pmsumner

The town where I live and have spent an ungodly proportion of my life. I have said it before, and I shall say it again - this place is screwed up.

Consider the demographics. no actual figures, but the average Helensburghonian? Well - the residents of Helensburgh tend to be a mix of:

1. Old
   Helensburgh is a big retirement centre - with the Clyde and countryside close by, the old love it
2. 20-something
   There is a MASSIVE naval operation nearby which means a high number of 20-ishes both Naval and civillian contractors
3. Middle age
   Professional 30-somethings - Helensburgh is a suburb, a "commuter town" for Glasgow. Being one of the nicer ones, the rents are exorbitant, leaving an older professional.
4. Kids
   Naval (and forces) families have kids, let's face it. It's the typical situation.

That's all very well - you can see already conflicting demands, but it's kind of understandable. Now let's look at the Physical side. Helensburgh is a combination of BIG old stone houses, sell for £1/4 million+, "other" which tend to be 3 bed semis, and council/naval housing. Very polarised - with the "nice" houses on the west of Sinclair St., and the "not-so-nice" on the East.

Helensburgh is being pulled in many directions at once. Because of it's location near the mouth of the Clyde (opposite Greenock!), and because so much of it is "old town" material, there are LOADS of tourists in summer. I mean coach-loads. Yet we hate it. We detest the tourism :-) Seriously - whilst it brings money to the town and the shopkeepers love it - I don't think any of the residents like it.

We're being pulled in the direction of "functional town" for the middle aged, "retirement town" for the elderly, "trendy town" for the kids, and "drinking/harbour town" by the sailors.

You know what I find weirdest? I can walk round Helensburgh on an average day and not see one black person. Not see one Asian person. Not see one Hispanic person. Helensburgh is your "good old bread and butter" white-European town. Mixed UK origins (Scottish/English), but almost certainly British.

This is your regularly scheduled "Phil's Bored" post.