Vocal Voices

...I really, really, really love living here!

I've just been sitting in the plaza having breakfast. It's lovely and warm which adds to it all.

At the table next to my friend and I was a mum and dad with their two little boys aged about 6 and 4. They were excitedly chattering about Papa Noel visiting tonight as they'd been good boys all year, haven't we mama.

The town is getting all set up for the parades tonight, the shops are busy with people buying last minute Christmas gifts and the cake shops are doing a roaring trade selling Rosca de Reyes.

I was just sitting watching all this and thinking how lucky I am to live here.

Contrast that with yesterday and walking through the town centre here with John.

John "It's bloody horrible here isn't it!"

Me"Yep"

What a shame jo but to be honest don't think many places have brilliant town centre these day they seem to be full of empty shops rubbish and homeless people very depressing especially in the winter I wouldn't willing want to move back to a town

And as you get ready for Papa Noel it is decorations down day in this town.

We're really glad we moved away from the town centre, Saundra.
Even the charity shops and money places like Cash Converters are closing down.

Ally, when Channel 4 did their list of the worst places to live in the UK, this town came in at number 16 or thereabouts.

No decent shops to speak of in the centre. M&S looked at opening at one time, did their homework and decided not to.

Drug use is rife, the town centre church grounds are a favourite place for users to hang around and weed is smoked openly on the streets. The former post office right in the town centre is earmarked for reopening as a needle exchange.

We consider ourselves very lucky to live here too

JoM wrote:Contrast that with yesterday and walking through the town centre here with John.

John "It's bloody horrible here isn't it!"

Me"Yep"

Wakefield may not be as bad as that but it's not far off. The centre - we went out last year for a drink in Wakey. 10 pm, we walked past the cathedral, we were the only people in sight. Once on a Saturday night it would have been packed. There are people trying, there are a few decent places to eat. But generally it is a depressing place, a place where all the money seems to have departed. Sad.

Our city centre is a bit depressing, apart from the bit by the cathedral, but the docks and quays make up for it, for me! I love going down there, the vibe reminds me of places abroad, with the water, boats and lovely shops and cafes - just without the weather

I'm the same kaz love the seafront the harbour but the town it's self is full of tat really a seaside livens up in the summer