Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then The Future of Birkenhead Town

not nostalgia lyn,just fact.blame the supermarkets most of them sell cheap crap which people buy through the lack of money.at least in the 50s the old market was a vibrant and friendly plkace to shop,as was grange road unlike the faceless supermarkets employing nearly all part time jobs for very low pay.ask the staff at the new asda in a few months what they think.having to do silly american things like talk ins given to them when theyre getting rubbish pay.dont use it theyve been and gone before.

Without upsetting anybody - for those of us who are old enough we can remember Grange Rd as a bustling area - having problems to walk up and down without bumping in to each other as there where so many people shopping - same goes for the old market jam packed and as somebody said earlier it was all smiles, chats, and decent prices for decent items

Now a days faceless / characterless people / shops are out for money and have no care if the item is sound and going to last.

I agree what was said earlier, big shops (asda etc) little wage, big expectations of their staff - blame privatisation - profit for shareholders is the number 1 concern probaly number 1 through to number 100 - profit, profit

Why do you think elec gas prices are so high - profit, profit and more profit for shareholders - the raw cost of elec and gas is the same as 18 months ago?????

For those young enough you weren't around or you can't remember what it was like - its not just silly old people like me - it is just a true fact that the whole of Birkenhead has changed and without doubt it has changed for the worse in every facet you care to think about - wait for the Wirral Water Ways - don't hold your breath - something or someone will ruin that idea - how? pure greed quite simpley

WE are never satisfied, when I young some 50 years ago I wished things would get better and better - just like young people do now a days - sorry can't see Birkenhead ever getting better - only worse as has happened in my life time / dream

The vibrant happy caring Birkenhead has gone never to return

I'm not sure where I'm going with this, its not a rant, I don't do rants but more of a ramble. It always brings a smile to my face when I read criticism about Birkenhead from people who lived here and left many years ago, not for one minute would I not want to hear those criticisms but they are normally produced from happier times through and from childhood or youthful experiences, which I believe always gives a different prospective.
Its mentioned all the time, communities stuck together, people looked after each other, neighbours were friendly and had more time for each other, well I feel very sorry for some because thats how I still live today. I have always found you get back what you give out.
However on saying that there still is and always has been an I'm alright Jack, ME, ME, ME, attitude, putting aside the romantic view of community spirit, why is it this community spirit doesn't extend nationally.
Its always puzzled me, when a trade union of lets say a hundred thousand members want to stick together to protect their communities and their jobs they are lambasted for doing something that most people long for the return of.
Is the community spirit only acceptable if it doesn't rock the boat and does it only extend a few houses or streets.

When I ponder about the future of Birkenhead I can't help wonder where was the support of the people of Birkenhead when this town was loosing its heavy industry, I was there, I lived through it, I've got the Tee shirt, people of this town let it all go with hardly any opposition, I seen more fight to save a few libraries. Now the focus seems to be whether a few shops can stop the demise of Birkenhead, I fear not, I do feel its up to the younger people now to stand up and start rattling a few cages, don't wait for Wirral Water, it may not come.