The neglected UK town locals claim is 'the worst place on the planet' - 'it's a s******e'

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Locals came together to provide everything the pensioner needed, including bags of clothes. Ms Houghton, whose husband, Michael, died after being injured in the blast, told the…

Residents of an inner-city suburb have denounced it as “the worst place on the planet”. Harpurhey in Manchester was historically considered Lancashire, but now it finds itself in the Greater Manchester metropolitan area, where the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, was Mayor until he entered Number 10. It was listed in 2007 as the UK’s most deprived area. Manchester City Council says 35.5% of all households in Harpurhey are deprived in one way or another — above the average for Manchester (32.8%). “It’s a s*** hole, to be honest, mate, and we live here,” said John, 64, who did not wish to give his surname. “It’s an absolute s*** hole, mate.”

The bus driver, who has lived in the area for 40 years, added that around 25 years ago, it was “lovely” with lots of shops, but nowadays people do not feel safe, and there are “beggars after money all the time”. Caroline Kennedy, 75, a retired shop assistant, who has lived in Harpurhey for 45 years, agreed. She said: "It is rough. There’s a lot of crime.

"But there’s also a lot of good people. Nice people. But I wouldn’t go out at night, not on my own. No way. Years ago, it used to be a lovely place. Not anymore." John Malone, 48, the landlord at the Shiredale pub, has lived in Harpurhey all his life.

Sitting at the bar wearing a Manchester City shirt, he told the Express “gangs of young kids” cause problems and “a lot of people are scared of walking past them”, especially the elderly. “They go out of their way to avoid them,” he added. “When school finishes, there can be 50 kids hanging around and people can’t get to the shops."

Mr Malone thinks that youngsters, “instead of getting benefits for nothing”, should be “out doing litter picking, something in the community so many days a week [...] for the benefits, instead of just sitting there”. The local added that there had been stabbings in the area, including a “young girl” who was attacked, who fled to his pub, about 18 months ago.

Immigration was also mentioned by residents.

John, the…

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