Our seaside town was voted one of the best in the UK – but I’m stunned… it doesn’t deserve it
RESIDENTS of a seaside town voted one of the UK’s best has said that it doesn’t deserve the award.
Whitley Bay, North Tyneside was dubbed the “best place to live in the North” in the Sunday Times’ annual list of the most appealing places in the country.
Judges praised the town for its stunning coastline and tasteful regeneration over recent years.
They wrote: “After years in the doldrums, Whitley Bay is catching up fast with its exalted neighbour Tynemouth. The houses are cheaper, the connections to Newcastle just as good and the beach, with its famous lighthouse, every bit as beautiful.”
Some locals, though, feel that it was ranked too high.
Paul Davidge, 62, has lived in the area for 30 years and didn’t feel that it deserved the top spot.
He said: “I was surprised it was named the best place to live.
“It has a nice, clean beach but there could be some improvements. There’s potholes on the roads, there’s litter.
“There used to be rows of flowers along the sea front which are gone. The council blame lack of funding for that.
“It probably won because of the beach. There’s nice walks along the coast.”
However, it seems that Paul was in the minority, with most residents overwhelmingly backing the town.
Linda Wilson, 71, has lived there her whole life and couldn’t speak highly enough of it.
She said: “I’m proud to be from Whitley Bay. It’s a great place to live.
“We didn’t appreciate it when we were young but it’s so lovely to live by the coast.”
Linda pointed to the Spanish City, a former amusement arcade now packed with restaurants and cafes, and the sea views as some of the reasons for the bay’s popularity.
The Sainsbury’s worker added: “We have beautiful restaurants and bars and independent shops.
“It’s really safe around here for families. I used to bring my grandson around here. We would have fish and chips and ice cream.
“You could spend all day here, there’s so much to do.”
There is even a bit of a celebrity presence in the area, as it is home to Ann Cleeves, author of the celebrated Vera books that have since been adapted into an ITV series.
Financial worker Jemima Heron, 39, agreed that Whitley Bay is more than deserving of its spot in the rankings.
The mum-of-two explained: “It’s a nice way of living and you have the beach on your doorstep.
“It’s safe, you don’t have to worry about the kids.
“Whitley Bay has its own community and shops but it’s also close to Newcastle. You can get anywhere in the North East. Northumberland is within driving distance.”
Likewise Peter Hubbard, 64, and Gillian Davidson, 61, who run a local deli bar, added: “The high street has been done up. It used to be a bit rough and had a bad reputation in the 90’s but it’s surpassed that.
“It has everything, micro pubs, real ale places, the coast, cafes.
“People are friendly, we often share a table with strangers at the local pub and we meet a lot of people that way.
“There’s a real sense of community here… This is the best place we’ve ever lived.”