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Luton town centre
Posted by Enclosure Hatter on 10/1/2024, 16:19:00
There’s no getting away from the fact it is one of the worst town centres in the UK. I went into the Arndale just before Christmas for the first time in 4 years to shop, and was pretty shocked at just how bad it is now.
Other towns are bad. People are right to say MK has gone downhill, for example. But I’d say it’s currently where Luton was 20 years ago.
Ok, it hasn’t helped that Debenhams, Topshop etc have gone out of business and that M&S has moved away. But at least other towns have places to eat/some sort of culture. Bedford is probably a good comparison in terms of demographics, yet even though it is rough it has a lot more going for it.
Big issue in Luton is how all the office blocks have been turned into bedsits.
With Power Court, there is an opportunity for things to change. But I’m not convinced the council/locals are going to make the most of it.
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Just sayin' on 11/1/2024, 4:05:32, in reply to "Luton town centre"
Stevenage? What a desolate hole that town is
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Bedfordite on 10/1/2024, 17:43:36, in reply to "Luton town centre"
There are plenty enough people who work to make the town a better place and to help the undoubted large number of people in Luton suffering from deprivation and other issues. That's evident simply from the number of things that appeared on Look East lately.
I guess it's also true there's plenty of people who couldn't give a damn judging by the litter graffiti and general squalor etc. But that goes for large parts of the country with an industrial past. I daresay there are plenty of shitholes in Harpenden if you looked hard enough.
What suggestions do you have for transforming the town into paradise. Leaving the EU isn't really an option any more.
The only good thing Left About the Town of Luton is the football club
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Enclosure Hatter on 10/1/2024, 18:21:48, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
The council changing their strategy on planning in the town centre would be a starting point.
It’s not just the office blocks which are now poor quality bed sits, but the amount of cheap cladding high rise flats they’ve let go up, often in place of older buildings with character.
Although I think they did improve the road in front of the train station with the bus interchange, redeveloping the area where the old bus station used to be (Bute St car park) should’ve been done by now. That really could’ve created a more positive first impression of the town. I think it was knocked down in 2008?
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by RM on 10/1/2024, 17:25:39, in reply to "Luton town centre"
Had to go into Mall yesterday, as I was going into Boots two youths sprinted out with an arm full of perfumes/aftershaves. Security made a token gesture to follow them but soon gave up. Both kids made no attempt to hide their identity, I guess they know there will be no follow up or Police action.
Mk does ok evenings wise, Plenty of food and drink places, helped I'd think by having a really decent theatre there. and where the football stadium is. That's always busy too
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Northern lad on 10/1/2024, 16:30:26, in reply to "Luton town centre"
Normal for Luton. Anyone with any hope of making a better life for themselves got out years ago.
I was born in Luton. Lived in the town centre. Left at the age of 25.
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 10/1/2024, 16:51:32, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
Right. So you left Luton to live in a northern slum and look in a dustbin for something to eat, but have the gall to pretend you know what Luton's like now.
Er, NO actually. I left Luton for a better quality of life, to live in peaceful surroundings in a beautiful property which I now own.
I've achieved all that and more. No stabbings and innocent people where I live being run over by mindless thugs driving expensive cars which in all probability aren't taxed, insured and the driver has no licence, as in Houghton Regis.
No delving through dustbins either. I eat well, in my lounge, at the table, just as any civilised individual does.
I'm not aware of anyone being murdered during all the years I've lived where I live.
But you carry on defending the indefensible violent environment in which you live.
Me, I happy to be well away from it, living stress free and enjoying my life away from the ever present worries of living in Luton and constantly looking over my shoulder.
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 10/1/2024, 19:13:55, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
Funnily enough, I don't spend my life worrying and looking over my shoulder. Nor do most people I know. But you carry on.
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Brko's Bicycle on 10/1/2024, 16:25:17, in reply to "Luton town centre"
I really, really hope that Power Court changes the face of the town centre. Potential of Luton is huge but it will take investment.
The new bit of opened up river on the station side of the Arndale is unimpressive and drab, I'm disappointed as that was one aspect of the Power Court plan that especially excited me. Not sure what I was expecting to be honest!
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Bored in Flitwick on 10/1/2024, 17:43:56, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
If it happens..how would power court change any thing..the dross are not going to improve because hey..we got a power court..eventually maybe
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Enclosure Hatter on 10/1/2024, 16:39:35, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
That is probably a true point, but there’s no reason that restaurants etc couldn’t have still done well in the town.
Plus there’s plenty of smaller towns and villages within a 10-15 minute drive that Luton should be drawing people in from.
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 10/1/2024, 16:40:46, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
Public transport from those villages has been cut to the bone.
Re: Luton town centre
Posted by Enclosure Hatter on 10/1/2024, 16:47:29, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
That is part true, but living in one of those villages, I can tell you that you get next to no one on the small bus into Luton these days, it drives around empty.
Another cause of the decline of the High Street, rarely mentioned, is University fees. Up until the late 90’s the young started work at 16, 17 18, some did apprenticeships and training in the town earning money. They went to nightclubs, pubs and restaurants and shopped in town for clothes, shoes, records, presents for the family etc because they had disposable income. Making the young go to Uni and accumulate massive debt has meant a huge loss to the High Street, pubs etc.
Nobody makes anyone go to university. A lot of the problem is that many of those who do so are not qualified to go but because of the dumbing down of examination papers along with the marking of them gives them qualifications which decades ago they would have failed to achieve, in fact in my day you had to be blisteringly clever to get to university, nowadays if you can spell your name correctly you are in.
That then leads on to poorly qualified achieving positions they can't cope with and hence the shambolic service and management now epidemic in our society.
My daughter went to uni for 3 months and decided it wasn't for her. you check out on Indeed the jobs. and what they are looking for what are essentially low paid jobs in offices.
Posted by Nearly a Genius on 10/1/2024, 16:43:07, in reply to "Re: Luton town centre"
I'm not sure that's wholly true, but RADSB is right about the lack of other opportunities for school-leavers. Who wants to have a choice between a fast-food outlet and a warehouse?
Pains me to say it but a lot has to do with the low cost Eastern European routes that have flooded the Airpprt.
Bishops Stortford is experiencing the exact same issue, a once vibrant market town with a good daytime and nighttime mix. Now has no-go areas due to turf wars with those originating from cheap low cost destinations.
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