The Hampshire town of Aldershot, in the Rushmoor district, has been branded the worst place to live in Britain by the Sunday Times.
This verdict was reached after an analysis of various factors, including crime rates, which are nearly 50 percent higher than the rest of the South East, underwhelming Ofsted school ratings, and lengthy NHS waiting times.
Local resident George, an 80 year old retired builder and gardener, echoed this sentiment, saying: “It’s so run down.”
George has lived in the town of Ash for 70 years and has seen Aldershot, once a thriving base for the British Army, decline over time. A notable example of this decline is the empty plot where The Galleries shopping centre once stood, demolished to make way for flats but currently a desolate, fenced-off area.
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George questioned the logic behind this move, saying: “How can you demolish a building that’s stood for 20 years just to build another in its place? It’s money wasted.”
80 year old local June Hood, wrapped in a purple coat to ward off the cold, shared her dismay at the decline of the area, reports the Express. “It’s dreadful,” she said.
The retired chef who lives in Ash Vale spoke nostalgically about the town’s better days. “I miss it so much. Marks and Spencer and Woolworths. There used to be Army people. The soldiers would always look smart. Now there’s nothing. They’re all down and out. People sit in the doorways with fried chicken boxes and cans of beer.”
Another long-term resident, aged 70, who’s been in Aldershot since 1972, didn’t mince words when he said: “Get some shops in here.”
Pointing to the nearby Wellington Shopping Centre which he described as “empty” he complained about the loss of vital stores including the recent closure of Wilko as evidence of inadequate amenities. He added: “You can’t buy the essentials that you need here anymore. There’s no shoe shop here; that’s gone.”
Residents have raised worries about the roads’ state, particularly for cyclists, with George saying: “I cycle sometimes. I’m scared to come out at night. If you don’t know where the holes [in the roads] are, you could kill yourself.”
Distressed by local crime, one couple commented: “It is the worst place. We were going to the charity shop the other day, and there was this bloke outside selling drugs. This has got to be the worst place on Earth. Where are the police to deal with all these drug dealers? “.
While acknowledging the town’s large police station, one of them noted it’s uncommon to “never see” an officer on patrol. In contrast, they applauded Frimley Park Hospital; the woman called it “brilliant”.
However, they were disappointed with GP services, saying that calling 111 is quicker than getting an appointment at their surgery.
Nevertheless, the couple, Aldershot residents for over 30 years, take comfort in the local theatre, which they see as a cherished feature.
Jimmy Hughes, 75, who has been a local since 1962, nostalgically reflected on the town’s past glory: “It was so full of soldiers. Aldershot, it was like Clapham Junction. You look at it now, and it’s all gone. There were two butchers’ shops here I took my first job in one when I left school. I used to see all the scooters come down here in the 1960s. When I see Aldershot now, it’s completely changed.”
However, Rushmoor Borough Council leader Cllr Gareth Williams offered a different perspective on the area’s recent low ranking in the Sunday Times survey, saying: “We didn’t recognise such a negative view of our towns. Both Aldershot and [neighbouring] Farnborough have many great things to celebrate, with strong global investment in Farnborough, the home of British aviation, and Aldershot benefiting from its legacy of military history and a massive sense of community.
“We are proud of the way in which people have welcomed new communities to our towns and of the contributions that they make. Like any busy, urban area we know that local public services, like the police, schools, roads, and health services can be under pressure.
“That’s why when we took over the administration of the council last year, we made a firm commitment to our residents to work with them to improve our towns and communities, and we are delivering that through the development of our strategic priorities that will bring about long-term change.”