A RECENT television item featured late-night bus travellers in Bolton discussing the poor state of the local cities and towns. Shuttered shops, bookmakers and small tearooms and, of course mobile phone dealers and former banks – now pubs serving food – are what we have in the towns and cities of today. I wonder if journalists dig deeply enough regarding the quality of life on mainland Europe compared to what is now the norm throughout the UK, the fifth richest country in the world. I would really like to watch more television programmes or read decent articles devoted to comparing the state of cities and towns in Europe to those in our troubled country. Brexit is a disaster but not the only reason for the decline in the UK’s cities. It may be a thorny issue that some politicians don’t want to talk about as we have left the European Union – and we are now, of course, our own masters, aren’t we? A great silence has descended in the UK over how we are in this run-down state compared to mainland Europe. Politicians have to find the answers. However journalists have a lot of power to pressurise politicians to listen to our concerns on the necessity for cities and towns to prosper. A few years ago I arrived at Buchanan Bus Station after a most enjoyable trip to Belgium and was appalled at the litter everywhere. In discussion with a fellow traveller we both agreed we live in the dirtiest city in Europe. As I now live in Argyll I only drive past Glasgow city on the M8 so my home town may be much cleaner nowadays. Let’s hope so. James Nolan, Strachur.
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