On the 13th June 2009, the weekend supplement magazine for the Telegraph newspaper featured an article concerning the current financial crisis. The main topic of discussion was “the jewel in the crown of the North West”, Chester.
This piece of writing depicted Chester as a ghost – town, “The spectacle of empty units deflates the spirits and is bad for business”, ironically, not only haunted by our Roman ancestors, but also by the oppressive emptiness that reminds us of a town once thriving with affluence.
The Telegraph labelled Chester as having a “clone town” syndrome; tediously repetitive, row after row of dull and uninspiring high street chains. Being located amongst two of the most exciting cities in Britain; “The City of Culture”, Liverpool and “Madchester” Manchester, one may think that our little pretty city would be influenced by these giants. There is not one art gallery in sight, the cities only theatre was closed. The local music scene is almost none existant and personally, I find it very difficult to find a good place to eat here. Frankly, there is absoloutley no diversity within these walls and the culture is slowly crumbling away.
Having read this article, I felt quite embarrassed. Apparently, Chester's emptiness has been picked up by outsiders too. The journalist writing the report explains that while he was standing at Euston Station, London he "passed an advertisement urging [him] to catch a train to the historic Chester" he then purchased a return ticket, costing him £201. I would have felt fooled.
This piece of writing depicted Chester as a ghost – town, “The spectacle of empty units deflates the spirits and is bad for business”, ironically, not only haunted by our Roman ancestors, but also by the oppressive emptiness that reminds us of a town once thriving with affluence.
The Telegraph labelled Chester as having a “clone town” syndrome; tediously repetitive, row after row of dull and uninspiring high street chains. Being located amongst two of the most exciting cities in Britain; “The City of Culture”, Liverpool and “Madchester” Manchester, one may think that our little pretty city would be influenced by these giants. There is not one art gallery in sight, the cities only theatre was closed. The local music scene is almost none existant and personally, I find it very difficult to find a good place to eat here. Frankly, there is absoloutley no diversity within these walls and the culture is slowly crumbling away.
Having read this article, I felt quite embarrassed. Apparently, Chester's emptiness has been picked up by outsiders too. The journalist writing the report explains that while he was standing at Euston Station, London he "passed an advertisement urging [him] to catch a train to the historic Chester" he then purchased a return ticket, costing him £201. I would have felt fooled.
- Holly Amelia Ashbrook
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