Britain’s worst metropolis the place there’s ‘nothing to do’ and is overrun by hooligans
Residents have exposed the harsh reality of residing in a “ghost town” overrun by hooligans and antisocial behaviour.
Derby was awarded this undesirable title following a survey conducted by Which? that polled nearly 4,000 people about their experiences visiting UK cities over the past two years.
Visitors lambasted the East Midlands city for its lack of interesting sights or activities, branding it the “worst large city in the UK to visit.”
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It received a mere two stars for food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights, tourist attractions, shopping, and ease of navigation ranking 62nd out of 62 places.
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Now, locals have unveiled the true experience of living there – with many concurring that the “neglected” city is deserving of its unfortunate label.
Residents and business owners lament that the once-bustling city is now filled with boarded-up vacant units and offers little in terms of leisure and entertainment.
They also claim it has become a hotspot for crime and homelessness, deterring more people from visiting and driving them towards nearby cities such as Nottingham.
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Tony Dickens, 76, who relocated to Derby from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, stated: “I can’t think of anywhere off of the top of my head that deserves it more.
“The amount of industry that used to be here. Take Rolls Royce out and there’s nothing. There’s nothing in Derby but traffic.”
“Compared with Nottingham or wherever, what is there in Derby, entertainment wise?
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“If you come down here at 8pm on a Saturday night, it’s dead.”
Another woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, chimed in: “For us to come that far down is shameful. I feel like we’ve put our faith in the wrong people and our regenerations plans have been ruined.
“Our shops are shut and there’s homelessness everywhere. It’s not exactly appealing for anyone coming to visit us.
“You come off at the bus station or by train and you get greeted with a ghost town some days. The city has just been neglected.”
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Charity shop worker Rachel Brunt, 55, added: “It’s a bit rubbish because there’s hardly any shops out now. I mean Wilkos has gone and that was a big one for us.
“They’ve been closing down around here for years.”
Another lifelong local, who would only give his name as Trevor, said: “You can go over to Nottingham, and there’s all the university life and it’s very vibrant.
“But if you’re a youngster that is better. There’s a lot over there.”
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One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Its become pretty lawless as a result of being neglected by the council. I don’t feel safe in the city centre anymore.”
Charity shop worker Rachel Brunt, 55, said: “No wonder people are staying away, I don’t blame them. “.
Local resident Andrew voiced his frustration: “It upset me, I’m from this town all of my life.
“This is for the local council, the police and the amenity people to put their heads together and sort it out.
“They’ve run this city down for the last ten years. The shops, everything.”
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