What happens to towns when the main employer goes under?

Vinegartits

SingleSue wrote: »

Thanks Vinegartits.....I must admit we used to do a similar worse case scenario in the last recession. We would all get to the stage of thinking "Oh begger" and change the subject.

It really doesn't bear thinking about.

You're right about that, think BT and the docks, the stuff of nightmares! Society would break down, we'd all be buying shotguns to defend our supply of salt, tinned food and fresh water, in fact it would be like Sainsbury's when they forecast snow!

Wookster

Watch Detroit and see?

shelovestobuystuff

Vinegartits wrote: »

I have been wondering what happens when the sole or major employer goes out of business and those in surronding towns and villages are dependent on that employer for income and others are dependent on the spending of that income etc.

If anyone was local and can remember when they closed the coal mines, can you tell me what happened to house prices, the local economy and how long it took to recover? Thanks

They dont recover,they just change.If people have difficulty retraining then obviously unemployment goes up and the dynamics of the area changes.
re your further post,theres no mass exodus of workers to new areas either,people generally stay where they are used to and would commute within daily driving distance if anything.Yes of course people do move out of areas for work but those with familes are more likely to stay put and do the best they can without having to uproot the family,change schools etc.
At leat thats what I have seen in my town which had a big decline in late 70,s and again late 80,s as we were mainly manufacturing based,factories etc,now we are a big administration centre,its all office workers and coffee shops rather than factory workers and cafes.Unemployment is still high because people have never really gotten over the factories closing.Factories provided generations of families with secure work and it was a big change for everyone.
So in my opinion the town you are asking about will not recover but it will change.

Running_Horse

Probably not quite what you mean:

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nj/asburypark.html

But I love exploring this site.

Sir_Humphrey

What people said about former mining towns. Take the train from Doncaster to Wakefield. You would stand a good chance of having your window broken - this happened to me once near Fitzwilliam (nowhere near as posh as it sounds). Perhaps if it happens to some of the more affluent Southern towns, people there might have different attitudes?

Running_Horse

I chose that particular one because we visited relatives nearby in the late 1970s, and although run down then, was shocked to see what it is today.

Just as interesting are some of the midwest towns, complete with abandoned churches, houses, and schools.

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nd/arena.html

morg_monster

Running Horse - did you see the film The Wrestler - some scenes were shot in Asbury Park

Sir_Humphrey

bubblesmoney wrote: »

did the incident you mention occur recently. just curious as i live in the nearby area. been here 6m now never had a problem, all the neighbours i have seen are nice and helpful. its a 6-7y old development but a few i met seem to have been here decades. never had a problem with yobs. infact most of the time i hardly hear or see anyone. a nearby area does seem a bit deprived but never had probs walking around. loads of families with kids and all seem to be working atleast in my development.

</p>
About two years ago. I believe Fitzwilliam is a blackspot for it. Luckily my window was laminated, or I'd have been Brown Bread.

The previous time it happened to me was on a train running through a slum in Tangier (on that occasion the stone bounced off), so it did not really shake me up at all. It is amazing what you can become accustomed to.

bo_drinker

Driving through town today Jeremy Vine mentioned this record was in the charts during not the last but the recession before that. As it started I had a chilling feeling knowing what is going on. Very apt I thought...... And frightening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2oXzrnti4

brixham

Running_Horse wrote: »

Probably not quite what you mean:

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nj/asburypark.html

But I love exploring this site.

Living in a seaside town that OK I admit was at its best in the 70's I found this really sad (and a little frightening).