Paignton UK Seaside Resort Faces Widespread Decline, Residents Criticize Council Response

Several British seaside towns, including Paignton in Devon and Great Yarmouth, are facing significant decline marked by rising antisocial behavior, deterioration of high street shops, and shrinking tourism industries. In Paignton, local activist Richard Askew criticizes the Torbay Council for mismanaging £13.36 million from the Future High Streets Fund, citing wasted expenditure on failed projects like the 'golden mile' arcade and delays on the Station Square development, leading to frustration among residents and community groups. Great Yarmouth similarly struggles with boarded-up, derelict hotels, fly-tipping, and neglected back streets, despite council efforts to revitalize the seafront with lottery-funded refurbishments, which locals claim are insufficient and unevenly distributed. These issues reflect a broader pattern of faded seaside towns grappling with economic decline, poor local governance, and challenges in sustaining tourism and community vitality. Meanwhile, other tourist destinations such as Bali face different problems related to overtourism, overcrowding, and environmental degradation, illustrating contrasting challenges within popular travel locations. Additionally, the No Man’s Land Fort in the UK, once a luxury floating hotel, remains abandoned since its 2020 closure, with new owners exploring future potential amid the region's changing hospitality landscape.