Booming 70s shopping mecca now ‘dystopian slum’ ruled by yobs – as stores boarded up & councillors admit it’s ‘ruined’

14 comments 14 Next A MARKET town once hailed as a shopping hotspot of the 1970s is now a “dystopian slum” blighted by balaclava-clad yobs, locals say. Councillors have admitted Dudley is “falling apart and ruined”, with more than 40 shopping units sitting empty in the West Midlands town. 14 Councillors have admitted Dudley is ‘falling apart and ruined’ Credit: SWNS 14 Locals say they dare not venture into the town due to balaclava-clad yobs on e-bikes Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Advertisement Locals say their home has become a ghost town , despite undergoing multi-million pound regeneration plans. Other terrified residents have also spoken of a surge in antisocial behaviour, making it unsafe to go out after dark. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Some say they dare not venture into the town due to balaclava-clad yobs on e-bikes and youths brazenly taking drugs or drinking on the streets. And speaking at a council meeting last month, Dudley’s former mayor even starkly admitted to his colleagues that their “town is ruined.” read more on dudley REAL DUD Former 70s hotspot is now the 3rd WORST place to live in England RAT MOUNTAIN Gross 'rat-ridden waste mountain' horrifies locals with dad and son fined £2k 14 Terrified residents have also spoken of a surge in antisocial behaviour Credit: Roland Leon 14 More than 40 shopping units are sitting empty in the West Midlands town Credit: Roland Leon Councillor David Stanley said: “We have a derelict pub right in front of it which we have done nothing about. “When you get off the tram or the bus that’s the first thing you see, the place is falling apart, when you walk up the town it is ruined.” Advertisement Depressing photos have since laid bare the town’s derelict high street with rows of boarded-up shops – a far cry from its 70s heyday. Councillor Stanley said people had been talking about regeneration in the town for years, but little seemed to happen. Most read in The Sun DARING RESCUE Moment soldier is rescued from frontline with aerial drone for first time austen powers Exact date Storm Austen will hit UK as Met Office warns of 70mph winds BLADE HORROR Teens, 14, arrested after schoolboy stabbed at busy UK shopping centre HOTEL SHOCK Man arrested after 'sexually assaulting multiple children' at hotel in Majorca 14 An aerial view of Dudley in 1976 – during its heyday Credit: Alamy 14 Depressing photos have since laid bare the town’s derelict high street Credit: SWNS His comments struck a chord with many locals, including Harriet Manly, 40, who went as far as to say that Dudley is “dead”. Advertisement The mum-of-one said: “They have spent millions on new transport connections but nobody wants to come here as all the shops are closed. “I won’t come into town after dark, it’s proper rough. There’s idiots in balaclavas riding e-bikes and e-scooters. “There’s loads of shoplifting, general antisocial behaviour and fighting – it’s just grim. It looks almost dystopian. 14 Dozens of shop fronts look derelict and uncared for Credit: SWNS 14 Manchester United legend Duncan Edwards is among Dudley’s famous residents Credit: SWNS Advertisement “When you’ve got your own politicians telling you it’s falling apart, that says everything you need to know.” For more than 800 years, the market place was the beating heart of the town. In the 1970 and 80s, it was home to Marks & Spencer , BHS , Littlewoods, Dorothy Perkins, Woolworths, Burtons and H Samuel. But all those big names are long gone and current market traders say the current climate is bleak. 14 Locals say youths are brazenly drinking and smoking in the street Credit: Roland Leon Advertisement 14 Market traders say the current climate is bleak Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Some have reported taking as little as £60 a day as people swap the formerly bustling high street for online shopping. Chris Bradwick, 62, of nearby Tipton, has run a stall at the town’s historic open-air market for the last five years. He said: “I have watched as Dudley has slowly gone to nothing day-by-day. “It hasn’t been helped by constant broken promises by the council.” Advertisement Even Dudley Council’s own walk-in shop closed last year, while a former Debenhams is now partly occupied by a Wetherspoons pub. The area also counts Sir Lenny Henry , Sue Lawley, Sam Allardyce and Duncan Edwards among its famous residents. But locals say they have little more to be proud of. Pub-goer Stephen Bradley, 33, added: “My dad used to tell me how vibrant it was in the 70s and 80s. 14 Big names such as Marks & Spencer, BHS, Dorothy Perkins and Woolworths are long gone Credit: SWNS Advertisement 14 Locals say they have little to be proud of Credit: SWNS “But now there’s nothing worth coming into town for apart from a pint. And even then you have to have your wits about you. “It’s a shame as I’m Black Country born and bred but there’s little hope for the next generation if you stick around these parts.” Dudley Council has invested £24 million on a new bus-and-tram station which is due to open within weeks. But residents have slammed the move as pointless , fuming that “there are no shops to even visit”. Advertisement 14 Residents say ‘there’s no shops to even visit’ in the area Credit: SWNS 14 Shutters are down on dozens of shops across the town Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd This week, a seating area added as part of a £150,000 market revamp was ripped out after 16 months. The decision was made after the the stalls became infested with pigeons and people gathering to drink alcohol . Anne Boyd, director of growth and place at Dudley Council said: “Dudley Council is working closely with Dudley town centre traders and community groups as our programme of regeneration continues to bring investment to the town. Advertisement “Market traders in Dudley town centre recently raised concerns that marketplace seating, which was installed last year with funding from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, was sometimes creating issues around antisocial behaviour. RECOMMENDED STORIES “We have now removed the seating from the marketplace with it now benefitting visitors to Himley Hall and Park.” Dudley Council has been approached for comment. 14 comments 14