Earlier this week, I read yet another article – this time from BBC News – on my hometown of Middlesbrough. It begins with a question: does Middlesbrough deserve its unenviable reputation?
“Middlesbrough, an industrial town on England’s north-east coast, gets a bad press…But, despite the drawbacks, residents – known as “Smoggies” – are determined their home town is somewhere to be proud of.”
As the writer points out, Middlesbrough often appears at the bottom of lists for issues such as unemployment, health and education. Apparently it’s the worst place in the country to grow up if you’re a girl. And there I was thinking I turned out okay…
It is also home to the highest proportion of asylum seekers in the country. And don’t forget the infamous report from those experts on Location, Location, Location, who declared the town the worst place to live in the UK…. Read More