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I was just idly browsing and came across this site with comments about Eastbourne, the place I live when not at uni.
One thing summed up much of the way the town works really well -
"The people (are) dragging the town back. The demographics are shifting and Eastbourne's getting younger, but there is a tension between the historical 'forces of conservatism'. The Lib Dem/Tory council doesn't know its arse from its elbow on most matters and nothing progressive ever gets done. This suits the cosy middle class pensioners that are the only politically active group of any substance. However, this doesn't represent the youth (meaning those under 35) or the disadvantaged, or a whole load of other people. The local papers add to the problem, by paying peanuts for reporters and getting monkeys. Problems of support and services for addicts, homeless, refugees, small businesses, poor young families and students need addressing. The town planning could do with a re-think too. However, everything will change, as the growth in young families (Stone Cross, Langney) and commercial development (start-up businesses, stable commerce and specific projects, like the Crumbles) combine to prompt a shift in attitudes. The old people aren't a problem, but their over-representation is. Cheers - I was born here and nobody ever listens, all the good people get disillusioned and leave. "
In regards to the newspapers - we had some journalists come in to talk to a few of us when I was in college and they said they only use the local papers as a stepping stone, having to make dreary stories appear more problematic and to appeal to the middle-right over 50 population.
An odd thing about this town, which I haven't seen as being anywhere near as bad as in other places, is the whole grunger/townie divide. Every younger person in this town who isn't a student (which is most as there's no real university here) is one of the other and they seem to really hate each other.
Another problem with the fact that everyone who's my age is usually in a full time job means prices on everything for my age group, from clothes to drinks, are through the roof.
Ah, well I can always escape when I've left uni. So what's the worst about your town?
One thing summed up much of the way the town works really well -
"The people (are) dragging the town back. The demographics are shifting and Eastbourne's getting younger, but there is a tension between the historical 'forces of conservatism'. The Lib Dem/Tory council doesn't know its arse from its elbow on most matters and nothing progressive ever gets done. This suits the cosy middle class pensioners that are the only politically active group of any substance. However, this doesn't represent the youth (meaning those under 35) or the disadvantaged, or a whole load of other people. The local papers add to the problem, by paying peanuts for reporters and getting monkeys. Problems of support and services for addicts, homeless, refugees, small businesses, poor young families and students need addressing. The town planning could do with a re-think too. However, everything will change, as the growth in young families (Stone Cross, Langney) and commercial development (start-up businesses, stable commerce and specific projects, like the Crumbles) combine to prompt a shift in attitudes. The old people aren't a problem, but their over-representation is. Cheers - I was born here and nobody ever listens, all the good people get disillusioned and leave. "
In regards to the newspapers - we had some journalists come in to talk to a few of us when I was in college and they said they only use the local papers as a stepping stone, having to make dreary stories appear more problematic and to appeal to the middle-right over 50 population.
An odd thing about this town, which I haven't seen as being anywhere near as bad as in other places, is the whole grunger/townie divide. Every younger person in this town who isn't a student (which is most as there's no real university here) is one of the other and they seem to really hate each other.
Another problem with the fact that everyone who's my age is usually in a full time job means prices on everything for my age group, from clothes to drinks, are through the roof.
Ah, well I can always escape when I've left uni. So what's the worst about your town?
San Francisco? I would have to say the worse problem is the high cost for real estate / rent ... Other than that, it's fabulous. 
A measure to build a build a new school almost didn't pass because people complained the taxes would go up. 
I thought we wasta Eglishman. 
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