass, that is quite in keeping with the telephone exchange and newspaper offices but nothing else within the ideas of the 21st century or the surroundings that it will stand..
If you cannot be creative in architecture then you have no place in designing buildings whatsoever.
Why didn't you take a look around the Boulevard as is and consider making a building that is utterly modern and unique, yet is reminiscent of this towns glory in making the clothes on the Worlds backs?
Consider an huge version of a battery loom, that once was made here by Norcross, in their hundreds of thousands, gave livings to both people here and from abroad. Just design the hotel to look like the battery part of that loom, with windows and balconies that could be mistaken for the pirns awaiting a shuttle, just as travellers will want to move onwards, after a short dwell. It would be more in keeping with both the buildings that surround it and the long history of this town as a former mill town.
Just think of it, an huge barrel shaped hotel would be both unique and a feature worth coming to Blackburn to see. Who wouldn't want to go on the top to see the whole of the town and have a coffee, a meal or a night out?

I wish this venture well since it has the potential to radically rejuvenate the town centre.

However I hope that the buildings will last longer the the Market & will be built in a style that doesn't date thereby avoiding costly revamps that the precinct has required.

Consequently hopefully the hotel won't end up being to Blackburn what the Kierby Hotel became to Burnley!

A building totally out of character with its surroundings which are Victorian in essence and, no doubt, designed by an architect far removed from Blackburn who won't have to see it on a regular basis. It is a 'carbuncle'.Will a town centre hotel in Blackburn be successful in our car based economy? Would a tourist wish to base him/herself in this location?
The whole development is about the landowner - the Cathedral, making as much money as possible from the Boulevard site.
Whilst it is in everyone's interest to see a vibrant Blackburn I just think the town is steadily declining for all kinds of reasons and will continue to do so.

It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

ladysal wrote:
It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

What are you saying? Blackburn needs blowing up!

Funny how an Artist impression never looks like the actual finished project,a bit like the burger that you buy never looks like the one advertised above the counter!

A Darener wrote:

ladysal wrote:
It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

What are you saying? Blackburn needs blowing up!

That's clearly not what's being said here at all. The comparison being made is that regeneration is necessary as it was in Manchester after it was bombed by the IRA, which worked, so lets give things a chance.

A Darener wrote:

ladysal wrote:
It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

What are you saying? Blackburn needs blowing up!

I couldn't agree more, when it was announced the Mall was being built as with any other project in the town centre its brandished a failure before its even built. Some people in the town just have nothing better to do than moan, the truth in the matter is that big companies such as The Mall, and whichever company takes over the hotel wouldn't be spending their money in Blackburn if they didn't think it would work. The ironic thing about it as well is that the people on here slating any development in my eyes are the reason why the town is in such a state, they are also the people regularly saying on here that they can't wait to leave when the reality is there never going to be going anywhere when I so wish they would.

ladysal wrote:
It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

I couldn't agree more, when it was announced the Mall was being built as with any other project in the town centre its brandished a failure before its even built. Some people in the town just have nothing better to do than moan, the truth in the matter is that big companies such as The Mall, and whichever company takes over the hotel wouldn't be spending their money in Blackburn if they didn't think it would work. The ironic thing about it as well is that the people on here slating any development in my eyes are the reason why the town is in such a state, they are also the people regularly saying on here that they can't wait to leave when the reality is there never going to be going anywhere when I so wish they would.

Things come around in circles. "The biggest toilet block in Europe" was clad with the same tiles as our own version albeit in a more yellow hue.

It is my opinion that had our tiles not started to drop of, we would have had a facade far more agreeable than the one that was placed over them in the mid nineties having seen the way that it weathered.

I've even seen the original design of the precinct being described as a splendid example of post-modernist architecture. Whilst this may be a little over-favourable, it certainly illustrates that a design that is controversial at the offset can "mature" into something more desirable.

So let's not criticise any designs shown in these early stages. Artists impressions published are just that; impressions by an artist rather than the final design of an architect which would still be subject to change.

BlackburnBadger wrote:

ladysal wrote:
It never ceases to amaze me how many doom sayers there are posting on these comments threads.
Whilst I am the first to admit that Blackburn has problems and that these need to be addressed, continually putting attempts at improving the town centre down are likely to turn into a self fulfilling prophecy.
Why not wait and see? You may be pleasantly surprised.
I remember how the centre of Manchester was before the IRA got involved. A shopping centre described as "the biggest toilet block in Europe". A market which was almost empty and sold even worse tat than ours did. Lots and lots of empty shops (you had to know where to look, but they weren't hard to find).
Then the bomb went off and regeneration became a necessity. The existing builidngs were improved, lots more building took place and suddenly the whole of the centre is thriving. Modern sits happily next to traditional and whilst not everyone appreciates certain types of architecture, the end result is massive investment and lots of the biggest and most exclusive stores have moved in.
Whilst it is unlikely that the same level of effect will occur within Blackburn it is not impossible. Give it a chance: it could happen here.

I couldn't agree more, when it was announced the Mall was being built as with any other project in the town centre its brandished a failure before its even built. Some people in the town just have nothing better to do than moan, the truth in the matter is that big companies such as The Mall, and whichever company takes over the hotel wouldn't be spending their money in Blackburn if they didn't think it would work. The ironic thing about it as well is that the people on here slating any development in my eyes are the reason why the town is in such a state, they are also the people regularly saying on here that they can't wait to leave when the reality is there never going to be going anywhere when I so wish they would.

I agree too! Blackburn centre is more pleasing to the eye than it was twenty years ago! There is an upbeat feeling about the place, moreso than at any time that I can remember. It's a busy town centre, with a nice shopping centre and Market, and the peripheral shopping parks add to shopping experience.

Yes, many posters on here always do comparisons with the likes of Preston and Bolton, and even Manchester! The latter besides, Blackburn, once the cathedral precinct is redeveloped, and the old markets area too, will beat Preston and Bolton hands down!

Believe you me, I live in Burnley, so i know what I'm talking about! Lol

I’m greatly surprised my beloved hometown hasn’t yet been added to the role of shame on the worst places to live in briton....especially after what we saw this week on TV.

I come and post from Manchester now (thank god) about Blackburn. A town dying on its a**e.

My particular beef is with the nightlife. It may seem surprising to outsiders, but as relatively recently as 2004 Blackburn was a good, good night on the tiles consisting of probably a couple of thousand people of mixed ages, a roughly 50-50 gender divide and relative decency enjoying a number of respectable pubs.

Fast-forward 8 years and what do we have? Blackburn has now surrendered itself completely to the element of s**m that has always existed in the background, but who now call the shots from Higher Croft and Shads. The pubs are dives that now exist only to serve the lowest common denominators of local society:

Drug dealers, dole wasters, bums, guttersnipes, fallen women, young slappers and their steroid pumped teenage boyfriends.

It’s a f**king nightmare! A cross between ‘Shameless’ and the Star Wars canteen at best.

Blackburn pubs themselves haven’t seen a lick of paint, or a vac or duster in 5 years or more. A couple stink of human feces from the blocked drains in the toilets. The regulars don’t care because hiring a plumber may see beer costs rise indirectly. You have to get your prioroties in order you see! Cheap beer whilst breathing in s**t is a small price to pay for the patrons. The staff are comically inept, disinterested and/or rude.

I really begrudge coming back and going down town and rarely do. The last time a four months ago, against my better instincts, I visted the P****l O***r pub about 10pm one Friday night only to see a 16 year old-looking girl casually throwing her guts up in the middle of the pub. No-one cared, not even here boyfriend(s) who just laughed and carried on drinking....Its not a race.

Many of the younger girls are rough beyond parody. Dresses 3 sizes too small revealling bruised white legs. Pi**ed out of their minds before they leave their front door. None of them take any money into town either, they just arrive tanked up off cider and cheap wine to then abuse people or passers by.

The Blackburn lads are hillbillies. Most steroided up + Dad in prison = most respect = sha**ing most slappers or the ones with the shortest dress (can you call it that or is it just a top)

Perhaps apathy is a solution? For Blackburn its the only solution....

Blackburn's night life started hitting the skids in around 1995 when they put the shutters on the precinct. People used to cut through from The Brewers to the likes of Blakeys.

Once the shutters came down, they just couldn't be bothered & went to places like Preston where most of the pubs are on one street without an obstacle of a precinct between them.

jack denials wrote:
I’m greatly surprised my beloved hometown hasn’t yet been added to the role of shame on the worst places to live in briton....especially after what we saw this week on TV. I come and post from Manchester now (thank god) about Blackburn. A town dying on its a**e. My particular beef is with the nightlife. It may seem surprising to outsiders, but as relatively recently as 2004 Blackburn was a good, good night on the tiles consisting of probably a couple of thousand people of mixed ages, a roughly 50-50 gender divide and relative decency enjoying a number of respectable pubs. Fast-forward 8 years and what do we have? Blackburn has now surrendered itself completely to the element of s**m that has always existed in the background, but who now call the shots from Higher Croft and Shads. The pubs are dives that now exist only to serve the lowest common denominators of local society: Drug dealers, dole wasters, bums, guttersnipes, fallen women, young slappers and their steroid pumped teenage boyfriends. It’s a f**king nightmare! A cross between ‘Shameless’ and the Star Wars canteen at best. Blackburn pubs themselves haven’t seen a lick of paint, or a vac or duster in 5 years or more. A couple stink of human feces from the blocked drains in the toilets. The regulars don’t care because hiring a plumber may see beer costs rise indirectly. You have to get your prioroties in order you see! Cheap beer whilst breathing in s**t is a small price to pay for the patrons. The staff are comically inept, disinterested and/or rude. I really begrudge coming back and going down town and rarely do. The last time a four months ago, against my better instincts, I visted the P****l O***r pub about 10pm one Friday night only to see a 16 year old-looking girl casually throwing her guts up in the middle of the pub. No-one cared, not even here boyfriend(s) who just laughed and carried on drinking....Its not a race. Many of the younger girls are rough beyond parody. Dresses 3 sizes too small revealling bruised white legs. Pi**ed out of their minds before they leave their front door. None of them take any money into town either, they just arrive tanked up off cider and cheap wine to then abuse people or passers by. The Blackburn lads are hillbillies. Most steroided up + Dad in prison = most respect = sha**ing most slappers or the ones with the shortest dress (can you call it that or is it just a top) Perhaps apathy is a solution? For Blackburn its the only solution....

I could could say the same about certain areas of Manchester. Yes, the city centre is usually of a higher class, but you only need to go fifty yards outside the trendy areas to find exactly what you are complaining about in Blackburn. Even Rusholme. The food may be good, but the clientele is frequently a disgrace: there were occasions when the behaviour of some young people made me ashamed to be white.

After living in the septic tank area of Shads for 21 years I moved out to Manchester to go to Uni...Since then I have never turned back. I agree that there are areas like that in every town and Manchester is no different, however you can ignore them and you’d never know they were there.

The problem Blackburn has, compared to Blackburn is that you can’t ignore them. The size of the town doesn’t allow it, as large percentage of s**m seeps through into the town centre.

My motivation in life has been the drive to get out, and flush this out of my system. Now that I have got rid of the stink, there is no coming back to Shads for me.

I have considered particular areas where I could consider returning (Pleckgate, Beardwood and Witton), however not the two areas I have previously mentioned.

I know most of these areas are now populated by Asian... (I know many of you will start your racial comments based on these, but I am going to ignore you), but I do not have a problem with them as the ones that live in these areas are affluent, employed and largely welcoming.I believe it will be a great area for my future family to grow as I want them to grow up in Multicultural Britain.

ladysal wrote:

jack denials wrote:
I’m greatly surprised my beloved hometown hasn’t yet been added to the role of shame on the worst places to live in briton....especially after what we saw this week on TV. I come and post from Manchester now (thank god) about Blackburn. A town dying on its a**e. My particular beef is with the nightlife. It may seem surprising to outsiders, but as relatively recently as 2004 Blackburn was a good, good night on the tiles consisting of probably a couple of thousand people of mixed ages, a roughly 50-50 gender divide and relative decency enjoying a number of respectable pubs. Fast-forward 8 years and what do we have? Blackburn has now surrendered itself completely to the element of s**m that has always existed in the background, but who now call the shots from Higher Croft and Shads. The pubs are dives that now exist only to serve the lowest common denominators of local society: Drug dealers, dole wasters, bums, guttersnipes, fallen women, young slappers and their steroid pumped teenage boyfriends. It’s a f**king nightmare! A cross between ‘Shameless’ and the Star Wars canteen at best. Blackburn pubs themselves haven’t seen a lick of paint, or a vac or duster in 5 years or more. A couple stink of human feces from the blocked drains in the toilets. The regulars don’t care because hiring a plumber may see beer costs rise indirectly. You have to get your prioroties in order you see! Cheap beer whilst breathing in s**t is a small price to pay for the patrons. The staff are comically inept, disinterested and/or rude. I really begrudge coming back and going down town and rarely do. The last time a four months ago, against my better instincts, I visted the P****l O***r pub about 10pm one Friday night only to see a 16 year old-looking girl casually throwing her guts up in the middle of the pub. No-one cared, not even here boyfriend(s) who just laughed and carried on drinking....Its not a race. Many of the younger girls are rough beyond parody. Dresses 3 sizes too small revealling bruised white legs. Pi**ed out of their minds before they leave their front door. None of them take any money into town either, they just arrive tanked up off cider and cheap wine to then abuse people or passers by. The Blackburn lads are hillbillies. Most steroided up + Dad in prison = most respect = sha**ing most slappers or the ones with the shortest dress (can you call it that or is it just a top) Perhaps apathy is a solution? For Blackburn its the only solution....

I could could say the same about certain areas of Manchester. Yes, the city centre is usually of a higher class, but you only need to go fifty yards outside the trendy areas to find exactly what you are complaining about in Blackburn. Even Rusholme. The food may be good, but the clientele is frequently a disgrace: there were occasions when the behaviour of some young people made me ashamed to be white.

After living in the septic tank area of Shads for 21 years I moved out to Manchester to go to Uni...Since then I have never turned back. I agree that there are areas like that in every town and Manchester is no different, however you can ignore them and you’d never know they were there.

The problem Blackburn has, compared to Blackburn is that you can’t ignore them. The size of the town doesn’t allow it, as large percentage of s**m seeps through into the town centre.

My motivation in life has been the drive to get out, and flush this out of my system. Now that I have got rid of the stink, there is no coming back to Shads for me.

I have considered particular areas where I could consider returning (Pleckgate, Beardwood and Witton), however not the two areas I have previously mentioned.

I know most of these areas are now populated by Asian... (I know many of you will start your racial comments based on these, but I am going to ignore you), but I do not have a problem with them as the ones that live in these areas are affluent, employed and largely welcoming.I believe it will be a great area for my future family to grow as I want them to grow up in Multicultural Britain.

jack denials wrote:

ladysal wrote:

jack denials wrote:
I’m greatly surprised my beloved hometown hasn’t yet been added to the role of shame on the worst places to live in briton....especially after what we saw this week on TV. I come and post from Manchester now (thank god) about Blackburn. A town dying on its a**e. My particular beef is with the nightlife. It may seem surprising to outsiders, but as relatively recently as 2004 Blackburn was a good, good night on the tiles consisting of probably a couple of thousand people of mixed ages, a roughly 50-50 gender divide and relative decency enjoying a number of respectable pubs. Fast-forward 8 years and what do we have? Blackburn has now surrendered itself completely to the element of s**m that has always existed in the background, but who now call the shots from Higher Croft and Shads. The pubs are dives that now exist only to serve the lowest common denominators of local society: Drug dealers, dole wasters, bums, guttersnipes, fallen women, young slappers and their steroid pumped teenage boyfriends. It’s a f**king nightmare! A cross between ‘Shameless’ and the Star Wars canteen at best. Blackburn pubs themselves haven’t seen a lick of paint, or a vac or duster in 5 years or more. A couple stink of human feces from the blocked drains in the toilets. The regulars don’t care because hiring a plumber may see beer costs rise indirectly. You have to get your prioroties in order you see! Cheap beer whilst breathing in s**t is a small price to pay for the patrons. The staff are comically inept, disinterested and/or rude. I really begrudge coming back and going down town and rarely do. The last time a four months ago, against my better instincts, I visted the P****l O***r pub about 10pm one Friday night only to see a 16 year old-looking girl casually throwing her guts up in the middle of the pub. No-one cared, not even here boyfriend(s) who just laughed and carried on drinking....Its not a race. Many of the younger girls are rough beyond parody. Dresses 3 sizes too small revealling bruised white legs. Pi**ed out of their minds before they leave their front door. None of them take any money into town either, they just arrive tanked up off cider and cheap wine to then abuse people or passers by. The Blackburn lads are hillbillies. Most steroided up + Dad in prison = most respect = sha**ing most slappers or the ones with the shortest dress (can you call it that or is it just a top) Perhaps apathy is a solution? For Blackburn its the only solution....

I could could say the same about certain areas of Manchester. Yes, the city centre is usually of a higher class, but you only need to go fifty yards outside the trendy areas to find exactly what you are complaining about in Blackburn. Even Rusholme. The food may be good, but the clientele is frequently a disgrace: there were occasions when the behaviour of some young people made me ashamed to be white.

After living in the septic tank area of Shads for 21 years I moved out to Manchester to go to Uni...Since then I have never turned back. I agree that there are areas like that in every town and Manchester is no different, however you can ignore them and you’d never know they were there.

The problem Blackburn has, compared to Blackburn is that you can’t ignore them. The size of the town doesn’t allow it, as large percentage of s**m seeps through into the town centre.

My motivation in life has been the drive to get out, and flush this out of my system. Now that I have got rid of the stink, there is no coming back to Shads for me.

I have considered particular areas where I could consider returning (Pleckgate, Beardwood and Witton), however not the two areas I have previously mentioned.

I know most of these areas are now populated by Asian... (I know many of you will start your racial comments based on these, but I am going to ignore you), but I do not have a problem with them as the ones that live in these areas are affluent, employed and largely welcoming.I believe it will be a great area for my future family to grow as I want them to grow up in Multicultural Britain.

***I meant Manchester (1st Line 2nd Paragraph) - Knowing you literal types who slag the LT, you’re going to make a meal out of this mistake (not the Halal kind of course...lol)