|
|
Post by carlton43 on Jan 14, 2023 13:36:59 GMT
I didn’t mean electorally, more in terms of the towns and countryside within the seat. It was an attempt to spark a discussion about which seat would be the most boring to live in! Surely that's almost entirely down to personal preference? If you don't drive and you're not interested in the outdoors, living in Ross, Skye, and Lochaber would be rather boring; if you're an introvert and don't like cities then you'd not want to live in Battersea. Personally, I'd say the most boring seat would be somewhere like Luton North - it doesn't even have much poltical interest any more, and most of it is rather bland suburbia of a not especially interesting town. It does get a few points for having the source of the River Lea, but loses them for having (IIRC) the fewest pubs out of any seat in England.
But even then, I'm sure there is something interesting going on there - very few places are objectively boring. Even the Fens, whose defining trait is the utterly flat and monotonous countryside, becomes interesting by virtue of just how dull the terrain is!
I agree entirely, especially about Luton North. And I actually lived in both your other choices and agree your reasoning. |
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on Jan 14, 2023 14:35:20 GMT
I didn’t mean electorally, more in terms of the towns and countryside within the seat. It was an attempt to spark a discussion about which seat would be the most boring to live in! Surely that's almost entirely down to personal preference? If you don't drive and you're not interested in the outdoors, living in Ross, Skye, and Lochaber would be rather boring; if you're an introvert and don't like cities then you'd not want to live in Battersea. Personally, I'd say the most boring seat would be somewhere like Luton North - it doesn't even have much poltical interest any more, and most of it is rather bland suburbia of a not especially interesting town. It does get a few points for having the source of the River Lea, but loses them for having (IIRC) the fewest pubs out of any seat in England. But even then, I'm sure there is something interesting going on there - very few places are objectively boring. Even the Fens, whose defining trait is the utterly flat and monotonous countryside, becomes interesting by virtue of just how dull the terrain is!
Marsh Farm is usually 'interesting' but maybe not in the way one would want |
|
bsjmcr
Non-Aligned
Posts: 1,591 
|
Post by bsjmcr on Jan 14, 2023 15:48:51 GMT
I didn’t mean electorally, more in terms of the towns and countryside within the seat. It was an attempt to spark a discussion about which seat would be the most boring to live in! Surely that's almost entirely down to personal preference? If you don't drive and you're not interested in the outdoors, living in Ross, Skye, and Lochaber would be rather boring; if you're an introvert and don't like cities then you'd not want to live in Battersea. Personally, I'd say the most boring seat would be somewhere like Luton North - it doesn't even have much poltical interest any more, and most of it is rather bland suburbia of a not especially interesting town. It does get a few points for having the source of the River Lea, but loses them for having (IIRC) the fewest pubs out of any seat in England.
But even then, I'm sure there is something interesting going on there - very few places are objectively boring. Even the Fens, whose defining trait is the utterly flat and monotonous countryside, becomes interesting by virtue of just how dull the terrain is!
I think this would be an interesting thread in itself, but I feel that South Holland and the Deepings is a lot less exciting than the name suggests. Then again, its name itself is probably the only thing that doesn't make it (any more) boring! |
|
|
|
Post by batman on Jan 14, 2023 16:44:35 GMT
I have visited that constituency of SH & the D. On the second & so far final occasion, it was because the (separate organisation from the CLP) local Labour Club, that is in my part of SW London, had almost unbelievably invested to buy a small (and pretty rundown) terraced house in Sutton Bridge, and we had to inspect it. Once we gained control of the Club we had to sell it for a loss. The Club has now voted to dissolve itself and its (very large indeed) assets are now in the hands of the Party nationally, hopefully to be used for the CLP's benefit at some point in the not too distant future.
|
|
aargauer
Conservative
Posts: 6,015
Member is Online
|
Post by aargauer on Jan 14, 2023 17:06:11 GMT
Surely that's almost entirely down to personal preference? If you don't drive and you're not interested in the outdoors, living in Ross, Skye, and Lochaber would be rather boring; if you're an introvert and don't like cities then you'd not want to live in Battersea. Personally, I'd say the most boring seat would be somewhere like Luton North - it doesn't even have much poltical interest any more, and most of it is rather bland suburbia of a not especially interesting town. It does get a few points for having the source of the River Lea, but loses them for having (IIRC) the fewest pubs out of any seat in England.
But even then, I'm sure there is something interesting going on there - very few places are objectively boring. Even the Fens, whose defining trait is the utterly flat and monotonous countryside, becomes interesting by virtue of just how dull the terrain is!
I think this would be an interesting thread in itself, but I feel that South Holland and the Deepings is a lot less exciting than the name suggests. Then again, its name itself is probably the only thing that doesn't make it (any more) boring! This is the kind of place that is divisive rather than just awful. It's very white British, rural, flat and hyper conservative. Would probably be the last Conservative seat standing if they were down to 1 seat. Not for everyone but has attractions to a certain sort of person. A bit like the reverse Dalston. For somewhere really unambiguously awful I turn to my native north east: Easington. Knowsley would be up there too. Cultureless economically dead ugly edge of conurbation wasteland. Im also considering Blackburn and Burnley. Perhaps the Barnsley seats but I don't know them well. I think these seats broadly share an ultra safe labour past that has weakened in recent years. Knowsley being the exception. |
|
|
|
Post by batman on Jan 14, 2023 17:14:33 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless.
|
|
aargauer
Conservative
Posts: 6,015
Member is Online
|
Post by aargauer on Jan 14, 2023 17:15:55 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. Some nice villages in the edge - and there has to be worse than merely soulless out there. |
|
|
|
Post by bjornhattan on Jan 14, 2023 17:28:41 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. Bletchley and Wolverton are alright, if a little rough around the edges (and judging by images, Newport Pagnell looks very nice but I've never been). The problem is that the "city centre" area, which is where most people actually visit and think of as MK, definitely is as you describe. Central Milton Keynes just doesn't feel like it was designed for people - the buildings are too big and too spaced out, the roads are too wide, and the entire atmosphere is artificial at best.
|
|
peterl
Green
Congratulations President Trump
Posts: 8,473
|
Post by peterl on Jan 14, 2023 17:33:29 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. I've only been there once, for a UKIP conference, but from what I saw there are far worst places. Plymouth for instance. |
|
neilm
Non-Aligned
Posts: 25,023
|
Post by neilm on Jan 14, 2023 17:45:10 GMT
There is absolutely nothing wrong with either Plymouth or Milton Keynes.
|
|
neilm
Non-Aligned
Posts: 25,023
|
Post by neilm on Jan 14, 2023 17:46:11 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. Bletchley and Wolverton are alright, if a little rough around the edges (and judging by images, Newport Pagnell looks very nice but I've never been). The problem is that the "city centre" area, which is where most people actually visit and think of as MK, definitely is as you describe. Central Milton Keynes just doesn't feel like it was designed for people - the buildings are too big and too spaced out, the roads are too wide, and the entire atmosphere is artificial at best.
I lived in Newport for a year (in a very nice Victorian terrace). It's a great place to live. Ditto Woburn Sands. I partly agree about the centre. It is artificial but it is very people friendly and the market easily beats most others I've seen. The real problem is that the local centres don't function as designed, although the Neath Hill one is good. The pub is a bit rough around the edges but has some fantastic regulars. |
|
|
|
Post by ClevelandYorks on Jan 14, 2023 18:22:21 GMT
I think this would be an interesting thread in itself, but I feel that South Holland and the Deepings is a lot less exciting than the name suggests. Then again, its name itself is probably the only thing that doesn't make it (any more) boring! This is the kind of place that is divisive rather than just awful. It's very white British, rural, flat and hyper conservative. Would probably be the last Conservative seat standing if they were down to 1 seat. Not for everyone but has attractions to a certain sort of person. A bit like the reverse Dalston. For somewhere really unambiguously awful I turn to my native north east: Easington. Knowsley would be up there too. Cultureless economically dead ugly edge of conurbation wasteland. Im also considering Blackburn and Burnley. Perhaps the Barnsley seats but I don't know them well. I think these seats broadly share an ultra safe labour past that has weakened in recent years. Knowsley being the exception. Seaham (in Easington) is quite interesting both historically and geologically, and isn’t the worst seaside town. Peterlee on the other hand is grim and pretty boring at that. |
|
bsjmcr
Non-Aligned
Posts: 1,591
|
Post by bsjmcr on Jan 14, 2023 18:55:33 GMT
I think this would be an interesting thread in itself, but I feel that South Holland and the Deepings is a lot less exciting than the name suggests. Then again, its name itself is probably the only thing that doesn't make it (any more) boring! This is the kind of place that is divisive rather than just awful. It's very white British, rural, flat and hyper conservative. Would probably be the last Conservative seat standing if they were down to 1 seat. Not for everyone but has attractions to a certain sort of person. A bit like the reverse Dalston. For somewhere really unambiguously awful I turn to my native north east: Easington. Knowsley would be up there too. Cultureless economically dead ugly edge of conurbation wasteland. Im also considering Blackburn and Burnley. Perhaps the Barnsley seats but I don't know them well. I think these seats broadly share an ultra safe labour past that has weakened in recent years. Knowsley being the exception.Keeping to Lancashire, Blackburn, surely, too, which is even safer now than it was back in Straw's days. I'd also like to nominate Denton and Reddish as one of the most boring constituencies, and certainly to me the least notable in Greater Manchester, both geographically and electorally (Knowsley, Easington, etc are interesting electorally in themselves for how super-safe they are, South Holland too in that respect!). It isn't destitute, or affluent, not diverse nor 99% white, just two fairly characterless suburbs without any of the attractions of Stockport (!) itself either. No particularly famous figures have represented it (unlike Blackburn!) either, Andrew Gwynne I'm sure is a nice guy and had a few shadow cabinet posts but I wouldn't say nationally high profile and probably best known for being pushed over by Johnson on telly. |
|
|
|
Post by manchesterman on Jan 14, 2023 18:58:48 GMT
In what sense boring? Electorally it has not always been boring and is no more so than a whole swathe of Lancashire marginals (albeit it isn't marginal anymore). It has a good deal more internal varierty than many constituencies and Skelmersdale itself is interesting just by virtue of how much of a shit hole it is. If the constituency were called Ormskirk (as it should be IMO) it would be a constituency with a very long and varied history I didn’t mean electorally, more in terms of the towns and countryside within the seat. It was an attempt to spark a discussion about which seat would be the most boring to live in!Considering I was within a few days of moving to live in the seat, were it not for some pesky "fiscal event" happening that scuppered the whole deal - which, for some reason, I get chided by some Hon members of this board if I mention it - I am mildly offended  |
|
|
|
Post by batman on Jan 14, 2023 19:43:37 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. Bletchley and Wolverton are alright, if a little rough around the edges (and judging by images, Newport Pagnell looks very nice but I've never been). The problem is that the "city centre" area, which is where most people actually visit and think of as MK, definitely is as you describe. Central Milton Keynes just doesn't feel like it was designed for people - the buildings are too big and too spaced out, the roads are too wide, and the entire atmosphere is artificial at best.
yes, there are very nice villages & the odd small town in the outer parts of the borough, I did mean the new town areas including the centre. |
|
|
|
Post by batman on Jan 14, 2023 19:45:42 GMT
This is the kind of place that is divisive rather than just awful. It's very white British, rural, flat and hyper conservative. Would probably be the last Conservative seat standing if they were down to 1 seat. Not for everyone but has attractions to a certain sort of person. A bit like the reverse Dalston. For somewhere really unambiguously awful I turn to my native north east: Easington. Knowsley would be up there too. Cultureless economically dead ugly edge of conurbation wasteland. Im also considering Blackburn and Burnley. Perhaps the Barnsley seats but I don't know them well. I think these seats broadly share an ultra safe labour past that has weakened in recent years. Knowsley being the exception.Keeping to Lancashire, Blackburn, surely, too, which is even safer now than it was back in Straw's days. I'd also like to nominate Denton and Reddish as one of the most boring constituencies, and certainly to me the least notable in Greater Manchester, both geographically and electorally (Knowsley, Easington, etc are interesting electorally in themselves for how super-safe they are, South Holland too in that respect!). It isn't destitute, or affluent, not diverse nor 99% white, just two fairly characterless suburbs without any of the attractions of Stockport (!) itself either. No particularly famous figures have represented it (unlike Blackburn!) either, Andrew Gwynne I'm sure is a nice guy and had a few shadow cabinet posts but I wouldn't say nationally high profile and probably best known for being pushed over by Johnson on telly. Stockport's old town centre is actually really nice & includes some absolutely cracking pubs, mostly Robinsons houses (though the Crown, a free house which sits right underneath the railway viaduct, is excellent too) |
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on Jan 14, 2023 20:12:04 GMT
Denton & Reddish is a good call for the most boring constituency. Almost zero internal variety.
|
|
|
|
Post by manchesterman on Jan 14, 2023 20:13:31 GMT
Yeah, very bland. It's not even red, just reddish!
|
|
|
|
Post by nigelashton on Jan 15, 2023 5:33:09 GMT
To me, although it is nothing like the poorest, Milton Keynes is the worst place I've ever been to in Britain. Just so soulless. Bletchley and Wolverton are alright, if a little rough around the edges (and judging by images, Newport Pagnell looks very nice but I've never been). The problem is that the "city centre" area, which is where most people actually visit and think of as MK, definitely is as you describe. Central Milton Keynes just doesn't feel like it was designed for people - the buildings are too big and too spaced out, the roads are too wide, and the entire atmosphere is artificial at best.
I lived in MK for 10 years, it's where I first joined the Liberal Party (almost 50 years ago!), first went canvassing, first time I stood for election, first time as agent, etc. There are lots of interesting places - Bletchley and Wolverton are historic railway towns. Stony Stratford is an old coaching town on Watling Street. Newport Pagnell town has charm and is/was the home of Aston Martin. Then there are nearby villages such as Woburn Sands and Olney (of pancake race fame). MK is home to the Open University (of which I am a graduate), and of course there is the wartime code breaking centre at Bletchley Park. |
|
|
|
Post by batman on Jan 15, 2023 7:04:04 GMT
Yeah, very bland. It's not even red, just reddish! to be fair Reddish is very red |
|
