UK seaside town left in state of 'disrepair' as kids walk streets 'barefoot'

06 January 2024 , 12:00

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Blackpool has been likened to 'Beirut' as members of the public say they are trapped in poverty (file) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A famous UK seaside town has been left in a state of disrepair by alleged drug users who lounge around in a place now likened to Beirut.

Residents of Blackpool say their children play in the streets without shoes or socks while drug abusers linger in the streets. Recent figures pointed to Blackpool as the most deprived part of the country, and locals were not surprised. It was claimed their situation is actually on the decline, with people suggesting the area has more parts filled with rats and mould than anywhere else. Rental accommodations appear to be suffering in the area and foodbanks can barely keep up with the number of people who now rely on them in Blackpool.

Blackpool is not the booming area it once was according to its residents (Getty Images)

Joseph Underwood, 52, said: "The poverty and conditions are simply shocking. I have a friend who lives in an area with rats and mould. And you see crack and heroin being openly smoked in the streets. It's incredible. Some areas of the town are so bad, it's like Beirut." Blackpool's heyday may be at an end, with the Las Vegas of the North tipping itself into a state of disrepair and "poverty," the Daily Express reported.

Unemployed Joe Morris, 36, told added: "I've seen kids in bare feet walking the streets. It's shocking. There is a lot of poverty here." The Office of National Statistics (ONS) found Blackpool to be the least healthy place to live in England, the fifth year in a row the area has taken the worrying accolade. John Gould, 73, said: "It's definitely got worse over the years.

"Some of the poverty is shocking with more people having to go to foodbanks over the years. They have ploughed a lot of money into the town but the people seem to be getting worse off." Even councillors are aware of the strife and struggle facing their constituents as they rally against "economic and health" challenges in the area.

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One such problem was aired by Karl Jenkinson, 23, who spoke to The Sun about his £850-a-month flat filled with mould. He said: "The area we live in isn't great and it is a struggle getting by even though I work. We pay £850-a-month for a flat that has mould. I worry for my daughter's health."

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: "As a local authority, we are wholly committed to improving the quality of life of our town's residents, as well as continuing to attract the millions of visitors who come to Blackpool every year because they love it so much. Whilst Blackpool is so well known for fun and happy times, like many other seaside towns it is faced with both economic and health challenges including high levels of deprivation, dependency and social need and we are doing much to tackle these issues head on.

"Working proactively alongside our colleagues in the NHS, as well as other partners we provide a number of health and welfare schemes to try and ensure that families, children and individuals get the help and advice that they need. At the same time we also need to look to the future. So we along with partners are investing heavily in Blackpool in a diverse range of development projects to drive economic regeneration, create new jobs to help our communities, and deliver an improved environment for residents and visitors alike."

Ewan Gleadow