So the place where I live, Derby, has been named as one of the ‘worst cities’ in the UK, according to a Which? poll.
I covered this as a news article for Derby World last week, and over the long bank holiday weekend, I’ve had time to reflect.
I think, in the long run, this is a good thing, because now we are talking about Derby, the good, bad and ugly, and what can be done to improve it.
There has been an outpouring of support for our feisty city, from big name institutions, to locals and independents that are working hard to make Derby a cool city.
Don’t get me wrong, there will always be some people who will bash Derby.
And that is fine, freedom of speech and all that.
But I believe good always outweighs the bad, positive always trumps negative, and that looking at the bigger picture means we can talk about Derby and how to make it even more awesome.
Derby does not have unique problems.
Some parts of the city centre could be more vibrant.
Boarded up shops could accommodate more independent traders.
These are just issues, from the top of my head, that afflict towns and cities across the UK.
Why Derby Which? poll was unfair
People are entitled to their opinions, no matter how far I am from agreeing with them.
One of my main issues about the Which? poll was the grouping.
Derby was pitted against behemoths cities of Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester and London to name but a few.
This, I think was grossly unfair.
This may be controversial, but I believe Derby has the badge of the city, and the heart of a town.
It’s like compiling a list of large, lovable dogs and placing a Chow Chow in the same category as a 230 pound Mastiff.
They may technically be ‘large lovable’ dogs but they flipping well don’t belong in the same sentence, let alone the same category.
Over the coming days I will be taking a long hard look at what I can do to make Derby a must-visit place.
How can I support local traders who are already working hard to make the city, their home, even greater and more vibrant?
I will expand more on this in the coming weeks, but for now, I would like to leave you with a thought.
Derby is home to thousands who have spent many years making memories in this bustling city.
For many, it was the backdrop to our formative years – it was for me, I studied for my English Literature and Creative Writing degree at the University of Derby back in 1999.
Let’s not lose our collective heads and bash Derby, but be grateful for the beautiful city that is our home and work together to show the city some TLC.