It's a big sigh really isn't it.

I haven't been on this site for a long time because of the intolerance of some people to other people's opinions.

I actually thought this was a great topic and of some value to people thinking of returning to the UK and unsure about where to settle. I'm not returning, but still found the topic interesting.

Such a shame that some people are so self righteous and nasty. Spoils it for everyone else.

Wow, what a great link. I'm shocked to see 410 reported crimes based around my parents post code, and just over 600 for the entire town (where I was born & raised).......and that's just November!!!! Holy smokes!!!!

Yeah sometimes ignorance is bliss A cop friend of ours told us about the area around where we used to live and I really wish he hadnt.

We have been back in the UK nearly 4 years now, we live near (ish) a big City and so far all has been good,we have not been mugged, robbed or seen any bad social behavior, I hope you only meant well posting your "site" and do wish returnees all the very best, I could not imagine anyone wishing otherwise.

Yes it certainly would be hard to imagine wouldnt it

This might help to give a more balanced viewpoint concerning crime figures.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...gless-ban-them

More balanced?

Yes . . . crime isn't necessarily down because we don't see it, or if police figures choose to portray a rosier picture. We need alternative information.

I would like to believe crime is down, but I'm a disbeliever. Villages and small towns are generally less crime ridden, and residents might well be complacent, but take a walk on the wild side in industrial towns and in London to experience the truth. Police figures should not be taken at face value.

Nor any figures . . . I had thought my more gentile area of town would be meagre with crime figures, but far from the truth. However, once I factored in that half a mile away it covered the harbourside with its nightclubs and bars, I more clearly understood the statistics.

Supposedly the Crime Survey is a more reliable overall study of UK crime levels.

There are other issues as well in the crime stats. For example, there are racial groups that are now so disillusioned with the police in their (urban) area that they don't even bother to report issues that might be subject to an ASBO or much worse as they think they might end up being the messenger who gets 'shot'.

In addition, the nature of crime has changed so that though overall numbers may be down, there is more violent crime and there appears to be more unprovoked crime and more individuals who have serious mental issues are out on the streets due to an overwhelmed Social Services sector and laws that wouldn't have it otherwise - (likely) perpetrators who can't be forced to take their much-needed medication have to perpetrate before anything gets done, by which time it's too late.

The mental issue is a good point. In my town I'm surprised to see so many people who appear to have issues, and must wonder if it is a big locally bred malady, or if it is imported from other regions of Britain. Many seaside resorts have become dumping grounds or collection areas for people with a variety of issues, B & B owners finding an all-year-round income from hostel accommodation more reliable than tourists who prefer cheap package holidays in warmer climates.

The advent of the cheap package holiday to Majorca and the Costas was a big contributor to decline in traditional seaside resorts that didn't have other things to sustain them such as Brighton (commuting and the pink pound), Southwold (rock-solid moneyed retired people), Bournemouth/Christchurch (much the same). As a result, the decline gave rise to cheaper property prices and rents so the less well off moved in and the areas then generally suffered from deprivation as retail and business didn't have much to live off. On top of this, to the extent that there is still a hospitality industry in these resorts, everybody is on minimum wage and often looking to ship the funds that they make 'home'.

I think that the regular cheques from DHSS were an attraction at one time but, as from recent newspaper articles, some landlords see the cuts in welfare as a red flag to these lettings and are now preferring migrants.

Torbay overall has suffered this (declining) way, as you must see, as have Skegness, Clacton (worst of the lot), Margate, Hastings, Weymouth, Weston-super-Mare, Ilfracombe and Blackpool.

Other seaside resorts have declined due to the loss of main industry, such as Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth, Sandwich, Southsea.

Falmouth and Penzance have declined because they are probably just too far away from it, though EU funding has lifted the former.

this can be a good thing for the empty nester ex pats returning back wanting to find more reasonable properties.

Its down to location location ... low crime & best value for the money.

If its the southern part of the country, which area or specific location would you pick, what type of property & the price range would you be looking at?

I'd want seaside or within 2km of it, detached bungalow with a max price of £125k

You are going to take this thread way off topic by indulging in this search here.

Robin1234 has a thread ref retiring to the seaside which might be more appropriate.

BTW, I wouldn't pick any declined seaside resort unless I had a personal major ulterior motive such as schools/colleges which wouldn't likely be appropriate for any other BE participant, particularly retired ones, and the resorts are often partly declined due to employment issues so it is no help there either unless you are self-employed remotely.

We had one too - a bicycle theft on Cow Lane apparently.