Residents of Blackburn estate outraged by portrayal in BBC documentary (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Residents of Blackburn estate outraged by portrayal in BBC documentary
1:00pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News
By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter
Shocked Shadsworth residents Mary Anderson and Alison Critchley
A TV documentary which portrays a Blackburn estate as crime and problem-ridden has been branded outrageous and scandalous by residents.
The BBC TV Panorama film ‘Trouble on the Estate’ was filmed over four months in Shadsworth.
But one horrified coun-cillor said he feared the programme looked more like an episode of Shameless than a true depiction of the estate.
The documentary shows the estate to be riddled with:
- Street corner drug dealers
- Broken families needing help
- Drunks
- Teenage yobs destined prison
- Gangs causing mayhem for a few respectable residents
- Hard-pressed police struggling to cope
- Boarded up houses and shops linked by rubbish-strewn alleys
Just a few positives are mentioned in the course of the documentary.
The area was chosen as it is one of the most deprived in the country. However nearby Mill Hill and Wensleyfold, and Trinity in Burnley, were ranked even lower in the tables.
Mary Anderson and Alison Critchley, from the Shadsworth Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said they were ‘outraged’ the documentary had concentrated on problems involving the estate.
Secretary Mrs Anderson said: “The film makers asked me for help. I was concerned but they promised they would highlight the positives and give a fair picture. When I saw the title I felt I had been misled and the estate was being misrepresented.”
“There are lots of good things in Shadsworth, investment and many good people. We run many clubs and events at the community centre - jobs clubs, breakfast clubs for older people, support for those with mental, drug and alcohol problems.”
Mrs Critchley said: “We are deprived but our crime rate has fallen for three years running. If it shows us as bad people, locals start to believe it and we lose jobs and investment. They have scandalised our home.”
Coun Jim Shorrock said the documentary could set back efforts to revive the community by decades.
He said: “As someone who has lived in Shadsworth for the past fourteen years, I am horrified. They chose Shadsworth as an easy target.
“Constituents tell me of young lads being asked to pull their hoods up ‘for effect’, and working people, including a nurse, being edited out simply because they work. I despair if this is true.
“I sincerely hope this doesn't look like an episode of Shameless, because it could set my ward back twenty years.
“It could lead to lower house prices, derail investment, lower morale, and potentially turn it in to a sink estate, undoing all the investment and hard work of the community, Twin Valley Homes, essential services, and the police.”
Council leader Kate Hollern said she was extremely concerned about the contents of the programme.
She said: “I fear local people have been misled and the estate misrepresented.”
And MP Jack Straw said: “Shadsworth is improving and I have visited far, far worse estates elsewhere in the country.”
A BBC spokesman said: "Panorama spent four months filming with families who shared their views about life on the estate. According to the 2010 Indices of Deprivation, Shadsworth is one of the most deprived places in the country.
"We were clear our intention was to show a true picture of life on the estate and while the programme shows the difficulties that some of the residents face, we believe it is a fair portrayal. We encourage people to watch the programme before making judgement.”
“In response to Councillor Jim Shorrock’s comments, it is categorically untrue that the programme team sought to influence the behaviour of anyone they filmed and certainly didn’t ask them to put up hoods, as is evident from the youngsters featured in the film.
"We didn’t edit out anybody on the basis that they worked – indeed working people are featured in the film – and we never interviewed anyone who identified themselves to us as a nurse.”
'Street drug dealing is not rife'
IT’S not quite an episode of Shameless, but it’s not far off.
Unlike the Chatsworth Estate, there is no humour in a grim picture of unrelenting doom and gloom portrayed in the lives of the people of Shadsworth.
The Panorama documentary ‘Trouble on the Estate’ concentrates on why people want to leave, with little mention of efforts to make the estate pleasanter to live in.
Shadsworth was chosen because it came 17th worst out of 32,783 wards in the government’s indices of deprivation in 2010, based on statistics for homelessness, crime, cold homes, street-dwellers, benefit claimants, and disabled residents.
Watching a preview of the film, the only question is why didn’t it come top.
The programme’s trailer states: “Drugs, anti-social behaviour, family break-ups and joblessness: all part of life on Britain’s poorest housing estates. Filming with families, kids and police, as well as undercover with drug dealers, Panorama spent months on one estate in Blackburn finding out what it’s like to live and grow up there.
“There’s eight-year-old Oshi who is desperate to see his dad after a two-year absence.
“Jordan, who at only 15, is threatening to leave his family because of the trouble, and 20-year-old Jessie, whose behaviour frightens other residents and keeps landing him in prison. Is this really a picture of ‘Broken Britain’ – a place at the edge of where the state can make a difference?”
On the plus side, presenter Richard Bilton does mention the local people saved their swimming pool, that Fernhurst School for children excluded from mainstream education did some valuable work, and that local schools are “good”.
Everything is summed up by one single mother at the end of the film, saying: “I’m stuck here. I’ve got nothing to look forward to.” One young boy tells the camera that children on the estate are “being brought up between drugs and hate”.
Blackburn police Chief Superintendent Bob Eastwood tells the team that street corner drug dealing is not rife, and the cameras then cut straight to youths selling ‘bubble’ for a tenner a bag, and ‘whizz” (amphetamines) for a fiver.
The only couple with someone in work have £2-a-week left after bills, and look at holiday brochures, instead of taking a much-needed break.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (170)
1:19pm Tue 11 Sep 12
elmo maniac says...
the goverment isnt helping this at all by all the cut backs and making it better off being on benefits, its not the estate fault, the goverment need a big boot up their behind....!!!! also 90% of shad isnt like this at all?
1:30pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Keith Myath says...
1:35pm Tue 11 Sep 12
GIBUCK says...
Street corner drug dealers
Broken families needing help
Drunks
Teenage yobs destined prison
Gangs causing mayhem for a few respectable residents
Hard-pressed police struggling to cope
Boarded up houses and shops linked by rubbish-strewn alleys
.........THAT IS FACT ................
1:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
alf-abett says...
The way you describe your midden I would have thought that by setting up no go areas for the scum (all areas have them) you would then start to curtail the behaviour of the this minority who always spoil it for the rest of us.
Litter! we all know it's a on going issue yet years ago residents took pride in their own little area outside their front doors and cleaned up fully knowing that within minuets more may appear but they continued to do it along with most of the neighbours leaving streets not spotless but certainly tidy and bright.
If unemployment is the real issue why don't they get off their lazy bums and take a brush and shovel outside and clean the place up after all the tax payers pay for them to manage on a daily basis to an extent so how about "payback time" clean up and put some PRIDE back into the community.
1:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
1) No work no food
2) No prisons, all criminals recycled
3) All parents to be married
4) All people to support the club where they live
5) Bring back the Rovers return
2:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Luke_Skywalker says...
2:36pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ladybugshorticulture says...
http://www.ladybugsh
orticulture.co.uk/la
dybugs-offsite-cic-h
elped-on-shadsworth-
estate-clean-up/
this was not a one off but happens quarterly.
2:44pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
Sorted.
2:52pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Black Car Guy. says...
2:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Moonman says...
3:00pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Fire Fly says...
Just because someone claims benefits it doesn't then give them the right to behave like scum. Scumbags drag their kids up, don't discipline them or be an example to them & don't bother with work because we all pay for them. A large percentage of them live in Shadsworth.
The Government can't fix attitudes like that but they could do us all a favour & simply stop paying them so they can breed at an alarming rate & therefore continuing the cycle.
3:14pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123 says...
3:28pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ghost of sceptic says...
Sometimes in life you reap whay you sow.
3:29pm Tue 11 Sep 12
roversjeff says...
3:42pm Tue 11 Sep 12
wtloild says...
The reason Shad is such an armpit of a neighbourhood is because it's full of in-breds with a false sense of entitlement.
It's these sorts of selfish degenerates who've completely undermined the welfare safety-net for the rest of us.
3:45pm Tue 11 Sep 12
s_smith says...
3:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Frisson says...
4:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12
goldiebambino says...
NEWSFLASH: We taxpayers owe you nothing. I didn’t have much to do as a teenager and I never felt the need to break the law. My children grew up on the Shadsworth estate and now after going to college, hold down very good jobs and guess what, they never got into trouble either!! Teenagers, Get a job and you won’t be bored!!
The one thing the government could do is to stop giving more benefits to people who have more babies while already claiming benefits!!! IF YOU’RE ON BENEFITS YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO HAVE MORE KIDS!!!
4:24pm Tue 11 Sep 12
jimpy0 says...
4:34pm Tue 11 Sep 12
GIBUCK says...
Broken families needing help / Jeremey Kyle
Drunks / Shameless
Teenage yobs destined prison / Jeremey Kyle
Gangs causing mayhem for a few respectable residents / Shameless
Hard-pressed police struggling to cope / Jeremey Kyle
Boarded up houses and shops linked by rubbish-strewn alleys / Shameless
Great TV viewing
4:44pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ladybugshorticulture says...
Greensleeves is a new allotment growing project which is open to everyone of all ages. There are some teaching sessions for bitesize learning chunks to teach them how to garden and look after their own space. These are heavily attended by the young children but no adults.
There is a small shop where produce grown on the site is for sale, but unless there is more support for this 'project' which the estate wanted then it will be 'another waste of money' as someone else said.
SHADSWORTH ...... residents, if you all argue against this slander to yourselves then where are you? Why do you not stand up and make a difference, when offered help, funding and support do you not grab it with both hands and get out there and change where you live?
You might find its far more interesting than Jeremy Kyle !!!!
If you want to make the outside world change their opinion of you then educate the minority of you that are causing these problems.
I will probably be slated for writing this however, the truth hurts. The problems on the estate are real and only standing together and changing your ways will make the rest of the world listen that your not everything they say you are.
I say we invite the TV cameras back in 18 months and YOU all prove us wrong?????
Anyone interested in GREENSLEEVES please contact Ian McHugh on 07714999382 for more information and the gardening club is Tuesday 1-4pm, Childrens gardening club, over 8's is Thursday 3.30 - 5.
4:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
5:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
A bit like they did with Australia.
5:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Black Car Guy. says...
5:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Chris P Bacon says...
If there's a welfare system, people with no morals will exploit it and have no shame in doing so. They don't have the decency to ask what they can do for themselves or their families but instead ask what the country will do for them. They won't try and better themselves by education or hard work but want to remain on the bottom rung of the ladder of achievement and not be bothered to be doing so.
The country is FAR too soft and soppy when it comes to trash like this. The welfare state should close the till on such garbage and force them to sort themselves out without whinging and whining and clamouring for handouts.
5:45pm Tue 11 Sep 12
DEO VOLENTE says...
Deus Vobiscum
5:55pm Tue 11 Sep 12
turd moor says...
this just some's it up diffrently
6:29pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Marky mark says...
What I find is that some resident are willing to get of their backside as mentioned in the above posts, but they are a very small minority. The others can't be bothered to clean themselves let alone a house or garden.But these type are always quick to slag off somebody else for their troubles, and have to laugh when they sit there watching jezza smoking drinking while house is falling to bit's and the grass is covered with mattresses and overgrown bushes. The usual excuse is " sorry about mess not had time, you know what it's like when you have kids" laugh I do!!
6:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
DanParker says...
There is a community led project at Shadsworth off Oban drive GREENSLEEVES. It is for the community, led by the community. If the community wanted this facility then why does the project not have more support from the residents?
Greensleeves is a new allotment growing project which is open to everyone of all ages. There are some teaching sessions for bitesize learning chunks to teach them how to garden and look after their own space. These are heavily attended by the young children but no adults.
There is a small shop where produce grown on the site is for sale, but unless there is more support for this 'project' which the estate wanted then it will be 'another waste of money' as someone else said.
SHADSWORTH ...... residents, if you all argue against this slander to yourselves then where are you? Why do you not stand up and make a difference, when offered help, funding and support do you not grab it with both hands and get out there and change where you live?
You might find its far more interesting than Jeremy Kyle !!!!
If you want to make the outside world change their opinion of you then educate the minority of you that are causing these problems.
I will probably be slated for writing this however, the truth hurts. The problems on the estate are real and only standing together and changing your ways will make the rest of the world listen that your not everything they say you are.
I say we invite the TV cameras back in 18 months and YOU all prove us wrong?????
Anyone interested in GREENSLEEVES please contact Ian McHugh onTuesday 1-4? Maybe people have to work, pick up children from school?
A gardening club? Why not funding for an interview guidance or how to write an appealing CV instead for the people who aren't in work?
So before mouthing off airing what are probably you're own interests ladybugsHORTICULTURE have a think about it.
I'm from Shadsworth, I work and I know it's no garden of roses but I couldn't care less about a gardening club. When I'm retired and when we have a bloody summer maybe. Possibly that's why no one attends your classes.
6:41pm Tue 11 Sep 12
bubble of reason says...
6:45pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwen_celeb says...
They chose Shadsworth as it was the closest sounding to 'Chatsworth'. Of they wanted an easy target surely Mill Hill would've been easier according to this article... but there's another Mill Hill in London so this would've been confusing for southern audiences.
This is obvious.
6:46pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwen_celeb says...
The phrase 'best looking in the burns ward' springs to mind.
6:48pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Republican says...
6:49pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwen_celeb says...
A documentary does not cause this. Politicians and Councillors have ALREADY caused this.
6:52pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwen_celeb says...
All the councillor is doing here is reinforcing negative stereotypes that any one in a hooded garment, making use of such good is scum. Prejudice.
6:53pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwen_celeb says...
6:55pm Tue 11 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
7:04pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ladybugshorticulture says...
ladybugshorticulture wrote:
There is a community led project at Shadsworth off Oban drive GREENSLEEVES. It is for the community, led by the community. If the community wanted this facility then why does the project not have more support from the residents?
Greensleeves is a new allotment growing project which is open to everyone of all ages. There are some teaching sessions for bitesize learning chunks to teach them how to garden and look after their own space. These are heavily attended by the young children but no adults.
There is a small shop where produce grown on the site is for sale, but unless there is more support for this 'project' which the estate wanted then it will be 'another waste of money' as someone else said.
SHADSWORTH ...... residents, if you all argue against this slander to yourselves then where are you? Why do you not stand up and make a difference, when offered help, funding and support do you not grab it with both hands and get out there and change where you live?
You might find its far more interesting than Jeremy Kyle !!!!
If you want to make the outside world change their opinion of you then educate the minority of you that are causing these problems.
I will probably be slated for writing this however, the truth hurts. The problems on the estate are real and only standing together and changing your ways will make the rest of the world listen that your not everything they say you are.
I say we invite the TV cameras back in 18 months and YOU all prove us wrong?????
Anyone interested in GREENSLEEVES please contact Ian McHugh onTuesday 1-4? Maybe people have to work, pick up children from school?
A gardening club? Why not funding for an interview guidance or how to write an appealing CV instead for the people who aren't in work?
So before mouthing off airing what are probably you're own interests ladybugsHORTICULTURE have a think about it.
I'm from Shadsworth, I work and I know it's no garden of roses but I couldn't care less about a gardening club. When I'm retired and when we have a bloody summer maybe. Possibly that's why no one attends your classes.They are not 'our classes' they are yours! Paid for by money you asked for from the lottery!!!!!!!!!!
You as an estate asked for it and you got it!!!
- so even if your retired there is a small group offering to go out and help residents with their gardens too!!!
I merely give my time to volunteer - free!!!
I could sit in my garden but I believe assisting encouraging and helping promotes a better community spirit!
Anything to help!!!
7:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12
BritainfortheBritish says...
Panorama do tend to sensationalise but they will not be far from the truth.
7:09pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Marky mark says...
7:13pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
7:15pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sen c ble says...
A large percentage don't want to work!
7:17pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Good call says...
7:29pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Carl_24 says...
That person must be high as a kite if they think that because they got that the wrong way round it's 98% of this estate that is nothing but trouble and the FACTS that are stated above -
Street corner drug dealers
Broken families needing help
Drunks
Teenage yobs destined prison
Gangs causing mayhem for a few respectable residents
Hard-pressed police struggling to cope
Boarded up houses and shops linked by rubbish-strewn alleys
All TRUE it p*sses me off when there's drug dealers dealing right across from my house, when ever I go out with my fiancée we get abuse from drunks and drug addicts we're too scared to go out at night, you go out on to the park on rothesay road and there's nothing but needles, condoms and beer cans all over the floor and the chavs racing their motorbikes up and down Arran Trail near enough every day and Twin Valleys are doing absolutely feck all to help look on their site -
"Nuisance neighbours may be in breach of their tenancy agreement. Unless you are suffering from serious acts of violence or harassment, the first thing to do is to speak to your neighbour to resolve things amicably."
You try doing that on here you get told to f**k off and get a bottled smashed over your head.
This estate has rightly earned the nickname chavsworth.
Everything that'll be in this programme tonight just remember THE CAMERA NEVER LIES.
7:34pm Tue 11 Sep 12
sen c ble says...
7:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
7:49pm Tue 11 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
7:49pm Tue 11 Sep 12
doomchanter says...
A nation that is led by a monarchy cannot expect its people to aspire to anything other than a scroungers lifestyle.
I am a taxpayer who resents supporting the non-working class scum at both ends of the social spectrum.
They are all in my opinion (and by definition) parasites, living on the backs of the working class.
8:11pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Speaking my mind says...
No really, its not actually as bad as its made out. i have lived in shadsworth, well next to it for most of my life, i have never had trouble with anyone.
Apart from the lady in the picture at the top left. She should NOT be making out she is a decent person, okay she may go to church and is best friends with the local 'vicor' but she is a far worse person than the people made out to be the bad ones!
Drugs, non-workers, benefit claiments are all over the country and shadsworth unfortunatly has been picked to make some sort of example from.
8:18pm Tue 11 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
8:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Carl_24 says...
it's the trouble makers, druggie's and p*ss heads that should move.
8:23pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Carl_24 says...
8:26pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Chris P Bacon says...
It is EXACTLY the existence of the Welfare State and the laziness it's produced that's led to scenes we're looking forward to seeing tonight.
8:34pm Tue 11 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
8:50pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Good call says...
9:16pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Fire Fly says...
9:30pm Tue 11 Sep 12
allan1957 says...
9:32pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Fire Fly says...
9:34pm Tue 11 Sep 12
BritainfortheBritish says...
9:37pm Tue 11 Sep 12
BritainfortheBritish says...
9:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Lancistan says...
9:46pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
9:47pm Tue 11 Sep 12
ste.g says...
as for the rest scum.
i take my hat off to the guy who works tho.
as for stephen....move away from the little ****
9:50pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Fire Fly says...
9:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
Or, he shaves his legs and as his masculinity has been reduced somewhat, comes on here to check spelling and call people stupid.
Make your own mind up. Wax, wet shave or immac, the only issue he can give you first hand opinion of, oh and lycra with anti chaffe lube and potholes. Brilliant.
9:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
allan1957 says...
10:01pm Tue 11 Sep 12
happycyclist says...
10:01pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwenTower says...
10:03pm Tue 11 Sep 12
happycyclist says...
Is that the best you can do, Jack? Pathetic.
10:04pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Lancistan says...
10:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
10:06pm Tue 11 Sep 12
darwenTower says...
The underclass, however, are having your money doled out to them whether you like it or not and they thank you by making your life a misery with their antisocial behaviour.
10:13pm Tue 11 Sep 12
S4AWX100 says...
10:15pm Tue 11 Sep 12
impartial83 says...
I hope the episode is a reminder to all who spout the rubbish I have read on the LET that issues, which have been aired to the nation, are prevalent in areas of Blackburn irrespective of race, religion, colour or creed.
Will this change the opinions of some? Race, religion, colour or creed should never come into a conversation and I sincerely hope it never appears on this website again. I wish I had more faith.
Other points, the police officer in the program was a disgrace to the force and should be reprimanded at best for such blatant ignorance. It was such a shame as well to see children being influenced by their 'parents' to lead the lives they are doing - where do social services come into this?
Footage doesn't lie, and neither do first hand testaments. A real real shame.
10:16pm Tue 11 Sep 12
VicLou says...
10:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Jerzei Balowski says...
10:23pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Nelson J says...
!!
10:35pm Tue 11 Sep 12
grabbi5 says...
10:37pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Stuart Farquar says...
10:50pm Tue 11 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
11:06pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Pommie Art says...
People who have little education & also have a bad attitude towards anything thats out of there comfort zone simply creat hell for others. the mind set for a lot of people is to simply collect there handouts from the government with little hope of them making any effort to contribute to society like it or not people shall come out with every excuse in the book not to do the right thing.
Its not only shad thats in this position look at Green Lane, Intack, Hill Hill Higher Croft & more.
11:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12
peely says...
11:24pm Tue 11 Sep 12
district01 says...
The now happily retired Jack Straw and his politically favoured crew should do well to take a walk or even a taxi to see for themselves what little they have done for the people who live there. Those very well paid people can blame nobody but themselves and little wonder few of them actually live in Blackburn.
They are a total disgrace!
11:35pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Lynn_Blackburn says...
11:40pm Tue 11 Sep 12
HairyBowls says...
11:46pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Jerzei Balowski says...
Having said that, I know several single people who have been jobless over the last few years who do end up in genuine hardship, unlike Alwyn and her type. Is it really that surprising that we end up with estates full of unwanted feral kids when producing a child is rewarded in this way ?
11:57pm Tue 11 Sep 12
Disgusted31 says...
I get abuse telling me to go 'back to my own country' yet my taxes are paying for the lazy likes of Olwyn and the rest of the 16-30 year olds on that estate without a job! Unbelievable! Its a real shambles! Absolutely disgusting, it makes me sick!
12:13am Wed 12 Sep 12
chillax says...
1. Drugs: I dare say you'll find just as many small-time drug dealers operating in and around even the more affluent suburbs of Northern towns and cities. I trust the local police force (service?) will target those persons captured on film.
2. Anti-social behaviour: children being loud, gathering in groups, drinking, misbehaving. Hardly the stuff of nightmares nor isolated to sink estates, though I do worry for the future of some of those kids given their obvious social and communication problems.
3. Work-shy: we were presented with a 'single mother' who cannot or will not work (prescription drug dependency owing to and/or perpetuating her depression), a two-parent family struggling but powering through (the father was working), a third family of varying and forgettable qualities, and a handful of rather under-motivated young men. It is difficult to adequately judge an estate and its 2,000 strong community (too strong a word?) by such a small cross-section, but clearly those specific young men could and should be working, and (easy as it may be to state) it might benefit the lady's mental and physical health to take one of the jobs on offer, quit smoking and where possible reduce the amount of medication she was administering.
4. Cleanliness: boarded up shops, grafitti, rubbish in the streets/alleyways; rather nicely fits the template of the 'run down estate' doesn't it. However, take heed of the current economic 'climate' which has also affected many supposedly/relativel
y affluent areas across England and beyond. It should go without saying that one should respect one's environment, and particularly one's home. The prevalence of litter and poorly maintained gardens and driveways will certainly have an effect on the residents of any street/estate/town/c
ity, and only serves to perpetuate or exacerbate any existing perceptions of despair. People should have some pride in their home and area, and should feel personal shame if they cannot be bothered to modify their own or their offspring's behaviour.
And so, the programme ended without fanfare or promise of improvement - merely a grim tale of human woe. We all had a chance to feel a bit sympathetic for an hour, and be thankful we don't live in or very near that or any similar estate. One thing is stark: a person working is a person contributing; a happier/healthier person (one hopes); a person with some aspirations; a person with hope. Once the hope has gone, the rest follows, and in its wake come the vices.
Having said all that, and in the mean spirit, knee-jerk barbaric sensationalism of 'today's society' - and with a heavy dose of irony - of the lesser residents of Shadsworth, I don't know whether to cry with sadness, or shoot the lot of 'em.
12:14am Wed 12 Sep 12
fireonthemountain says...
Hitting the nail on the head .
Politicians and Bankers .
Yep - I agree .
But - ask yourself some questions .
1 - would you like to live there ?
2 - would you open a shop there ?
3 - would you park your car there overnight ?
4 - would you employ either of those "ladies" in the photograph ?
----------------
Many years ago I was looking for employees in the Wigan / St Helens area . One bloke turned for the interview (Which was held in the local Job Centre) scruffy and drunk .
I told him to go away .
He got violent .
Thankfully Job Centre staff were there to calm him down .
He was "escorted from the premises" by The Police .
Why did they have him there for the interview anyway ?
The person who got the job is , in actual fact , now a well respected Police Sargeant - we still keep in touch . He is very grateful for my giving him his first chance in life .
Winners and Losers .
You choose what you want to be .
12:34am Wed 12 Sep 12
Stone Island: says...
12:41am Wed 12 Sep 12
Lynn_Blackburn says...
12:43am Wed 12 Sep 12
Lynn_Blackburn says...
1:06am Wed 12 Sep 12
Stone Island: says...
1:15am Wed 12 Sep 12
useyourhead says...
1:16am Wed 12 Sep 12
Stone Island: says...
1:39am Wed 12 Sep 12
callisha says...
drunkard yobs and junkies hanging around ballentrea shops selling on the corner are from the hostal that was previously a elderly care home not the estate attracted to the cheap booze shop both are owned by muslims who dont care who they house or how much beer they sell.
now thats the facts .
can we really trust what we see on the tv ?? answer is no.
2:01am Wed 12 Sep 12
egbutnobacon says...
I grew up there in the 70's. People had jobs then, and took pride in their community.
We left in 78 as it was " getting rough".
2:15am Wed 12 Sep 12
callisha says...
they filmed myself and family of seven , our family business which employs four in the office and out on site and our home etc. we didnt show up ourselves our neighbours or the the area we live in we told the truth but it didnt serve the BBC's purpose.
i live a minutes walk from "ollies" house .all my neighbours own there own houses and are employed we are not thugs from the gutter just honest people trying our best .
.
2:20am Wed 12 Sep 12
callisha says...
2:26am Wed 12 Sep 12
callisha says...
7:51am Wed 12 Sep 12
AnthonyUK says...
8:09am Wed 12 Sep 12
madari says...
Build a mosque there ......problem solved....!!!
8:12am Wed 12 Sep 12
happycyclist says...
8:20am Wed 12 Sep 12
Manuel Hung says...
8:49am Wed 12 Sep 12
Plasticbertrand says...
8:54am Wed 12 Sep 12
Plasticbertrand says...
8:55am Wed 12 Sep 12
stevieababy100 says...
9:07am Wed 12 Sep 12
ladysal says...
I used to live in Wythenshawe in an ex council house. All the houses surrounding it were also privately owned, mostly by retired fine upstanding citizens. Unfortunately, we also lived less than a minutes walk away from the Wythenshawe estate which everyone will know from the telly: it more than gives Shad a run for its money: I think it might even have been the estate / lifestyle which many in Shad model themsleve on.
Unfortunately, you and your neighbours are boring and don't fit the stereotype that the BBC are trying to promote, so you wil be ignored.
Whilst I am under no illusions as to the veracity of a lot of what last night'd programme stated, what annoyed me most was:
1) the inference that this was how everybody there (and by association therefore most of Blackburn) lived their lives.
2) The fact that the people who were featured got so much money from benefits. My husband and I both work and earn around the same as they got paid out. Our car is thirteen years old (hubby works in Bolton so we need it) and we are currently trying to rejig our budget to pay for a leaky roof. I guess that some of those scroungers will just have to pick up their phone and it will be sortedin a moment....... Where did we go wrong? Trying to give our daughter a strong work ethic by example?
9:12am Wed 12 Sep 12
useyourhead says...
9:15am Wed 12 Sep 12
Frisson says...
Just to rub it in more, Im glad I listened at school, didnt fight, was disciplined off my parents if I did anything wrong so I have now gone on to get all my GCSE's, HNC, HND and I earn well over 30k a year!!! Just shows what parents could actually achieve if they implemented a little bit of dicipline i their own lives as well as their kids!!!
9:28am Wed 12 Sep 12
midas says...
ladybugshorticulture wrote: There is a community led project at Shadsworth off Oban drive GREENSLEEVES. It is for the community, led by the community. If the community wanted this facility then why does the project not have more support from the residents? Greensleeves is a new allotment growing project which is open to everyone of all ages. There are some teaching sessions for bitesize learning chunks to teach them how to garden and look after their own space. These are heavily attended by the young children but no adults. There is a small shop where produce grown on the site is for sale, but unless there is more support for this 'project' which the estate wanted then it will be 'another waste of money' as someone else said. SHADSWORTH ...... residents, if you all argue against this slander to yourselves then where are you? Why do you not stand up and make a difference, when offered help, funding and support do you not grab it with both hands and get out there and change where you live? You might find its far more interesting than Jeremy Kyle !!!! If you want to make the outside world change their opinion of you then educate the minority of you that are causing these problems. I will probably be slated for writing this however, the truth hurts. The problems on the estate are real and only standing together and changing your ways will make the rest of the world listen that your not everything they say you are. I say we invite the TV cameras back in 18 months and YOU all prove us wrong????? Anyone interested in GREENSLEEVES please contact Ian McHugh onTuesday 1-4? Maybe people have to work, pick up children from school? A gardening club? Why not funding for an interview guidance or how to write an appealing CV instead for the people who aren't in work? So before mouthing off airing what are probably you're own interests ladybugsHORTICULTURE have a think about it. I'm from Shadsworth, I work and I know it's no garden of roses but I couldn't care less about a gardening club. When I'm retired and when we have a bloody summer maybe. Possibly that's why no one attends your classes.You might not care (seemingly like the rest os the estate) but you, unlike many there have a job - do people point and stare at you when you set off to work? The least they could do is line the streets and cheer you on your way!
.
What about the people who don't work, the ones whinning that they haven't got enough money for food, the ones that are bored or have "nothing to look forward to"?
.
"Maybe people have to work" - you are a joker aren't you!
9:42am Wed 12 Sep 12
stormy says...
After seeing this chap on TV last night I thought he was completely useless and didn't really give a hoot. I asked for a meeting with Eastwood regarding ineffective policing in my area a while ago but my request was refused.
He came across being interviewed as a complete 'softball'. Mr Eastwood - grow a pair and get areas like these sorted - do what you are plaid for!!
9:52am Wed 12 Sep 12
Kermit The Frog says...
What a set of jobshy, feckless scrubbers. It was like watching Hills have Eyes - all the people featured probably had the same ugly gene, donated by their father/brother.
Yet more embarrassment for Blackburn - I wonder if they will have the brass neck to sing "Your dad's your mum' and other intelligent, genetically impossible and on the evidence of last night - massively hypocrytical songs when they play Burnley in December.
A wonderful advert for the town
10:26am Wed 12 Sep 12
norah bhatty says...
One commented that she had had help for the likes of carpets decorating etc, and there she was bottle of wine visible, and a cigarette in hand, and she claimed she was depressed.
There are thousands of others depressed with all the cutbacks etc, but life is what you make it.
There are people who are genuinely on the bread line, but when wine is flowing, and cigarettes are bought, does this describe someone who should have financial support?
Many people would like their homes decorated for free, given the cost of decorating these days, but they have to cut their cloth according to their means.
I do not begrudge people who have nothing receiving aid, but wine and cigarettes (given the price they are today) are not a necessity by anyone's standards.
The TV gathered evidence as they saw it, so are they to blame?
10:27am Wed 12 Sep 12
HarryBosch says...
10:36am Wed 12 Sep 12
trigger57 says...
10:59am Wed 12 Sep 12
tntoast says...
11:05am Wed 12 Sep 12
angel2012 says...
11:08am Wed 12 Sep 12
maggie-T says...
11:17am Wed 12 Sep 12
Plasticbertrand says...
11:49am Wed 12 Sep 12
slimmy says...
... calon estate, ingol, lower penwortham.
then back to blackburn, whitebirk, highercroft, green lane, redlam, whalley range, audley range. all these have a higher crime rate than the shadsworth estate.
check for one selves check where you live, then come back slagging of the shadsworth estate !!!!!!!
i lived on here for 40 yrs i'm fine my kids are fineboth kids work they weren't in any trouble.
i've worked since i left school.
the programme only hand picked the worst people of the estate.... did you see it showing any decent people ? ( YES THE MAJORITY OF THE ESTATE IS VERY DECENT)
yes there is drugs, yes there is asb yes SOME people don't or even wont work.
doesn't every estate have these people ????????????
11:51am Wed 12 Sep 12
slimmy says...
http://www.direct.go
v.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOn
line/WP/DG_WP193625
12:19pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Hendog says...
This social document or whatever youd like to call it highlighted nothing more than there are sections of society whereby children are doomed to fail without central intervention. The cause of each and every problem on that estate was a result of parenting.
Children never punished, unwillingness to work, "i am owed this" mentality, youth crime, drugs, alcohol abuse. etc. etc.
Now, whether other social and economical factors then exacerbate that is up up for discussion but undeniabley these inherently poor individuals all had enough money for the old addage of sky tv, drugs and alcohol. That is not poverty it is ridicolously selfish budgeting which will cause the helpless (i.e. the children) to be doomed to a life of sitting in the corner of that room smoking a fag whilst your kids run around the estate..."n that!"
12:28pm Wed 12 Sep 12
slimmy says...
CLOWN !!
2:22pm Wed 12 Sep 12
matty hughes says...
2:31pm Wed 12 Sep 12
ka1991 says...
have you any idea who these people are, the one on the right is my mum. she, along with others, have put so many unpaid hours into that community, so much time and effort into helping others! running a breakfast club week in week out bringing the community together whilst putting on job clubs and helping people do their CVs, she also runs a bingo club, getting the older people from the estate out of their houses and giving them a way to see their friends in a warm and friendly environment. She is also on the resident association, campaigned to keep the community center open, arranged carnivals, football tournaments, jeez i could go on forever!!
This woman has also raised three brilliant children on this estate! the first, me, left home at 18 to go to university, currently in my final year and on the path to a first class honors and had a job, sometimes two, since leaving school. Her second child, soon to be leaving home to go to university and also has a job. Her third child, currently in school on track to be passing all her GCSEs with flying colours. None of us have EVER gone without, we have all been raised with a great work ethic and none of us have ever been in trouble with the police! and guess what? this is your typical story of your typical family who live on this estate! the majority of the people who live on the estate are good honest people! so who the hell are you to judge? what do you know? clearly absolutely NOTHING!
3:51pm Wed 12 Sep 12
earthmum says...
Carl_24 wrote:
I can't believe people on this pile of **** estate are already criticising the show before it's been shown I've seen folk on Facebook say 98% on the estate is a lovely place!!!
That person must be high as a kite if they think that because they got that the wrong way round it's 98% of this estate that is nothing but trouble and the FACTS that are stated above -
Street corner drug dealers
Broken families needing help
Drunks
Teenage yobs destined prison
Gangs causing mayhem for a few respectable residents
Hard-pressed police struggling to cope
Boarded up houses and shops linked by rubbish-strewn alleys
All TRUE it p*sses me off when there's drug dealers dealing right across from my house, when ever I go out with my fiancée we get abuse from drunks and drug addicts we're too scared to go out at night, you go out on to the park on rothesay road and there's nothing but needles, condoms and beer cans all over the floor and the chavs racing their motorbikes up and down Arran Trail near enough every day and Twin Valleys are doing absolutely feck all to help look on their site -
"Nuisance neighbours may be in breach of their tenancy agreement. Unless you are suffering from serious acts of violence or harassment, the first thing to do is to speak to your neighbour to resolve things amicably.For a leading Police Officer to say that drug dealing on street corners on shadsworth estate is not rife, may be true, especially if these incidents go unreported! however, what i do know, is that i live in an area of Blackburn which used to be a very "sought after" residential estate, and drug dealing and anti-social behaviour is "Rife". It is reported regularly, but it seems very little is seen to be done about it. The decent residents of Blackburn may very well be the majority, but a silent majority will do nothing to change things. please don't continue to wear the blinkers that MP's and High ranking police offices wear, Time to take the Kid Gloves off, and get tough. And if all else fails, we could send them all to appear on the Jeremy Kyle show, that way, we could keep the dealers off the streets for an hour!
5:30pm Wed 12 Sep 12
debbie26pet says...
Also they didn't go any further than the park, what about us at the top shad,
Yes we work etc and own our own house but I think now this documentary has just flattened the value of our houses keeping us here longer. Thank you
5:41pm Wed 12 Sep 12
VicLou says...
5:50pm Wed 12 Sep 12
davidl575 says...
7:03pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...
7:49pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Per Ardua says...
7:59pm Wed 12 Sep 12
goldiebambino says...
10:18pm Wed 12 Sep 12
abbo01 says...
11:17pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Pommie Art says...
I Live on the Shasworth estate lived here for 11 years and i found this documentary quite gloomy, There are a lot of decent people on the Shadsworth estate that do look after their homes and go to work, I also am disgusted by many comments on here about retards etc I am not a retard and am offended by that statement...dont tar everyone with the same.
you may find there is a very small percentage of people living on the estate who activley work for a living, i would say if the place is like a no go area then its the people living on the estate who have made life like that Nobody else.
Until people start to educate themself & there kids its going to get worse, i do believe there are some decent people on that estate however thats a very small minority. people are happy in there own little confort zone & people get used to free handouts from the government they unfortuantley are playing the game of take take.
im happy i dont live on that estate, as a kid we lived on Mereclough Ave Green Lane, ive been told thats just as bad as the other estates now, rough as guts.
2:13am Thu 13 Sep 12
Black Car Guy. says...
om/watch?v=skmt2zhSS
uI&feature=player_em
bedded
7:50am Thu 13 Sep 12
AnthonyUK says...
10:26am 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.
10:58am Thu 13 Sep 12
shellybelle says...
11:47am Thu 13 Sep 12
pinkpjs says...
11:57am Thu 13 Sep 12
Shear_Brilliance says...
Areas like Audley, Shadsworth and Highercroft make the rest of Blackburn look like a hole.
Start looking after yourselves and your houses for god sake I'm embaressed to say I used to live 5 minutes away.
1:02pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ka1991 says...
1:31pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Ladysadie says...
3:53pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ghost of sceptic says...
What did come to light is the lies of cameron and the tory party who said
they would make it pay for people to work rather than stay at home on benefits, i work a 37 hour week in the public sector and get the same salary as the lazy scum who sits on her fat arse all month.
LETS KICK OUT THE TORYS THE RULERS OF THIS LAND
FOR THEY ARE THE ENEMYS OF THE BRITISH
WORKING MAN!
3:56pm Thu 13 Sep 12
davidl575 says...
3:59pm Thu 13 Sep 12
davidl575 says...
6:22pm Thu 13 Sep 12
li1989 says...
I'm from Shad, I work, I'm a single mother, I pay for my son to go to the childminders, I pay my rent and council tax, and I'm in the age range of 18-30. I also know a lot of other people who work, drive, nice homes ect.
Who said the camera doesn't lie??
The lad that was filmed then went into prison. His parent are very respectable people, his mother a teacher, his dad works a well earned job. He got brought up very well, always had things, didn't need for nothing, but he obviously chose the wrong path to go down. None of his siblings have turned out like him, so don't blame the parents.
The family with the 4 kids and one moved away. The BBC didn't film the man battering the wife!! I'm not suprised the oldest moved, just wish he stayed away!
The cleaner and his wife who live of £2 a week, they didn't get filmed buying takeaways everynight! Well done for working a whole 7 hours a week, but I'm sure if you tried that little harder you could find a full time job. There's PLENTY out there!
And the single mother who earns £1100 a month. If you are on that much medication for whatever reason, I do feel sorry for you, must not be nice. But instead of smoking drugs and drinking, use that energy on making ureself to feel better. Send ure son to school, the piece and time to ureself might help. And one more thing, if you don't want ure son to hit the teachers in his next school (that's if you do send him) I'd stop teaching him to "Fight like a man" . You might be a nice lady when got to known, but ure morals are totaly wrong!
And to the people who are calling Mary in the picture, and saying the residents need to do something about it ... Did anybody notice that is what she is doing??! Don't see how people can call her for the way she looks in a picture.. Is just very sad!!
Like I said before, over 2000 people in Shad, were all not the same, we don't follow what everyone else does. Any town in any country has drugs, violence, benifits, joblessness, ect.. There good and bad anywhere you go, so don't see why everyone is going on like Shadsworth is the first area in the world to be like this!!
People make there own choices in life, choose how they want to live, same as the people who was filmed in this documentry. But the people who do choose to work, pay taxes, drug free, send children to school, none violent was NOT filmed for this documentry...
... So please think before you write comments like "Everyone in Shadsworth is scum" .. Or calling people who live in Shad. You did not see each and everyone of these people to judge them.
The BBC made Shad out to be that bad, and filmed the people they did, just for the fact they want good ratings. So yes ... The camera does lie ...
6:31pm Thu 13 Sep 12
li1989 says...
But don't aim this at his parents, his mum is a teacher, his dad has a very well earned job, they are very nice and respectable people. They brought all the children up in the best way possible, nice home, nice things, money, car, ect.. But Jessie chose to loose all that! His other sibling didn't turn out the way he has, so don't blame the parents.
11:48pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Lilyanny says...
11:50pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Lilyanny says...
11:56pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Lilyanny says...
12:08am Fri 14 Sep 12
Lilyanny says...
12:22am Fri 14 Sep 12
ka1991 says...
4:04am Fri 14 Sep 12
Reedley says...
4:04am Fri 14 Sep 12
Reedley says...
8:30am Fri 14 Sep 12
AnthonyUK says...
9:14am Fri 14 Sep 12
Black Car Guy. says...
Also i bet they,re a social workers wet dream.
10:49am Fri 14 Sep 12
AnthonyUK says...
1:41pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Black Car Guy. says...
3:09pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Lynn_Blackburn says...
3:50pm Fri 14 Sep 12
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7:46pm Fri 14 Sep 12
mishno5 says...
We have lived up Chavsworth for 11 years now and i've hated every min of it. drug dealing outside my house, dealing when is daylight and kids are about. fighting in the street, usually outside or near my home by drunken mindless yobs. But we can't move we bought this house, no one will ever want to buy a house up here unless Twin Valleys sorts out their estate. It's their fault they are the landlords hey should sort it out.
And yes all of the program was true.
8:43pm Fri 14 Sep 12
arrod baw says...
11:32pm Fri 14 Sep 12
mishno5 says...
11:39pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Pommie Art says...
THE SHADSWORTH ESTATE MIGHT BE A SHITHOLE BUT ITS OUR SHITHOLE F**KIN LOVE IT
Now then Matty, you may just have convinced people how dumb you actually are, with the above comments imagine the fantastic community spirit you have created for all the residents on the estate for the future. maybe you should put your brain into gear before the big mouth.
A Sh1t Hole & loving it, Well Sh1t attracts Sh1t.
12:32am Sat 15 Sep 12
fireonthemountain says...
They could do a meal-deal .
Eight pasties .
6 litres of cider .
And a tin of dog food (for the kids) .
' All yours for only a tenner '
And a free packet of Rizla .
The above offer is not available to those who can read and write .
1:48am Sat 15 Sep 12
Lynn_Blackburn says...
9:49am Sat 15 Sep 12
mishno5 says...
7:17am Mon 17 Sep 12
AnthonyUK says...
8:50am Mon 17 Sep 12
mishno5 says...
Do you know Anthony that Chavsworth have been awarded 1 million pounds from the lottery earlier this year and nothing has been done with it so far, just sat in a bank somewhere collecting interest, wonder if the estate will get the interest its collecting. Waste of time. I know Panarama are coming back in a few months to see if anything has improved, it won't have.
And you would think that all the people who are moaning about the program saying its rubbish, it's not like that here. well obviously it is. and instead of moaning that they are wrong, look at the program and improve on the points that stragers can see. if people are that proud of this estate, improve it, prove to pananrama that they are wrong.