I was born and raised at Baildon, very near Bradford. In those days (50's and 60's) it was a good place to grow up with theatres, high expectations solid values.
It has changed so much - I swore, when I left in 2001, that I would never go back. My sister still lives at Baildon and has to drive to the other side of Bradford to work - she does a lot of extra mileage to avoid going through it.
It saddens me very much - I feel to have been robbed of my heritage, happy though I am here.
I think the "Journalist" of the article lives up his/her own sphincter and doesn't give fair balance of any of the places and reasons why apart from their own small limited vocabulary.
Yes, Dannyk, of course, you are quite right - but I was allowed to go to concerts at St. George's hall on my own. They don't perform there any more and you wouldn't, these days, allow a 16yr. old girl to walk through Bradford centre, get a trolley-bus to Saltaire and walk up to Baildon Green all on her own. It has changed, very sadly - so has society generally. :(
Phew, my town didn't come up, but I take exception to Blackpool, had some good day outs there from childhood to now. Little lad loves it and the fish and chips on the front are a tasty and great nothern tradition! Maybe you have to be from the north ...