Videos: Blackburn's Shadsworth estate outraged by BBC Panorama 'hatchet job' (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Videos: Blackburn's Shadsworth estate outraged by BBC Panorama 'hatchet job'
10:02am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News
MP Jack Straw is outraged by the documentary's treatment of Shadsworth
SHADSWORTH residents’ anger has grown following the broadcast of a TV documentary on their community, branding the film a ‘hatchet job’ and ‘a farce’.
Blackburn police chief Bob Eastwood said the the Panorama programme ‘Trouble on the Estate’ was not was not a ‘true representation of life on the estate’ He added: “I would be disappointed if people thought it was.”
The programme has also provoked Blackburn MP Jack Straw to write a letter of complaint to the BBC Trust over its portrayal of Shadsworth as a den of crime, drugs, joblessness and broken families.
As the row grew, the BBC last night defended it as “a fair and balanced portrayal of life on the estate”.
Kathleen Shuttleworth, of Patterdale Avenue, said: “I think it was an appalling programme. A farce. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves.
“How are we ever going to sell our houses now?”
Alison Critchley, of the Shadsworth Tenants and Residents Association, said: “It was a hatchet job, just like we feared.”
Chief superintendent Eastwood said: “It was an accurate picture of the life of a few families on the estate but misrepresented the life of the majority of the people on Shadsworth.
“I still maintain that Shadsworth is not rife with drug dealing on street corners.”
Blackburn with Darwen council leader Kate Hollern said: “I have been contacted by many upset and angry residents. I am saddened and angered by the film.”
Cou Jim Shorrock said: “I am not impressed. It certainly was a hatchet job.”
A Panorama spokesman said: : “We stand by the programme as a fair and balanced portrayal of life on the estate.
"All of the main contributors to the programme have said that they are both happy with it and their contribution to it. Indeed the programme makers have been thanked by some residents.
"We spent many months on the estate and reflected both what we were told and what we filmed, including the view of the police.
"However, the many residents we spoke to told us that anti-social behaviour and drugs are a real problem there.
"Whilst the programme makers are happy to defend their journalism, they believe that the criticism it is currently receiving deflects attention from the issues which are of genuine concern to many residents on the estate and the wider public.”
Video rebuttals
Blackburn with Darwen Council posted two videos on YouTube offering an alternative perspective on life at Shadsworth.
- An interview with Coun Jim Shorrock about the documentary.
- The Voices of Shadsworth Estate features interviews with people from the area.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (33)
10:10am Thu 13 Sep 12
shellybelle says...
I have 3 wonderful children who have morals and principles, and understand right from wrong. My 15yr old daughter is already showing strong work ethics and worked over summer. And has aspirations to do well in education and work. My stepson is a soldier who has lived with us on Shadsworth since he was 14, and he has not been held back, if anything he has grown into a wonderful person, as all my other children are. Not causing bother.
Shadsworth has a fantastic social inclusion programme which reaches out to all ages from Bingo, breakfast club, art club, creative club, fathers club, toddler group, majorettes &healthy living. Shadsworth residents have contributed enormously to society, there are nhs workers, county council workers,soldiers, teaching assistants, retail assistants, labourers and the list goes on.
Yes there is a handful of people on Shadsworth who spend their money/benefits on wine,cannabis and other drugs, which could be spent on carpets, wall paper, curtains,birthday and christmas presents, and clothes,etc etc however there are affluent estates such as Wilpshire, brockhall village, Langho where alcohol and drugs are a problem too. Living on Shadsworth or any other council does not give a person a predisposition to not having any high aspirations or problems with drugs and behaving inappropriate. It's about attitude and being positive. I would like to say a big thank you to all Shadsworth residents who have contributed and dedicated your lives to improving the lives of others through these difficult times, when government funding is being cut. Well Bloody done and keep up the hard work. Thank you from me and lots of other residents who appreciate their efforts, and stay positive don't let the negative people bring you down. Let's show everyone we are better than that. I've had positive feedback from clients who know people from Shadsworth who are disgusted at panoramas shock tv tactics. It's just a cheap trick to increase ratings and unfortunately it worked. Let's not give them the control to anger us. Let's move forward with are heads held high.
10:22am Thu 13 Sep 12
spike t says...
10:22am Thu 13 Sep 12
lwg76 says...
Sensationalising the Bad and ignoring the Good.
10:42am Thu 13 Sep 12
alf-abett says...
In my post yesterday I attempted to encourage some response from the decent people of the estate, was it forthcoming, NO, so what are they complaining about. Speak out as one or all be tarred with the same brush. SIMPLES.
10:59am Thu 13 Sep 12
midas says...
.
The best has to be this one - Kathleen Shuttleworth, of Patterdale Avenue, said: “I think it was an appalling programme. A farce. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves. How are we ever going to sell our houses now?”
.
Why would anyone want to sell their house if life in Shadsworth is so good?
11:07am Thu 13 Sep 12
Andy Young says...
11:12am Thu 13 Sep 12
Accyasain786 says...
11:28am Thu 13 Sep 12
Kermit The Frog says...
11:37am Thu 13 Sep 12
roverfoxy says...
11:53am Thu 13 Sep 12
Bat E Karen says...
12:02pm Thu 13 Sep 12
jojo29 says...
12:25pm Thu 13 Sep 12
chris283 says...
12:50pm Thu 13 Sep 12
abdullah says...
12:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12
abdullah says...
ubbling along in life,no pay no job,who cares state pays,live a drean in a bubble,fantastic lol
1:05pm Thu 13 Sep 12
district01 says...
Nothing!
The present New Labour ruled Blackburn with Darwen council will always be the preferred political party for historical reasons but why should we have to put up with the failures and feeble excuses all of the time. The problems are all there for everyone to see and those with the power to do something get very well paid to do that job. But all we ever get are excuses whenever those concerns are brought to their attention.
Why is nothing ever done to put the wrongs right?
1:11pm Thu 13 Sep 12
shellybelle says...
I have 3 wonderful children who have morals and principles, and understand right from wrong. My 15yr old daughter is already showing strong work ethics and worked over summer. And has aspirations to do well in education and work. My stepson is a soldier who has lived with us on Shadsworth since he was 14, and he has not been held back, if anything he has grown into a wonderful person, as all my other children are. Not causing bother.
Shadsworth has a fantastic social inclusion programme which reaches out to all ages from Bingo, breakfast club, art club, creative club, fathers club, toddler group, majorettes &healthy living. Shadsworth residents have contributed enormously to society, there are nhs workers, county council workers,soldiers, teaching assistants, retail assistants, labourers and the list goes on.
Yes there is a handful of people on Shadsworth who spend their money/benefits on wine,cannabis and other drugs, which could be spent on carpets, wall paper, curtains,birthday and christmas presents, and clothes,etc etc however there are affluent estates such as Wilpshire, brockhall village, Langho where alcohol and drugs are a problem too. Living on Shadsworth or any other council does not give a person a predisposition to not having any high aspirations or problems with drugs and behaving inappropriate. It's about attitude and being positive. I would like to say a big thank you to all Shadsworth residents who have contributed and dedicated your lives to improving the lives of others through these difficult times, when government funding is being cut. Well Bloody done and keep up the hard work. Thank you from me and lots of other residents who appreciate their efforts, and stay positive don't let the negative people bring you down. Let's show everyone we are better than that. I've had positive feedback from clients who know people from Shadsworth who are disgusted at panoramas shock tv tactics. It's just a cheap trick to increase ratings and unfortunately it worked. Let's not give them the control to anger us. Let's move forward with are heads held high.
2:32pm Thu 13 Sep 12
vicn1956 says...
A judge who says burglars have courage!
Drug use and crime out of control on these estates-
SEE ANY CONNECTION?
My heart goes out to the family who would rather work than claim dole and ensured their kids were brought up properly. Those are the families who deserve support!
I was lucky I could afford to get away from an estate like that- I feel for those who can't and have to put up with people who make life hell for others and put up with those in authority unwilling to do anything about them!
5:08pm Thu 13 Sep 12
lostforwords says...
6:07pm Thu 13 Sep 12
happycyclist says...
8:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ste.g says...
shop the druggies and spongers.outcast them and make them feel ashamed.then maybe just maybe they will start to change their ways...
but you wont because you all put blinkers on and hide behind your doors pretending its not there and it will all be ok
8:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ste.g says...
shop the druggies and spongers.outcast them and make them feel ashamed.then maybe just maybe they will start to change their ways...
but you wont because you all put blinkers on and hide behind your doors pretending its not there and it will all be ok
10:54pm Thu 13 Sep 12
grabbi5 says...
11:03pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ste.g says...
absolute scumbags
11:26pm Thu 13 Sep 12
goz says...
12:22am Fri 14 Sep 12
Pommie Art says...
there shall be decent people trying to do the right thing, but they are in the minority i can imagine. ask the decent people this question if they had the opportunity to get away from the estate & maybe buy a home if the situation arose would they stay or leave, decent folk im talking about now. i can only imagine if that opportunity came along i bet they would jump ship at the 1st opportunity.
7:05am Fri 14 Sep 12
coates warder says...
7:43am Fri 14 Sep 12
fabinribblevalley says...
11:50am Fri 14 Sep 12
Carl_24 says...
I've reported trouble time and time again first time I reported it to Jim Shorrock and he told me to tell the police what was it he said in that video clip "No one has been knocking at my house about drug issues and concerns in recent times" the lying b*****d and that Ron O'Keefee is useless he doesn't live on Shadsworth so why he is the Councillor of this estate is beyond me it's alright for him he lives in a posh area on the other side of town it's just typical of the council to sweep the trouble under the carpet and think everything is rosie in the garden when it's not.
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4:37pm Fri 14 Sep 12
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2:36pm Sat 15 Sep 12
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