I grew up in Walton and moved to Birkdale a few years ago. Yeah Southport’s got its problems but no way is it the worst seaside town in the UK. Skeggy, Blackpool or Rhyl are farrrrr worse.
Skegness and Blackpool have massive tourism - as does Southport. Rhyl has suffered from terrible planning, so that's a mess. What connection does homeless addicts moving to seaside towns have to do with these places as resorts? Brighton is an affluent town and that has all the same issues.
I cant believe southport has been voted the Britain's worst seaside town. When i was a kid growing up in Liverpool inalways comsidered southport was where wealthy scousers went to retire and footballers used to live there. Even in more recent years ive been there it doesnt look as grim as Blackpool or Fleetwood plus countless other run down areas in the country. Mind you i suppose if youre homeless it would be grim whereever you are.
Finding so many of these seaside towns becoming run down. Turkish barbers, charity shops, café shops, hairdressers and nail shops seem to be the exact same shops in every town. We are up the Highlands and it's exactly the same here
Most towns in Britian are the same just full of bookies vape shops Sri Lankan offies turkish barbers and restaurants the future is Grim Liverpool will be like London in 20 years
There's relatively increased retail employment in seaside towns compared to towns without a tourist industry - so the facts don't back that up. You're point is confused, as well, as you bring the Highlands into it.
Have to say Billy, your content... particularly engaging with people within the videos is inspirational - It's actually changed who I am and how I see the world. Used to look down on the majority of homeless people, branding them all smackheads who just rob shops etc, just begging for money for drugs - I'd never harm someone, but even previously just walking past them like they were never there and just being ignorant is sad to think back on. Being homeless and addicted to drugs is *a lot less worse* than being someone who looks down on those people, and that's the perspective I have now. Knowing what conditions they're in, seeing first hand what they've been through and how fortunate some of us are and still take it for granted really hits home mate. There are some really honest, genuine and determined people in these conditions - if they had proper support, given career paths and a foundation to work off... this country would be miles better off because the potential for some of these people are limitless. Appreciative and thankful for the consistent videos Billy.
Amen mate I once done what you did but just look at the homeless people in this vid these are decent and polite people they was just dealt a bad hand. Who are we to look down on another human being because this is someone’s dad, son, bother, I wouldn’t want to walk a mile in their shoes but we are quick to judge them
I was a single mum in 1997 when Southport was amazing..On a friday night you could buy a ticket for endless rides on the fairground plus a slice of pizza and a soft drink for a fiver . the atmosphere was amazing and i looked forward all week to make my little one happy for a couple of hours. Even the walk there a nd back was special. She is now 32 and never forgets this wonderful time..hot chocolate when we got home and toast..by the light of the gas fire...no TV..just cuddles and conversation💋**
its great i live there , theres fuck all wrong with it .why you trying to paint a bad portrait of the place, going in the morning when its desolate, why not go to birkdale, ainsdale, churchtown all lovely places and thriving.
Some people from South of the town have always put it down it is like a form of jealousy, never noticed it until I worked in Bootle, however times moved on and they mostly flock to get houses here now!! Think they forget that Southport took loads of them in as evacuees during WW2 - thank you Southport!!
Loved in Southport most of my life, it’s really not that bad!! I drive though Blackpool Preston Blackburn every day and always thankful to live here! Half the “homeless”. Are not homeless they get the train here to beg then go home to their houses. Try finding any homeless on the streets at night. You won’t find any.
thats the problem. People like you deflect away and say so and so is worse so Southport isn`t that bad. The video is abut Southport and its a toilet now and will get worse.
Unfortunately I live in Southport and seriously it's worse than you see on here, riddled with smack heads who've not an ounce of respect for anyone and I've travelled alot, keep up good work Billy 👌
I live in Southport and travel a lot. First and foremost, i assume nobody has been to the seaside town of blackpool if you want the epitome of shithole. So, back to southport. Biggest issue here is the town centre and shop closures, but this is mirrored in every town across the country. Brittania hotel group don't help either with their running of the hotels and (now closed) pontins. Apart from that you have three world class golf courses in birkdale, hillside and ainsdale. The front is nice and heaving on a summers day. The theatre is getting redeveloped and you can see in video the barriers around it. The drunks in town and homeless is a problem. But this is EVERYWHERE. I am down south, across to Yorkshire and even the midlands and this us a plague on our society caused by lack if services (mental health) and drugs. Good vids Billy, but rather than agree with the Knocking of a merseyside town, show some of the good bits. The wonderful parks, golf, the good hotels. But without investments, it will slide like other, far worse (in my opinion) seaside towns. Blackpool, morcombe, rhyl, and skegness for starters.
I moved to Southport last year from the Wirral and whilst I'll agree it's "dead" the roughest part of Southport is nowhere near what I've experienced in the likes of Birkenhead, Woodchurch and so on. It just needs money injected to it to make it vibrant again!!
It's not dead. It's doing well in terms of visitors and it has been and is getting investment. It has had the King's Gardens renovation, new attractions, a new theatre and conference centre is coming and the pier, obviously, will reopen, as it's only standard renovation that's required - it's not at risk.
@@basylpeterjones Southport is a good place to live but on the whole I find it boring. It's fine for tourists though, it's got a beach, a pretty lake, a large playground in the centre, leafy parks, plenty of shops, bars and hotels, it's lively enough in the centre. Among British seaside resorts I'd say I'd pick it over any other for a holiday because it's not too expensive and has something for everyone - ramblers, drinkers, foodies, people looking for something quaint (old bookshops, shops selling unusual gifts). But I find it ridiculous that almost everyone here drives everywhere. I've been on holiday to America where you literally cannot safely walk because they don't build enough pavements and worship cars so much. Most the people are fat too. More and more British people are becoming the same and here in Southport we have amazing wide pavements ideal for walking. Even wheelchair users and scooters have an abundance of space on them.
Greetings from Glasgow, great to watch you on your travels Billy, you show the side the authorities and general all round do gooders fail to recognise or preferably want to sweep under the carpet but what it does show is how this once great Island is quickly turning into one big shitehole and the well being of its less fortunate citizens is even sadder.
Great content! I worked in Southport from the late eighties for about 30 years, it was still a fairly vibrant town back then but the demise had already started! I worked in all the Independent hotels and restaurants and witnessed most of them die one by one over that time, losing customer after customer, It's a shell of a town now!
Thanks for highlighting the pier. We are the concessionaires and we are absolutely devastated about the current happenings with the pier due to Sefton council 😡
No mention of the millions of pounds curretntly being invested. The theatre is closed as it is being replaced with a 37n million pound new theatre and conference centre. The pier is closed awaiting a £13 million pound refurb. Were these purposely missed out?
I agree Billy Southport is nice, but the level of underinvestment over the years is criminal. Worst thing they did was allow that hotel/casino complex to be built over the old Floral Hall Gardens. I was there this year in Flower Show week and in years gone by the town was rammed. This year it was like a winters day there was just nobody about. The pier being closed doesn’t help either. Great video Billy
Southport & Formby are big cash cows for Sefton Council but the money generated goes elsewhere. Could, and should, be a great traditional tourist destination, but investment in the area is low. Very sad.
Them fellas should have said they are asylum seekers (illegal immigrants) they would be in a nice hotel with pocket money and free food , internet heating and a smart phone 😢
Was there in the Summer in the nice. weather with my missus Lord street Chocka,think their economy benifits in Summer,bit dead i should imagine in winter Great video👍👍
This is breaking my heart seeing these decent people in this situation. No matter the addiction all these really need is a constant roof over their head and from having a place to live they can focus on rebuilding or getting free from addiction. Winter will be here soon and these people will be sleeping in the street in minus temperatures. WHY WHY WHY can’t we fix this or get more help to these homeless.
I totally agree with you mate. Listening to those lads is just heartbreaking. The Government could fix this if they chose to, the fact of the matter is, they don't give a shit about our own people. They would rather pander to thousands that have no right to be here while our own citizens suffer. This country has always been very good at looking after other people, just crap at looking after our own.
Actually, I would guarantee you all of these people do have accommodation. It's just not nice accommodation. I was housed once in a flat by a housing association where the window wouldn't shut and I reported it for repairs about 9 times, every time someone came out they claimed to fix it but no, it still wouldn't shut and it was freezing cold. I know two men in Southport who sit out on the streets begging because they live in flats that have mould in them and that's where they've been housed. Everyone deserves a warm, comfortable home to live in. Some of these people sit out on the streets because they have no ability to fit into "normal" society. I know one heroin addict who told me he just can't cope working in an office or something like that. There's always somewhere to live but some places are horrible, I know of a place on Ash Street that's full of drug dealers and most of them seem to be junkies themselves. I got beat up by one drug dealer down a back alley - West Street - one day. The thing is, if you get rid of one, another one comes along. May as well legalise all the drugs and just help people as much as possible.
Poor William. I'll look out for that lad when I'm up town. As for southport being worst seaside town they need to get out more. Try visiting again in summer and tell me its worst ever. Most seaside towns in winter there's not much going on.
If you step back 500 yards from the main street and prom in Southport, you will see the absolute poverty of all the moody bedsits and drug use. I think every seaside town is the same nowadays.
Southport is a fantastic town which I’m proud to live in but your right that we have no money coming in, and that is because Sefton Council who collect our council tax spend all our money on Sefton. The only money we do have is a grant from the government to build a new entertainment center where the theatre is which is why it’s closed
like everywhere Billy ,shops closed down etc, but Southport is far from the worst , even many Cornish seaside towns that were stunning in the 80's are run down holes now.
Heartbreaking to see this, and here we are helping refugees, giving up hotels and B&B”s and the rest to them, charity starts at home. Southport was a very upper class place years ago, so sad to see this , i have great memories of this as a child in the 80:s god bless to all the people in this video
Bloody hell. Billy I remember going to Southport in the summer every Saturday night from bankhall. You've got ti feel for these ppl on the streets it's a disgrace to our government. The guy who was saved from the canal in bootle lucky to be alive 🙏 but what a live he has . You would not wish it on anyone. Great work Billy 💪
This is an absolute disgrace what is happening with the three homeless guys corrupt councils and corrupt government. In my town of Blackburn Lancashire there sneeking in more Africans and homing them time the people started standing up to this corruption
Ahh Southport...Spent many a day and night there...Losing the fairground in its original form was outrageous and how it was allowed to happen was equally unbelievable with the current version just a shell. You can have a really good pub crawl in Southport now though with all the new bars and pubs opening there so it's got something going on and the rock bar there is a pretty good laugh too! It could absolutely be so much better if it had investment pumped into it but I'd suspect that that there are much worse places out there.
Southport convention centre and the hotel and Floral hall are meant to be being redeveloped, and the pier just needs some maintenance work done on it, but Sefton Council have only got about 40 quid left. Grim times
Im 56 yrs old now Billy and mi old man used to take ne there and let me drive on the beach when i was about 10 yr old ! Good times but times change don't they just billy ! Bless lad ! Bolton ! 👍🏴
You hit the nail on the head Bill, it is lovely place but there’s no money coming in there. When I lived there after Uni was just care work so it’s a low wage place. Though better to live in than half of Liverpool.
Yeah yeah sad for him.... lived next to him for a year and he used his council paid for flat as a squat for him and all his scaggy mates then he ruined the property whilst court process of eviction was going on all at the expense of a landlord well in his 70s. Cost him 10s of thousands to right it after nearly 2 years of battling court to get him out so, sorry no sympathy for degenerates like him. We've all been through hard times and loss in life but if you have a bit about you then you crack on.
Live in sussex we have similar issues. My friend used to be a pt is homeless on and off, he has drink problems he told me. The hostels have rules for drink and drugs most choose to be on the street he said
Here are some ideas for you guys-just down the street where you are sitting (the one at side of station) is a homeless cafe, food usually available there, further on round the corner is a church in Mornington Road that helps the homeless. St Maries church provides food at lunchtimes too. Oh and the Salvation Army assist, these are just a few of this 'non help town'....I wonder why, if it is so awful and depressing in the town you have gone there then as you are obviously not raised there? Try going the other way, could be better option for you? If you can let us know (via this site) who offered you the tent we will make enquiries for you. Good luck.
Sefton Council are to blame. Unfortunately they seem to be spending money refurbishing Bootle strand every five minutes and doing unnecessary road works. Someone making a few quid there I suspect.
Chatting rubbish millions have been spent on Southport's beach front and god knows what else up dead end gaff.south sefton been over looked for years at least yer get the grass cut. lucky if we get ours bins emptied once a week poor Southport myarse😂
@@lithlander Not at all, you obviously do not reside there. So, millions have been spent on the beach front? Really? Do you mean the sea wall that had to be built to stop the tide hitting the coastal road at certain times of the year therefore putting the whole area out of use.Or do you men the gardens on the front that were refurbed via lottery funding-they are very lucky if they get their grass cut once a year and for a tourism town that is a disgrace! It is not the towns fault that it lost its own Borough Council that did quite well thank you until Sefton stepped in!
Brought up in Bootle, moved to Hightown (loved it there) then moved to Birkdale 3 years ago. Can't say I love it.. just seems flat, in decline, like a lot of places in Liverpool... needs a lot of money thrown at it. Nice to be close to the sea for walks but that's about it for me. Nice parts, bad parts... like most places...footballers roads with massive houses, couple of miles further, poverty with boarded up shops.
Our family had relatives in St. Helens, we always went to Southport in the sixties, lovely then , memories or lemonade, corned beef sarnies , running around the sand , nice people and off to Powell St. St Helens to my mates and girlfriends there. Great times. Never forgotten . Sue porter and brother celiac parr xxx.
Had a few laughs there fair few years back. Out of Altcar army training camp straight on train outside compound straight to Southport. Good old times. Shame its dropped like it has.
Its getting like this all over in the uk an America inport people from 3rd world countries an it becomes a 3rd world country. We are to over run an its only going to get worse till we all stand an fight as one. Sick of seeing all these poor British people homeless meanwhile immigrants living the life of luxury in our country. What happened to looking after us all.
I live in Southport we are not over run with immigrants, the homeless people didn't mention immigration once. Its people like you who voted Tory who are the problem, you have caused the last 14 years.
I was born & lived there for 20 years & like many people watching this, can't believe how shocking it is to see how a once great seaside town has declined. There are many factors contributing to the demise, but the main issue for me being the council members over the last 25-30 years who have presided over it & failed to re-generate the town . Seaside towns across the UK have suffered for many years due to the popularity of the Package Holiday dating back to the late 60's . Some have re-invented themselves by diversifying, others like Southport , have been mismanaged & ruined by lack of investment. In Southport's case, as pointed out by Billy, attractions like The Pier, & The Southport Theatre have been closed & left to rot . These attractions are what used to bring visitors to the town, & visitors spend money which helps business's thrive & support the local economy . If only the UK hadn't voted for Brexit , because Southport maybe could have applied for an EU grant like Liverpool & look how the City center there has been transformed over the last 30 years .
I used to go Southport for 6 weeks holiday from down south to stay with my auntie and uncle n it was my happiest memories.. love the place, not been in years tho
It's easy to make a place look horrible when your videos are done on a rainy mid-week in winter 😃 Take the same videos on a hot day, Southport is bouncing!
Great reply and agree whole heartedly. Every year Southport hosts some great attractions too-Air Show, Flower Show, all of them over 3 days, Firework competition too. They also do a major music fest, again over 3 days, disco one day, retro the next, tribute bands final day - A food fair in Victoria park, just by the fairground. Don't forget the magnificent Kings gardens with a brilliant kids playground, all done up with the aid of lottery funding and the help of local volunteers, oh think the council lent a hand too!?
The problems started in Southport with Liverpool One opening, its just built for purpose and easy to get to. Also Birkdale Churchtown and recently Ainsdale have all become prefared locations. Plus the new theater closed. On the positive side the theater area is getting re built that will definitely have a positive effect. Im genuinely positive about the town, as I believe its a sleeping giant with a lot of potential to do well in the future.
Went to that Southport place to pick a wee something up years back when I had habit! Stayed in a proper faulty towers place. I think most rooms had folks waiting to pick up. 😂. But aye the place was minging. 😂
Arite billy lad nice too see a careing compasionate human that you are doing this youve been throgh the mill yourself and still make time for the homelwss fellas there on your travels good on you lad ive av no money left in my pocket coz i dont like too see people struggle either il allways buy street peeps sumat too eat and giv them a few quid when i can only too get stick off me bird who says theyl just buy carpets and rugs if u get me bro there suffering and need a bit of a leg up i cant help everyone but if we all help a few things will be better place people arnt like that no more alot of shady people about nowadays no one seems too cate about outhers
Born and lived in Southport all my life. Used to be a great town years ago but it's become a dump now. Not much here anymore. Internet has killed all the shops off and no clubs anymore.
Nothing has closed in terms of visitor economy. Pleasureland made a return some time ago and a new attraction opened there. King's Gardens has been restored and the pier closing is a maintenance and funding issue. If the internet affects shops, that would apply everywhere.
More like it is once again fighting to survive. if they continue knocking down all the beautiful building for apartments (more money) closing all the shops, changing huge buildings to flats then it will fail. Add to this the immigrants into the town-what next? I believe the pier will be demolished so land in the area can be built on-watch this space!
Targeting only the homeless is hardly a fair reflection of Southport. No way is Southport the worst! Morecambe, Blackpool, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Rhyl, Grimsby, Hull all a lot worse.
It's true that Southport pier is closed as it will cost the council £12,000,000 to repair it! It's going to fall into the sea if it doesn't have a fire. The theatre is closed for how long? Lord Street is struggling and looking tatty. The Park and Ride is closed, you could park and ride for £2 now you can park there for over £5 for the day and walk to the town centre. And yet I feel that Southport still has something to offer which could be more with a sympathetic government injection of £££££££s. The pier for instance should have listed status it's as important as any grand house and estate that English heritage own for the nation. The government just recently gave millions to Ukraine, a lost cause, it seems that the worlds power game is more important to the government than our own infrastructure like filling in the one million pot holes around the country but we are not here to talk about that problem.
Now then bill watching this from a care home my mum just had morphine to ease her pain not long left now 89. There always someone worse off belive now then judder. Blessings bruv
The worst seaside town?? But fellow scousers feeler safer there than in our own city, that speaks volumes. I take my kids there often and there’s so many more worse places. I think the issues there are a sad reflection of government spending and budgets all over the country. God bless all..
Thank you for that...having worked many areas South of the Borough or across Merseyside if you prefer boy oh boy is Southport lucky, only thing is it is in great danger of turning out the same as those same folk can move here now as they get priority in housing!
New Brighton is actually doing well. The Victorian quarter is actually thriving. Independent businesses, street festivals and loads of decent bars and restaurants. It's actually a nice area these days after being a mess.
@@michaelcattrell2407 You're wrong. New Brighton's tourism has been in free fall since the big redevelopment under Neptune. Southport is a leading resort.
I don't mind Southport, living nearby, although we popped into town this Saturday in the rain for some shopping and it was fairly grim. What does it damage is Sefton MBC being greedy with parking charges. You go over the water to New Brighton and it's 100% free parking and the place is busy. We went yesterday, it was cold but there were loads of people about. Free parking makes a difference and brings people in. It brought us through the tunnel yesterday anyway and we struggled to park near the centre it was that busy. The Convention Centre is getting done up and I went to a talk by them a few years ago and they said "if you want to see a third rate tribute band, this is the place" and said a lot of acts won't play as they don't have the technical specs. So, a refurb is needed. At the same talk Steve Rotherham stood up and said "nobody thinks of Southport as a brand, it's Liverpool that's the local brand". That went down well to a lot of local Southport business owners!
The damage to Southport happened when they lost their own Borough Council and ended up shoved in Merseyside, we lost alot of allowances at that time. Also many of our buildings have been closed down and items that were within there magically have disappeared. We know where some are meant to be kept, however no one sees these items-ever!!
No, Billy, it isn't judging by the price of houses. Do the area a favour and film during the season, I had great times there with my son. I've got an idea for a good video...find the big time dealers who keep these poor souls down; you'll know where to find them, Formby and Hall Rd...putting their kids through Merchant Taylors and hiding their money in local restaurant ventures.
How long ago are you talking about? The pier was in jeopardy in the latter part of the last century and came within a whisker of being demolished in the early-'90s. Now it's had investment and its future is safe. And everything else among the seafront sites have had investment and restoration.
Such a shame now that people sleeping on the streets in the tent in the city centre in this cold rainy weather government do so much about it soon is getting worse 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Want to go Blackpool or Clacton pal. Want a shit hole go there. As for the theatre that's being flattened and redone like the pair. The swimming baths is now open and that took a bomb to get back up and running. Yes it's got a lot of smack head and ruff sleepers
It’s got the worst seaside hasn’t it really and a pier with not much on. They closed the zoo some time ago, in olden days had a massive Lido that public used to.
The pier is quite alot since its refurb, however the huge 'new train' was a waste of money. the pier is closed at this time and the council have not got the money to repair as they have committed their funds to Bootle Strand. The zoo would not be viable these days nor would the Lidos/outdoor pools. We have to move forward and I am afraid the weather in this country does not always do as we wish!
I moved i was absolutely devastated how it went because everyone knew each other or knew someone in the family and I could walk home safe with my eyes shut and know i was getting home or bump into a mate who was walking that way but people got board turned to drugs died or moved country
I grew up in Walton and moved to Birkdale a few years ago. Yeah Southport’s got its problems but no way is it the worst seaside town in the UK. Skeggy, Blackpool or Rhyl are farrrrr worse.
Skegness and Blackpool have massive tourism - as does Southport. Rhyl has suffered from terrible planning, so that's a mess. What connection does homeless addicts moving to seaside towns have to do with these places as resorts? Brighton is an affluent town and that has all the same issues.
Oh no, not Rhyll! Remember it so well from childhood, it was lovely then 😕
I cant believe southport has been voted the Britain's worst seaside town. When i was a kid growing up in Liverpool inalways comsidered southport was where wealthy scousers went to retire and footballers used to live there. Even in more recent years ive been there it doesnt look as grim as Blackpool or Fleetwood plus countless other run down areas in the country. Mind you i suppose if youre homeless it would be grim whereever you are.
Grim because of the homeless, most of them.
True. The row of posh shops under the arcade. This is so sad to see.
Oh it isn't! This is just media fodder....please do not be so naieve as to believe all you read!
Finding so many of these seaside towns becoming run down.
Turkish barbers, charity shops, café shops, hairdressers and nail shops seem to be the exact same shops in every town. We are up the Highlands and it's exactly the same here
Correct how were there so many barbers in turkey its a joke
Vap shops barbers car washes all a laundry
Seaside tourism rises each year. And what's wrong with cafes? If there are a lot, that means there are visitors using them.
Most towns in Britian are the same just full of bookies vape shops Sri Lankan offies turkish barbers and restaurants the future is Grim Liverpool will be like London in 20 years
There's relatively increased retail employment in seaside towns compared to towns without a tourist industry - so the facts don't back that up. You're point is confused, as well, as you bring the Highlands into it.
Have to say Billy, your content... particularly engaging with people within the videos is inspirational - It's actually changed who I am and how I see the world. Used to look down on the majority of homeless people, branding them all smackheads who just rob shops etc, just begging for money for drugs - I'd never harm someone, but even previously just walking past them like they were never there and just being ignorant is sad to think back on. Being homeless and addicted to drugs is *a lot less worse* than being someone who looks down on those people, and that's the perspective I have now.
Knowing what conditions they're in, seeing first hand what they've been through and how fortunate some of us are and still take it for granted really hits home mate. There are some really honest, genuine and determined people in these conditions - if they had proper support, given career paths and a foundation to work off... this country would be miles better off because the potential for some of these people are limitless.
Appreciative and thankful for the consistent videos Billy.
Amen mate I once done what you did but just look at the homeless people in this vid these are decent and polite people they was just dealt a bad hand. Who are we to look down on another human being because this is someone’s dad, son, bother, I wouldn’t want to walk a mile in their shoes but we are quick to judge them
I was a single mum in 1997 when Southport was amazing..On a friday night you could buy a ticket for endless rides on the fairground plus a slice of pizza and a soft drink for a fiver . the atmosphere was amazing and i looked forward all week to make my little one happy for a couple of hours. Even the walk there a nd back was special. She is now 32 and never forgets this wonderful time..hot chocolate when we got home and toast..by the light of the gas fire...no TV..just cuddles and conversation💋**
its great i live there , theres fuck all wrong with it .why you trying to paint a bad portrait of the place, going in the morning when its desolate, why not go to birkdale, ainsdale, churchtown all lovely places and thriving.
Some people from South of the town have always put it down it is like a form of jealousy, never noticed it until I worked in Bootle, however times moved on and they mostly flock to get houses here now!!
Think they forget that Southport took loads of them in as evacuees during WW2 - thank you Southport!!
We should get a barge for our homeless it's a fucking joke immigrants get treated better it's discusting
Loved in Southport most of my life, it’s really not that bad!! I drive though Blackpool Preston Blackburn every day and always thankful to live here! Half the “homeless”. Are not homeless they get the train here to beg then go home to their houses. Try finding any homeless on the streets at night. You won’t find any.
I’m from Cardiff but I got family in Southport they live in roe lane
Any one been to Southport will know this is bullshit.
thats the problem. People like you deflect away and say so and so is worse so Southport isn`t that bad. The video is abut Southport and its a toilet now and will get worse.
@@XrpCookies government is satanic. There was never warnings up to be nice to staff any where.
It's on a decline. Give it another 20 years and It'll be on par with the likes of Blackpool
Whoever voted for Southport has clearly not traveled much
Here here
Unfortunately I live in Southport and seriously it's worse than you see on here, riddled with smack heads who've not an ounce of respect for anyone and I've travelled alot, keep up good work Billy 👌
@@johnmoss1199 Really?
I live in Southport and travel a lot. First and foremost, i assume nobody has been to the seaside town of blackpool if you want the epitome of shithole. So, back to southport. Biggest issue here is the town centre and shop closures, but this is mirrored in every town across the country. Brittania hotel group don't help either with their running of the hotels and (now closed) pontins. Apart from that you have three world class golf courses in birkdale, hillside and ainsdale. The front is nice and heaving on a summers day. The theatre is getting redeveloped and you can see in video the barriers around it. The drunks in town and homeless is a problem. But this is EVERYWHERE. I am down south, across to Yorkshire and even the midlands and this us a plague on our society caused by lack if services (mental health) and drugs. Good vids Billy, but rather than agree with the Knocking of a merseyside town, show some of the good bits. The wonderful parks, golf, the good hotels. But without investments, it will slide like other, far worse (in my opinion) seaside towns. Blackpool, morcombe, rhyl, and skegness for starters.
@@kevinward4683 sentiments
I moved to Southport last year from the Wirral and whilst I'll agree it's "dead" the roughest part of Southport is nowhere near what I've experienced in the likes of Birkenhead, Woodchurch and so on. It just needs money injected to it to make it vibrant again!!
I wrote to the Russian Embassy asking them to pump millions of money into the town but got no reply.
Wich arena is that
It sure will! ;) @steven-gd6hp
It's not dead. It's doing well in terms of visitors and it has been and is getting investment. It has had the King's Gardens renovation, new attractions, a new theatre and conference centre is coming and the pier, obviously, will reopen, as it's only standard renovation that's required - it's not at risk.
@@basylpeterjones Southport is a good place to live but on the whole I find it boring. It's fine for tourists though, it's got a beach, a pretty lake, a large playground in the centre, leafy parks, plenty of shops, bars and hotels, it's lively enough in the centre. Among British seaside resorts I'd say I'd pick it over any other for a holiday because it's not too expensive and has something for everyone - ramblers, drinkers, foodies, people looking for something quaint (old bookshops, shops selling unusual gifts). But I find it ridiculous that almost everyone here drives everywhere. I've been on holiday to America where you literally cannot safely walk because they don't build enough pavements and worship cars so much. Most the people are fat too. More and more British people are becoming the same and here in Southport we have amazing wide pavements ideal for walking. Even wheelchair users and scooters have an abundance of space on them.
Greetings from Glasgow, great to watch you on your travels Billy, you show the side the authorities and general all round do gooders fail to recognise or preferably want to sweep under the carpet but what it does show is how this once great Island is quickly turning into one big shitehole and the well being of its less fortunate citizens is even sadder.
Great content! I worked in Southport from the late eighties for about 30 years, it was still a fairly vibrant town back then but the demise had already started! I worked in all the Independent hotels and restaurants and witnessed most of them die one by one over that time, losing customer after customer, It's a shell of a town now!
It's successful as a resort. I can't see how homeless Scousers moving there reflects it in any way.
Thanks for highlighting the pier. We are the concessionaires and we are absolutely devastated about the current happenings with the pier due to Sefton council 😡
Nice one Billy keep content coming lot's of respect from Ireland
Blackpool is ten times worse
With record tourism?
Sad how many businesses have shutdown. I remember when I was younger Southport was the 'posh' place to visit.
No mention of the millions of pounds curretntly being invested. The theatre is closed as it is being replaced with a 37n million pound new theatre and conference centre. The pier is closed awaiting a £13 million pound refurb. Were these purposely missed out?
Enjoyed the video, Billy. A pleasure to meet you today. Keep up the good work. 👏
Nice to meet you today Brian and thank you for saying hello 👋
My pleasure. Please keep up the excellent work, and thank you for all that you do. ❤️
I agree Billy Southport is nice, but the level of underinvestment over the years is criminal. Worst thing they did was allow that hotel/casino complex to be built over the old Floral Hall Gardens. I was there this year in Flower Show week and in years gone by the town was rammed. This year it was like a winters day there was just nobody about. The pier being closed doesn’t help either. Great video Billy
Southport & Formby are big cash cows for Sefton Council but the money generated goes elsewhere. Could, and should, be a great traditional tourist destination, but investment in the area is low. Very sad.
Love your content bill. My first holiday as well when I was a kid was to sowey pontins. What a holiday that was. Loved every second of it ha
The influx ov imagrants in local hotels distroyd a lot ov hotels .they wrecked the scazbrick .pissin in bottles setting fires 🔥 disgrace bill
Thought i passed you today in southport. Keep up the good work! Great video Bill
Them fellas should have said they are asylum seekers (illegal immigrants) they would be in a nice hotel with pocket money and free food , internet heating and a smart phone 😢
Wrong colour wrong accent.
Shells wasn’t very nice to the homeless
Most town centres are like ghost towns since the covid lockdown
Was there in the Summer in the nice. weather with my missus Lord street Chocka,think their economy benifits in Summer,bit dead i should imagine in winter
Great video👍👍
This is breaking my heart seeing these decent people in this situation. No matter the addiction all these really need is a constant roof over their head and from having a place to live they can focus on rebuilding or getting free from addiction. Winter will be here soon and these people will be sleeping in the street in minus temperatures. WHY WHY WHY can’t we fix this or get more help to these homeless.
I totally agree with you mate. Listening to those lads is just heartbreaking. The Government could fix this if they chose to, the fact of the matter is, they don't give a shit about our own people. They would rather pander to thousands that have no right to be here while our own citizens suffer. This country has always been very good at looking after other people, just crap at looking after our own.
Actually, I would guarantee you all of these people do have accommodation. It's just not nice accommodation. I was housed once in a flat by a housing association where the window wouldn't shut and I reported it for repairs about 9 times, every time someone came out they claimed to fix it but no, it still wouldn't shut and it was freezing cold. I know two men in Southport who sit out on the streets begging because they live in flats that have mould in them and that's where they've been housed. Everyone deserves a warm, comfortable home to live in. Some of these people sit out on the streets because they have no ability to fit into "normal" society. I know one heroin addict who told me he just can't cope working in an office or something like that. There's always somewhere to live but some places are horrible, I know of a place on Ash Street that's full of drug dealers and most of them seem to be junkies themselves. I got beat up by one drug dealer down a back alley - West Street - one day. The thing is, if you get rid of one, another one comes along. May as well legalise all the drugs and just help people as much as possible.
bring back squatters rights, think thats the way to rattle parliament just commercial EMPTY buildings government EMPTY buildings ours really,
The beach isn't and wasn't closed! You just can't drive on it at the moment.
All these homeless peaople that are born and bred here,but they ship tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in. Disgraceful Government
Poor William. I'll look out for that lad when I'm up town.
As for southport being worst seaside town they need to get out more.
Try visiting again in summer and tell me its worst ever. Most seaside towns in winter there's not much going on.
If you step back 500 yards from the main street and prom in Southport, you will see the absolute poverty of all the moody bedsits and drug use. I think every seaside town is the same nowadays.
Some of your content is proper real life well done Billy highlighting the problems
Southport is a fantastic town which I’m proud to live in but your right that we have no money coming in, and that is because Sefton Council who collect our council tax spend all our money on Sefton.
The only money we do have is a grant from the government to build a new entertainment center where the theatre is which is why it’s closed
what a sad situation thst poor William God bless him 🙏
Great channel billy .
Stay safe
I thought the Housemartins had reunited there for a minute ....
like everywhere Billy ,shops closed down etc, but Southport is far from the worst , even many Cornish seaside towns that were stunning in the 80's are run down holes now.
Why do most seaside towns have record tourism then?
@@basylpeterjones because families like the seaside,,whether they let their children into the tory seas is a decision for the parents to make.
Heartbreaking to see this, and here we are helping refugees, giving up hotels and B&B”s and the rest to them, charity starts at home. Southport was a very upper class place years ago, so sad to see this , i have great memories of this as a child in the 80:s god bless to all the people in this video
Bloody hell. Billy I remember going to Southport in the summer every Saturday night from bankhall. You've got ti feel for these ppl on the streets it's a disgrace to our government. The guy who was saved from the canal in bootle lucky to be alive 🙏 but what a live he has . You would not wish it on anyone. Great work Billy 💪
This is an absolute disgrace what is happening with the three homeless guys corrupt councils and corrupt government. In my town of Blackburn Lancashire there sneeking in more Africans and homing them time the people started standing up to this corruption
Morecambe is similar, a bit more going on maybe but still looking run down in parts. Especially the West End. Cheers for another good video Billy
So it's just a video about the homeless then? They are in every town and city in the whole country!!!
Ahh Southport...Spent many a day and night there...Losing the fairground in its original form was outrageous and how it was allowed to happen was equally unbelievable with the current version just a shell. You can have a really good pub crawl in Southport now though with all the new bars and pubs opening there so it's got something going on and the rock bar there is a pretty good laugh too! It could absolutely be so much better if it had investment pumped into it but I'd suspect that that there are much worse places out there.
It is always greedy local council's who ruin many of the smaller towns. as if the bigger cities were not bad enough.
Makes my piss boil... our own people on the streets with no help and ILLEGAL immigrants getting everything...Disgusting
been living here most of my life, its been going downhill fast for the last 15 or so years
Southport convention centre and the hotel and Floral hall are meant to be being redeveloped, and the pier just needs some maintenance work done on it, but Sefton Council have only got about 40 quid left. Grim times
Im 56 yrs old now Billy and mi old man used to take ne there and let me drive on the beach when i was about 10 yr old ! Good times but times change don't they just billy ! Bless lad ! Bolton ! 👍🏴
You hit the nail on the head Bill, it is lovely place but there’s no money coming in there. When I lived there after Uni was just care work so it’s a low wage place.
Though better to live in than half of Liverpool.
Sad times . Keep up the good work Bill
William burns was in my class in school sad to seem him like this.
So sad to see ste like this he had a good family life owned his own business lost it all
Yeah yeah sad for him.... lived next to him for a year and he used his council paid for flat as a squat for him and all his scaggy mates then he ruined the property whilst court process of eviction was going on all at the expense of a landlord well in his 70s. Cost him 10s of thousands to right it after nearly 2 years of battling court to get him out so, sorry no sympathy for degenerates like him. We've all been through hard times and loss in life but if you have a bit about you then you crack on.
Who is Ste, one of guys on bench?
Live in sussex we have similar issues. My friend used to be a pt is homeless on and off, he has drink problems he told me. The hostels have rules for drink and drugs most choose to be on the street he said
It’s got poverty and some run down parts but compared to other places it’s fine. I lived there years ago Seabank Road and on the Promenade. Loved it.
Here are some ideas for you guys-just down the street where you are sitting (the one at side of station) is a homeless cafe, food usually available there, further on round the corner is a church in Mornington Road that helps the homeless. St Maries church provides food at lunchtimes too. Oh and the Salvation Army assist, these are just a few of this 'non help town'....I wonder why, if it is so awful and depressing in the town you have gone there then as you are obviously not raised there? Try going the other way, could be better option for you? If you can let us know (via this site) who offered you the tent we will make enquiries for you. Good luck.
Sefton Council are to blame. Unfortunately they seem to be spending money refurbishing Bootle strand every five minutes and doing unnecessary road works. Someone making a few quid there I suspect.
Chatting rubbish millions have been spent on Southport's beach front and god knows what else up dead end gaff.south sefton been over looked for years at least yer get the grass cut. lucky if we get ours bins emptied once a week poor Southport myarse😂
The council are wasting money cutting grass! Let it grow wild and you'll have more wildlife.@@lithlander
The strand is being paid for by central government as is the new conference centre in Southport, why let reality get in the way
@@lithlander Not at all, you obviously do not reside there. So, millions have been spent on the beach front? Really? Do you mean the sea wall that had to be built to stop the tide hitting the coastal road at certain times of the year therefore putting the whole area out of use.Or do you men the gardens on the front that were refurbed via lottery funding-they are very lucky if they get their grass cut once a year and for a tourism town that is a disgrace! It is not the towns fault that it lost its own Borough Council that did quite well thank you until Sefton stepped in!
Brought up in Bootle, moved to Hightown (loved it there) then moved to Birkdale 3 years ago. Can't say I love it.. just seems flat, in decline, like a lot of places in Liverpool... needs a lot of money thrown at it. Nice to be close to the sea for walks but that's about it for me. Nice parts, bad parts... like most places...footballers roads with massive houses, couple of miles further, poverty with boarded up shops.
Our family had relatives in St. Helens, we always went to Southport in the sixties, lovely then , memories or lemonade, corned beef sarnies , running around the sand , nice people and off to Powell St. St Helens to my mates and girlfriends there. Great times. Never forgotten . Sue porter and brother celiac parr xxx.
Had a few laughs there fair few years back. Out of Altcar army training camp straight on train outside compound straight to Southport. Good old times. Shame its dropped like it has.
Its getting like this all over in the uk an America inport people from 3rd world countries an it becomes a 3rd world country.
We are to over run an its only going to get worse till we all stand an fight as one.
Sick of seeing all these poor British people homeless meanwhile immigrants living the life of luxury in our country.
What happened to looking after us all.
I live in Southport we are not over run with immigrants, the homeless people didn't mention immigration once. Its people like you who voted Tory who are the problem, you have caused the last 14 years.
I was born & lived there for 20 years & like many people watching this, can't believe how shocking it is to see how a once great seaside town has declined. There are many factors contributing to the demise, but the main issue for me being the council members over the last 25-30 years who have presided over it & failed to re-generate the town . Seaside towns across the UK have suffered for many years due to the popularity of the Package Holiday dating back to the late 60's . Some have re-invented themselves by diversifying, others like Southport , have been mismanaged & ruined by lack of investment. In Southport's case, as pointed out by Billy, attractions like The Pier, & The Southport Theatre have been closed & left to rot . These attractions are what used to bring visitors to the town, & visitors spend money which helps business's thrive & support the local economy . If only the UK hadn't voted for Brexit , because Southport maybe could have applied for an EU grant like Liverpool & look how the City center there has been transformed over the last 30 years .
Was down there 40 years ago Altcar training camp was a nice memory for me, loved the joint, shame its changed so much
it hasn't, millions being invested
Nooo well worse places but it's not what it once was
I used to go Southport for 6 weeks holiday from down south to stay with my auntie and uncle n it was my happiest memories.. love the place, not been in years tho
It's easy to make a place look horrible when your videos are done on a rainy mid-week in winter 😃 Take the same videos on a hot day, Southport is bouncing!
Great reply and agree whole heartedly. Every year Southport hosts some great attractions too-Air Show, Flower Show, all of them over 3 days, Firework competition too. They also do a major music fest, again over 3 days, disco one day, retro the next, tribute bands final day - A food fair in Victoria park, just by the fairground. Don't forget the magnificent Kings gardens with a brilliant kids playground, all done up with the aid of lottery funding and the help of local volunteers, oh think the council lent a hand too!?
The problems started in Southport with Liverpool One opening, its just built for purpose and easy to get to. Also Birkdale Churchtown and recently Ainsdale have all become prefared locations. Plus the new theater closed. On the positive side the theater area is getting re built that will definitely have a positive effect. Im genuinely positive about the town, as I believe its a sleeping giant with a lot of potential to do well in the future.
It's still Monte Carlo compared to Rhyl
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Very saddening. Loved Southport. It’s shocking that these homeless men are not being given support. ❤
There is much support in Southport - see comment above.
Not true there is a lot of support, they don't use it.
@@colinhowarth3070 Absolutely true Colin Howarth - also they travel in from other areas to use the freebies here the go back home!
I wish ide known you were in southport, I would of loved it if my son could of met and spoke with you for a few mins
Blackpool beats any place ,,,😮
Went to that Southport place to pick a wee something up years back when I had habit! Stayed in a proper faulty towers place. I think most rooms had folks waiting to pick up. 😂. But aye the place was minging. 😂
Arite billy lad nice too see a careing compasionate human that you are doing this youve been throgh the mill yourself and still make time for the homelwss fellas there on your travels good on you lad ive av no money left in my pocket coz i dont like too see people struggle either il allways buy street peeps sumat too eat and giv them a few quid when i can only too get stick off me bird who says theyl just buy carpets and rugs if u get me bro there suffering and need a bit of a leg up i cant help everyone but if we all help a few things will be better place people arnt like that no more alot of shady people about nowadays no one seems too cate about outhers
Born and lived in Southport all my life. Used to be a great town years ago but it's become a dump now. Not much here anymore. Internet has killed all the shops off and no clubs anymore.
Nothing has closed in terms of visitor economy. Pleasureland made a return some time ago and a new attraction opened there. King's Gardens has been restored and the pier closing is a maintenance and funding issue. If the internet affects shops, that would apply everywhere.
More like it is once again fighting to survive. if they continue knocking down all the beautiful building for apartments (more money) closing all the shops, changing huge buildings to flats then it will fail. Add to this the immigrants into the town-what next? I believe the pier will be demolished so land in the area can be built on-watch this space!
As you say, it’s not that bad. Blackpool is much, much worse. You should do a video from there Bill, if you get a chance.
I wouldn't say it was the UK's worst seaside town. Look at what the local government has done to Rhyl!!! What a sh!thole that is now.
No need to be homeless. Just tell them you’ve just arrived in the back of a lorry from France and you’ll be boxed right off.
The scouse accents will give it away tho😊
Targeting only the homeless is hardly a fair reflection of Southport. No way is Southport the worst!
Morecambe, Blackpool, Cleethorpes, Skegness, Rhyl, Grimsby, Hull all a lot worse.
It's true that Southport pier is closed as it will cost the council £12,000,000 to repair it! It's going to fall into the sea if it doesn't have a fire. The theatre is closed for how long? Lord Street is struggling and looking tatty. The Park and Ride is closed, you could park and ride for £2 now you can park there for over £5 for the day and walk to the town centre. And yet I feel that Southport still has something to offer which could be more with a sympathetic government injection of £££££££s. The pier for instance should have listed status it's as important as any grand house and estate that English heritage own for the nation. The government just recently gave millions to Ukraine, a lost cause, it seems that the worlds power game is more important to the government than our own infrastructure like filling in the one million pot holes around the country but we are not here to talk about that problem.
Southport isn't the worst seaside town, whoever says that doesn't live in the town. I've lived here all of my life
Now then bill watching this from a care home my mum just had morphine to ease her pain not long left now 89. There always someone worse off belive now then judder. Blessings bruv
So sorry to hear that sad news mate.
@mima0151 thanks for that she bin ill a longtime stomach removed in 217 big C bin a long hard road for her blessings 🙏🏻
@billyschmit4986 God bless your Mum 🙏🏼 and you .. take good care of yourself lad 👍
The worst seaside town?? But fellow scousers feeler safer there than in our own city, that speaks volumes. I take my kids there often and there’s so many more worse places. I think the issues there are a sad reflection of government spending and budgets all over the country. God bless all..
Thank you for that...having worked many areas South of the Borough or across Merseyside if you prefer boy oh boy is Southport lucky, only thing is it is in great danger of turning out the same as those same folk can move here now as they get priority in housing!
Southport Theatre is being demolished to make way for the new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre
I was at the Strand the day that poor fella was spiked and fell in the canal.
Let's get that lad off the streets. Get William off the streets 👊
I know the man. I shared a bottle of vodka with him. He's nice. He must need mental health care or social services help or something like that.
We feel it bill as weve been that low its alarse there needs to be real care for lost souls ❤
Go to new Brighton......i take me grandson to southport loves it mate
New Brighton is actually doing well. The Victorian quarter is actually thriving. Independent businesses, street festivals and loads of decent bars and restaurants. It's actually a nice area these days after being a mess.
@@michaelcattrell2407 You're wrong. New Brighton's tourism has been in free fall since the big redevelopment under Neptune. Southport is a leading resort.
No. You're wrong. The Victorian quarter and new Brighton definitely IS NOT in decline. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Christ.
I don't mind Southport, living nearby, although we popped into town this Saturday in the rain for some shopping and it was fairly grim. What does it damage is Sefton MBC being greedy with parking charges. You go over the water to New Brighton and it's 100% free parking and the place is busy. We went yesterday, it was cold but there were loads of people about. Free parking makes a difference and brings people in. It brought us through the tunnel yesterday anyway and we struggled to park near the centre it was that busy.
The Convention Centre is getting done up and I went to a talk by them a few years ago and they said "if you want to see a third rate tribute band, this is the place" and said a lot of acts won't play as they don't have the technical specs. So, a refurb is needed.
At the same talk Steve Rotherham stood up and said "nobody thinks of Southport as a brand, it's Liverpool that's the local brand". That went down well to a lot of local Southport business owners!
The damage to Southport happened when they lost their own Borough Council and ended up shoved in Merseyside, we lost alot of allowances at that time. Also many of our buildings have been closed down and items that were within there magically have disappeared. We know where some are meant to be kept, however no one sees these items-ever!!
@@user-jz5ye1iu3k Yes, I live in Formby and it would be far better if we were returned to our rightful place in Lancashire.
@@user-jz5ye1iu3k Cryptic that!? Like what items?
No, Billy, it isn't judging by the price of houses. Do the area a favour and film during the season, I had great times there with my son. I've got an idea for a good video...find the big time dealers who keep these poor souls down; you'll know where to find them, Formby and Hall Rd...putting their kids through Merchant Taylors and hiding their money in local restaurant ventures.
I live in Southport but work in Salford. Southport isn't perfect but I experience worse places.
Not a great assessment at all. Define a whole town of 70,000+ by talking to the local crackheads?
I loved Southport as a kid the fair was boss
How long ago are you talking about? The pier was in jeopardy in the latter part of the last century and came within a whisker of being demolished in the early-'90s. Now it's had investment and its future is safe. And everything else among the seafront sites have had investment and restoration.
Southport was a great place when it was under west lancs moving into sephton was the biggest mistake
The pier has been saved and developed in the last 25 years It was almost demolished after 1990 - survived by a single vote.
It’s a shame it was lovely years ago me nan took use there it was booming . But now it’s scruffy another good pod Billy
It's packed out in the summer. The pier used to be in trouble but has been renovated and developed in the last 20 years or so.
Such a shame now that people sleeping on the streets in the tent in the city centre in this cold rainy weather government do so much about it soon is getting worse 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I still love southport, soon as my campervan is fixed I will be there again, wetherspoons here I come ha ha 😂
I like it me in the summer somewhere different for a bevvy
Want to go Blackpool or Clacton pal. Want a shit hole go there. As for the theatre that's being flattened and redone like the pair. The swimming baths is now open and that took a bomb to get back up and running. Yes it's got a lot of smack head and ruff sleepers
The Northern line takes you straight there
I remember as a kid pontins in ainsdale
Not many residents wanted it and boy were they right! Being demolished as we speak!
Lovely fella will, always polite, glad he's away from all them in bootle !
So sad william story, he seems genuine, hope it goes good for you, there's hope, 8 wish you the best
It’s got the worst seaside hasn’t it really and a pier with not much on. They closed the zoo some time ago, in olden days had a massive Lido that public used to.
The pier is quite alot since its refurb, however the huge 'new train' was a waste of money. the pier is closed at this time and the council have not got the money to repair as they have committed their funds to Bootle Strand. The zoo would not be viable these days nor would the Lidos/outdoor pools. We have to move forward and I am afraid the weather in this country does not always do as we wish!
I moved i was absolutely devastated how it went because everyone knew each other or knew someone in the family and I could walk home safe with my eyes shut and know i was getting home or bump into a mate who was walking that way but people got board turned to drugs died or moved country