Falmouth voted most depressing place to live 2024 ilivehere

Each year the ILIVEHERE website gets its readers to vote for the most depressing place to live in Britain and tell them why, and this year they voted for Falmouth.

The website sounded as surprised as we were about the result and scrabbled to find some pretty tired reasons to justify it.

Not surprisingly many of you leapt to the defence of Falmouth, but some agreed with some citing that hoary old chestnut that the town wasn’t as good as it was in the 1870s, or something like that.

But some people who live here obviously voted for it, unless the rest of the country holds a pretty big grudge against the town.

Any excuse to use another picture from the seventies! (Image: Alexandra Youlton/PCC)

Of course Falmouth’s mayor Kirstie Edwards leapt to the defence of Falmouth saying she’ll take the results “with a pinch of salt”.

She said: “Falmouth is often highlighted as an exemplar of partnership work despite the many and varied challenges thrown at us as town, county, and country.

“We do everything possible together as a community to make it a varied, inclusive fun and supportive place to live.

“The current "news" online hasn't spoken to local people or visited our lovely town, so for now I'll take it with a pinch of salt."

But that’s her job, what did you have to say?

Sarah Catherine Parker-Bowman said: “I’ve seen some bleak and depressing towns and cities in my life and Falmouth sure isn’t one of them. It’s a beautiful place. To grow up in this town was a privilege!!”

Nessa Cooper said Falmouth is a vibrant place, plenty going on, parks, beaches, Princess Pavilion, shops, our castle and walks around town, Jacobs Ladder, the Art Museum and the PEOPLE!

Cat Bingham said she was very sad about living in Falmouth: “Yes it's so depressing waving my daughter & her friends off on the ferry every morning to school,” she said tongue in cheek.

Chris Nicholson said: “Not the Falmouth I know, it has a buzz about the place.”

However some people who don’t live weren’t so convinced. Amy Brown from Penzance said: “I’m not a fan of Falmouth but it’s certainly not depressing, well not in the summer anyway, when people are there, it’s depressing in the winter when all the second homes are empty. Such a mystery why the Cornish are upset.”

There was support from elsewhere though! Peter Woodford said: “Sending love from Redruth. Chin up folks! 🤣🤣 While Craig Taylor-Broad said: “I mean, I live in Camborne and I'm pretty sure Falmouth can't compete with our level of depression.” Oh come on Craig!

Gerard Rimmer said he didn’t think Falmouth was as good as it used to be (see we told you).

He said: “I do not think Falmouth town is what it used to be l lived there in mid-seventies and it had lots going for it then. Like most places towns and cities have changed dramatically not always for the better Falmouth is no exception."

Some people said Falmouth was much better back in the 1970s, but then things were more black and white then! (Image: File)

Ian Smith said he thought the people who voted must wander around with their eyes closed.

“This has made me chuckle indeed,” he said. “Obviously it must attract very depressed readers who wander about with their eyes closed.

“You couldn’t make it up of course we have council estates like any town. I’m sure they are not peoples’ destination to holiday at not that there’s anything wrong with them. Looks like many things nowadays the dimwits have the loudest voices on this particular vote .”

Any excuse to use another picture from the seventies! (Image: File)

The final word, however goes to John Holden who says: “Polls of this type are not properly structured or managed and don't attract a representative cross-section of the population.

“They are completely useless and are best ignored. Falmouth is one of my favourite places.”

To read all our readers reactions to the poll go to our original Facebook post here. You can also vote in the Packet’s very own online poll on the original story here.