I think heman is probably right.

I think the other reason is fear about the economy. I said fear and not facts.

Don't the tories win when we are afraid?

Its shameful. Someone should do a freedom of information request to the background of these voters, this will tell us the problem. My birth town seems to be run by numpties elected by the 34% numpties but the other 66% seem to not want to do anything about it. Down here its night & day. Ben Bradshaw for Labour was voted back in while all around him turned blue from yellow. However in essence Exeter seems to have things running ship shape, being very similar in population size but much smaller geographically. My grandad drummed into his grand kids as long as 30yrs ago, get out of Rotherham, go and make a life down south. Best move I ever made (also lived in Hull & Northampton). I dont recognise the place I grew up, have no affinity with the people & if it wasn't for family / RUFC I wouldn't step foot there ever again. I feel for the 66% but they had their chance and blew it. That is probably the biggest travesty

I can't agree with any of that ex.

Rotherham is a sound area with plenty of lovely green space and much in terms of opportunity across industries and education.

The town centre suffers from being near sheffield and meadowhall, which being much bigger is only natural.

It is true there is more deprivation at the lower end but there is still some lovely places to live.

I have lived in many places and Rothetham comes out very well indeed in terms of housing, leisure and recreation, shopping (meadowhall) , education, and especially being friendly. 

 

I've lived in liberal and conservative areas and currently live in a very strong tory seat but I wouldn't say any of them were head and shoulders above Rotherham in terms of day to day experience. 

 

If Rothetham could sort out its town centre it would be a top pick in terms of ease of lifestyle. Unfortunately, I can't see it ever happening given the competition from meadowhall. Still, Tony has certainly made a noticeable impact on the town and it shows what can be done. 

-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 07:19:57 AM

-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 12th of May 2015 07:21:50 AM

That's because you've detached yourself from it, can't have it both ways surely.

Interesting, when I am there I feel the friendliness , its so obvious to me. People (in general) seem warmer, and more open to concern and positive interaction.

Who can say why we experience it differently.

If it comes down to feelings and perception, then I guess its all pretty subjective really, and there's not much point in an economic, or otherwise social point of view. After all the qualities most value are those of the heart and not head.

For me I have great memories of my youth where I lived in a community that was relatively benign where everyone knew each other. Then Thatcher happened where whole communities were dismantled and left to rot. My mother ended up living next to a drug dealer, unthinkable 20 years earlier. No prospect had led to people leaving and sometimes despair for some remaining.
The town has been used as a dumping ground for poor immigrants, no I am not anti immigration but putting them in run down areas will always cause tension.
On my return at xmas I did get a sense that all was not well in the Town and it had seen it's best days. In many places there is little sense of community and a deep isolation. depressing really but I do love my town just sadly not enough to live there.

It is hard to argue with Kempo, however I hate to knock my home town (not saying Kempo has) as it does and did have to offer me plenty, in many ways it shaped who I am. But it is hard not to get depressed when looking at the problems it faces today.

Meadowhall and the destruction of whole communities. I struggle to see how any council could have combated that.