Consett- once a place to go, now a last resort?
Why is it that Consett was once the location chosen for a shopping trip, whether getting your fruit and veg, meat from the butchers or going to a clothing store- it used to be a community and now well it is a shell of the much loved canny place our elderly inhabitants remember.
Consett has been on a constant uphill battle, since the closure of the steelworks in September 1980 led to around 4500 people losing their livelihoods, and a successful town in County Durham losing its charm and the majority of its income. Although still a place where a communal feel can thrive, it is overall a disappointing example of how the North continues to be overlooked.
Whenever I tell someone I'm from Consett- if they recognise it at all from name- they resonate it with 'ooh that gets a lot of snow' or 'has a big Barry's Bargains doesn't it?'. Why not with the many walking routes such as those that appeared following the official closure of Consett rail line in 1984, or the key location where it offers quick travel route access to Durham, Newcastle and more? The high street itself is quaint and if given money from the county could offer a hubbub of little shops and cafes that would turn this sad town into a place to go. Why is it that I have to get a bus to get to somewhere where I can have a nice café and walk around vintage shops? Bring more to Consett- lets get it bustling once again.
After all Consett is canny.
