Deprivation and decline in UK seaside towns

A new report has laid bare the scale of deprivation and decline in some of Britain's most famous seaside towns, with Torquay and Ilfracombe in Devon emerging as stark examples of the challenges facing coastal communities. The findings paint a picture of abandoned hotels, closed shops, rising crime, and deep social problems, all set against the backdrop of sandy beaches and scenic harbours that once drew millions of holidaymakers.

In Torquay, part of the English Riviera, the signs of decay are visible within a short walk. A reporter counted six abandoned hotels in a single neighbourhood, and the high street has been hollowed out, with 40 closed shops. Two of those shops were shut after allegedly selling illegal vapes and having links to organised crime. Drug paraphernalia, including needle caps and bloody swabs, was found in public areas, and the town has a higher than average rate of crime and anti-social behaviour. The number of people sleeping rough has also increased.

Local residents say the town has changed for the worse. One woman who has lived there for 50 years said it was "brilliant" when she first came in the 1960s, but added: "I don't think it'll ever go back to when I first came." The problems extend beyond the streets. A disabled woman with cerebral palsy, who is registered blind, is living in a tent in a park with her partner because they have nowhere else to go. She described the daily struggle of living in a tent, saying it is too hot in summer and that she fears being attacked or mugged.

Business owners are also feeling the strain. Ricky, who runs a tattoo shop on Abbey Road, is closing down after three and a half years. He said the list of problems is "endless": people getting robbed, nearly stabbed, and fighting. He showed footage of a customer being punched by a drug user and said he reported it to the police, but no one was ever charged. He said he feels "really let down" by the council and the police, adding: "It could be beautiful but it's like they seem to just don't care." The police say they have done additional patrols and that crime in Torquay has come down in the past year, and that the area remains one of the safest places to live in England.

Further up the coast, Ilfracombe faces similar issues, but with an even sharper edge. Four in ten children there are living in poverty, and healthy life expectancy is just 59, the lowest of any rural town in England. There have been reports of rising violence and drug use, with some media outlets asking whether it has become the crack cocaine capital of England. The high street has been dubbed a no-go area in one news report, though on the day of the visit, police were investigating a break-in at a Chinese restaurant, while independent shops and volunteer litter pickers were also in evidence.

The contrast between the picture-postcard seafront and the underlying problems is stark. The report suggests that years of underinvestment, changing holiday habits, and a lack of economic opportunity have left many seaside towns struggling to adapt. While some residents insist the towns are still lovely places to live, the evidence of decline is hard to ignore. The question now is whether the authorities can reverse the trend before these communities lose their sparkle for good.