Well that's official then....!! And by inference (and fact), it is a rubbish place for families...Who are all the entertainments for, Oh yes, bars and clubs for single people and transient students... What is all the housing being built, Oh yes, exclusively flats which are no use to families..Slowly but surely the average family is being marginalised. Southampton is becoming one of the most unbalanced places to live that I know, and from my observation, the pace of change is increasing. I only hope that it is not too late to redress the balance in favour of the rest of the population, but I fear there is no will in the planning authority to do so.

Do students pay council tax?

Familyman, I have also noticed this trend in Southampton. The disintegration of community is rapid there.

If the survey means a load of drunk illiterate yobs hanging around burger bars in layby's - then Southampton should have come out top

"The best place to live for men was Brighton... high ratio of women to men."

I think thats because most of the men are dressed like women.
and,i may be wrong, but isn't Brighton the gay capital of the south?
another reason for it being so popular with men (?)

Libertarian: Unfortunately we live in a Democracy whereby parties out of power listen attentively to what the voters say, and once they get elected, promptly forget everything they have been told, preferring to while away their time scoring political points and going on ego trips. The simple fact is that our local authority ignores the silent majority, and is only "inclusive" of small loud pressure groups. I have lived in Southampton for 15 years and have seen the place deteriorate almost on every level. It 's a real pity our local authority planners cannot see what other places are doing and identify "best practice".. I constantly quote Bournemouth, Bristol, Brighton and yes, even Portsmouth! in all of which places there seems to be much greater emphasis on families and long term strategic thinking.

Well said by familyman-Southampto
n offers next to nothing for the family. With the exception of West Quay shops, why would you want to visit.With all the history of southampton from the bargate and walls to the maritime past there should be plenty of attractions but the councils have constantly refused to invest-Go to portsmouth in stead-and i am a saints fan !

Familyman wrote:
Well that's official then....!! And by inference (and fact), it is a rubbish place for families...Who are all the entertainments for, Oh yes, bars and clubs for single people and transient students... What is all the housing being built, Oh yes, exclusively flats which are no use to families..Slowly but surely the average family is being marginalised. Southampton is becoming one of the most unbalanced places to live that I know, and from my observation, the pace of change is increasing. I only hope that it is not too late to redress the balance in favour of the rest of the population, but I fear there is no will in the planning authority to do so.

Jesus, talk about knee jerk reaction! It's a survey for single people mush so just calm down a second eh? Maybe you can comment on results for family life when they do a survey for that?

Compulsive moaners like you will never find anything good in what you read/ see/ hear:
Southampton great for single people = "shocking deteriation of families"
Southampton to build an Ice Rink = "About time they pulled their finger out, not like this back in the days of Top Rank, no violence there at all, a nice safe night out that"!
Violent crime down in Southampton = "Obviously people are too scared to report it, no hoodies in my day, kids would have good clean punch ups with no-one getting seriously hurt back then. I blame the Polish"

Personally I think Southampton is a great place for families, New Forest on your doorstep, Bournemouth's clean sandy beech a 30 min drive away, the Quays, the Mayflower, 3 cinemas, loads of beautiful parks unmatched in any city South of London, good shopping and schools that out-perform the national inner city averages. I've lived in Southampton for 25 years and think it's a far better place now with more restaurants, better cinemas, a superb football stadium (I do still miss the Dell but at least I can get a ticket at SMS) and a superb theatre that's still going strong!

Cheer up mush, it might never happen!

I've got to say I agree with Hedge Ender. I've lived in Southampton all my life (40 odd years) and I think it's getting better and better. We just need a decent medium size music venue (the Guildhall is c***) and an arts center.

The levels of violence in the late 70's and 80's when I was in my teens/20's was pretty horrific. The city centre after 11.30 at night was like something out of the film Warriors! I only ever went to the ice rink once or twice and found it intimidating (speaking of ice rinks, did anyone notice that when we had the temp rink, violence and anti-social behaviour disappeared? Thought not).

And as for students, without them the city would not exist! When I were a lad (cue nostalgic music) everyone had a brother, dad, uncle or grandad who worked at sea or the docks. Those industries are the reason Southampton existed but now how many locals are employed there? The "education industry" has provided the city with jobs, infra-structure and people with a disposable income.

I do not reply to personal insults.

Spot on, Hedge Ender.
Southampton is a great place to live. I moved here over 10-years ago from london & have been very happy here for many of the reasons that you give.

There is a relaxed attidue and, despite the many morons that contribute regularly to this board, there is a generally welcoming attitude to incomers.

I have only seen one fight in all that time, and only received verbal abuse on a couple of occasions. Compared to S London where my wife had her wrist broken in a bottle attack & I was run over on the pavement (in seperate incidents).

Transport is good in Soton, the bus network is good and cycling is also good (flat in the west and relatively safe).

Town has improved out of all regonition in that time. When I arrived in Soton, if you walked down Above Bar at night it was a desolate, empty and threatening place. It is now thronged into the small hours with little real crime or violence.

So many people want to run the city down! Its a brilliant place to live. Ok, some students (the minority) may cause problems, but so do non-students - and I would suggest a much higher number of trouble makers are non-students.

The student population contributes to the whole enconomy of the City (not just bars, etc) and many students choose to stay here because it is so good. They go on to become important members of the community, making a significant contribution to city life, economy, etc.

Stop rubbishing the city!

C'mon the Saints!

I think "libertarian"- a bit of a misnomer if you ask me- is missing the point.It is very disheartening to see such anti-university attitudes- it seems a minority of people dont realise the benefits the two universities bring.

Students do not pay council tax- correct.

Having said this, the economic benefits students bring are quite substantial, and this goes beyond bars, pubs clubs, etc. Students also buy large amounts of technology, clothes, sports equipment,books,musi

c etc- all of which helps Southampton's retail sector thrive. Southampton's retail sector is amongst the best on the South coast and attracts shoppers from miles around, but without a substantial local market, it might never have developed to be so successful.

Similarly without a university, there would be no uni-link bus service and little competition, leaving Firstbus to charge everyone- student or non-student- an inflated fare.The result is that those who are amongst the poorest in society and are most reliant on public transport get a much better choice and at lower cost than in many towns without a uni or two!

The uni most probably also helps provide demand at the airport and probably the rail network and roads too.

As far as the argument on council tax and cost of residency goes, how about the following scenario: both universities close down, giving all the anti-student naysayers their day of celebration.

The celebration would be short lived, as a good 10,000 qualified and capable university staff leave for other areas, with consequent reductions in council revenue and increasing unemployment. T

This exodus would become more acute as businesses which locate near the uni to take advantage of the skills there leave for other locales.

Result: the celebration of those who stand against students would probably be short lived as a giant economic hole opened up in the city, leading to, most likely much worse problems than streets of rented accommodation or a few normally good-natured drunk students in term time

Back on topic, I would agree that Southampton is quite appealing to single people, and although being admittedly single myself, I cant see what would be wrong with having a family here. In my opinion the place is a pretty clean and reasonable city, no more dangerous or antisocial than anywhere else, with good employment prospects and lots going for it!

Why cant some of the moaners cheer up!?!

I'm not riled at all! But anyway Southampton is it's own worst enemy and soon, I'm sure, students will not even want to come here in the first place. Then you and all the other narrow minded people will see what will be left! Not a lot!

People actually from Southampton seemingly can't take the blame for anything so they have to blame other people and, at the moment, it seems like it's the turn of the students.

Suppose im not young now ive hit mid 30s, wud explain why i cant find a decent man in southampton, theres too many blimmin women here lol

Nothing changes wrote:
I'm not riled at all! But anyway Southampton is it's own worst enemy and soon, I'm sure, students will not even want to come here in the first place. Then you and all the other narrow minded people will see what will be left! Not a lot! People actually from Southampton seemingly can't take the blame for anything so they have to blame other people and, at the moment, it seems like it's the turn of the students.

Don't forget the Polish and Somalis

Vonnie wrote:
Suppose im not young now ive hit mid 30s, wud explain why i cant find a decent man in southampton, theres too many blimmin women here lol

You niver no Vonnie, it mite be ur spellin that puts dem off! After all, the men in Soufampton are too stoopid to even be able to complete dere own benyfitz clames and relie on dere wimen to do it for em...LOL!!!!!

Sorry Tony, but I can't agree with you, I too, was in my teens/20s end of the 70's and in the 80's, I was never afraid when out on the town for the evening and never encountered any violence even when alone late at night waiting for a bus/taxi/friend etc. Just lucky? maybe but I don't thinkso as I went out a lot! However, I do think that things have changed an awful lot now, I left Southampton in the 90's and on my each visit back I am more and more uncomfortable and no way would I be out alone in the evening or even somewhere isolated in the daytime. I no longer feel safe in Southampton.

and i am a saints fan !

I feel your pain.

I work in Southampton and live in Southsea. Southampton has definately deteriorated since the last time I worked here. Southsea has slightly too but as an Island is more difficult to develop/ruin...

Hedge Ender wrote:

Familyman wrote: Well that's official then....!! And by inference (and fact), it is a rubbish place for families...Who are all the entertainments for, Oh yes, bars and clubs for single people and transient students... What is all the housing being built, Oh yes, exclusively flats which are no use to families..Slowly but surely the average family is being marginalised. Southampton is becoming one of the most unbalanced places to live that I know, and from my observation, the pace of change is increasing. I only hope that it is not too late to redress the balance in favour of the rest of the population, but I fear there is no will in the planning authority to do so.

Jesus, talk about knee jerk reaction! It's a survey for single people mush so just calm down a second eh? Maybe you can comment on results for family life when they do a survey for that? Compulsive moaners like you will never find anything good in what you read/ see/ hear: Southampton great for single people = "shocking deteriation of families" Southampton to build an Ice Rink = "About time they pulled their finger out, not like this back in the days of Top Rank, no violence there at all, a nice safe night out that"! Violent crime down in Southampton = "Obviously people are too scared to report it, no hoodies in my day, kids would have good clean punch ups with no-one getting seriously hurt back then. I blame the Polish" Personally I think Southampton is a great place for families, New Forest on your doorstep, Bournemouth's clean sandy beech a 30 min drive away, the Quays, the Mayflower, 3 cinemas, loads of beautiful parks unmatched in any city South of London, good shopping and schools that out-perform the national inner city averages. I've lived in Southampton for 25 years and think it's a far better place now with more restaurants, better cinemas, a superb football stadium (I do still miss the Dell but at least I can get a ticket at SMS) and a superb theatre that's still going strong! Cheer up mush, it might never happen!

Brilliant !!! Well said !!!

on a visit last year back to southampton with my husband and daughter, we sampled how great it would be to live in southampton my 18 year old daughter was set upon in one of those fine night clubs had her back scratched and her hair pulled by a total stranger, great for singles not on you life.

kim wrote:
on a visit last year back to southampton with my husband and daughter, we sampled how great it would be to live in southampton my 18 year old daughter was set upon in one of those fine night clubs had her back scratched and her hair pulled by a total stranger, great for singles not on you life.

USA eh? At least your daughter was lucky enough not to have been shot by some deranged teenage gun-wielding killers strolling through her High School back home?

Or wandered through South L.A. or any other gangsta-ridden crack area of America?




I dont really think that a comparison can be made between our two countries. Mind you - it is sad that she experienced such crazy behaviour, but it's all over the country these days.

Well done Hedge...

If you hate the place so much go live in Portsmouth..

If you hate the direction that Southampton is going then run for Parliment or Council or support someone who agrees with you and your ideas and do something about it..

If you don't want to do the above let us who love the place enjoy it in peace..

So THERE!!!

I was born in Southampton and have lived here my whole life. (34 years). In that time many changes have taken place, most for the good, plenty for the worst. The central swimming baths were demolished and rebuilt. Great. Cinemas have been closed and the buildings re-used as bars or shops, and then new and far better cinemas have been opened. Lovely. The ice rink and Top Rank have gone, and while many new bars and clubs have opened we still have no new ice rink. No surprise! Grotty, intimidating buildings that were never going to be maintained have been removed and replaced with some fairly nice living accomodation, although many of them have been inhabitted by non council tax paying students or asylum seekers.
The parks around the city are still looking fantastic, although I still wont walk through them alone in the dark.
Unfortunately this is the way our and many other towns are heading, and unless someone takes a huge step in the right direction we are going to be over run with people who have no ifinity with the town, and use it purely for gaining qualifications before departing for pastures new.

Vonnie wrote:
Suppose im not young now ive hit mid 30s, wud explain why i cant find a decent man in southampton, theres too many blimmin women here lol

Too many women in Southampton? Too few AVAILABLE in my experience! I'm a decent single man in Southampton, Vonnie, and having awful trouble finding a female companion after
a split many months ago now.

I've had my fill of seeing students who walk around town as if they're b****y married.

I am working down here from the midlands for 6 months and I think Southampton is a dump. Too many Polish and a boring place to boot. Enjoy!

Vonnie wrote:
Suppose im not young now ive hit mid 30s, wud explain why i cant find a decent man in southampton, theres too many blimmin women here lol
Too many women in Southampton? Too few AVAILABLE in my experience! I'm a decent single man in Southampton, Vonnie, and having awful trouble finding a female companion after
a split many months ago now.

I've had my fill of seeing students who walk around town as if they're b****y married.

Maybe you are single because you're boring the arse of women Mark. If i were looking for a partner, the last thing i'd want to hear on any website is agonising, and you droning on about a split many months ago. Cheer up!

Familyman wrote:
Well that\'s official then....!! And by inference (and fact), it is a rubbish place for families...Who are all the entertainments for, Oh yes, bars and clubs for single people and transient students... What is all the housing being built, Oh yes, exclusively flats which are no use to families..Slowly but surely the average family is being marginalised. Southampton is becoming one of the most unbalanced places to live that I know, and from my observation, the pace of change is increasing. I only hope that it is not too late to redress the balance in favour of the rest of the population, but I fear there is no will in the planning authority to do so.

Oh go cry about it