LOCALS who live in a "rundown dump" voted the worst place in the UK have said its disgusting but not worse than the city next door.
The unwanted title was given to Derby following a poll of nearly 4,000 people about their experiences of visiting UK cities in the last two years by Which?
The East Midlands location was slammed by visitors for having nothing of interest to see or do and was branded the "worst large city in the UK to visit."
It got just two stars for food and drink, accommodation, cultural sights and tourist attractions, shopping and ease of getting around - coming 62nd out of 62 places.
Now Derby locals have revealed what it is really like living there - with many agreeing the "neglected" city is worthy of the unfortunate label.
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One said: "I was so disgusted when I saw Derby at the bottom. Have they been to Stoke-on-Trent?"
Residents and business owners say the once-thriving city is now full of boarded-up empty units and there's little on offer in terms of leisure and entertainment.
And they say its also become a magnet for crime and homelessness which is leading to more people staying away or visiting nearby cities such as Nottingham.
Tony Dickens, 76, who moved to Derby from Burton-on-Trent, Staffs., said: "I can't think of anywhere off of the top of my head that deserves it more.
"The amount of industry that used to be here. Take Rolls Royce out and there's nothing.
"There's nothing in Derby but traffic.
"Compared with Nottingham or wherever, what is there in Derby, entertainment wise?
"There's the [former events venue] Assembly Rooms which has been closed for however long now.
"If you come down here at 8pm on a Saturday night, it's dead.
"There's the museum, it's very good, but I don't think it's being pushed enough. Nothing is being pushed enough.
"I'm a pensioner and a lot of this is pedestrianised. To get to these shops is a long walk.
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"It's alright having these areas, but not for elderly people. So people can't get to these shops, and people shop online. So many have shut up now."
Another woman, who did not wish to be named, added: "Derby has half of what we need really.
"For us to come that far down is shameful. I feel like we've put our faith in the wrong people and our regenerations plans have been ruined.
"Our shops are shut and there's homelessness everywhere. It's not exactly appealing for anyone coming to visit us.
"You come off at the bus station or by train and you get greeted with a ghost town some days. The city has just been neglected."
Charity shop worker Rachel Brunt, 55, said: "It's a bit rubbish because there's hardly any shops out now. I mean Wilkos has gone and that was a big one for us.
"They've been closing down around here for years.
"They said the Assembly Rooms were being done up, but they've stopped it now. They used to have theatres and plays and all sorts there."
Another lifelong local, who would only give his name as Trevor, 80, added: "You can go over to Nottingham, and there's all the university life and it's very vibrant.
"But if you're a youngster that is better. There's a lot over there.
"I think it's turning into a lot of wine bars around here. What was once the market is now going to be a wine bar I think.
"There's not that much to do here which probably why a lot of people go outside of town."
Gary Morrison, 62, owns the Little Cobbler and Key Smith, and has worked in Derby for 30 years.
He said: "They're not doing anything to attract people into the town centre because out of town they've got free parking.
"Most of the shops haven't picked up from lockdown either. It's slow. I mean cathedral quarter put some events on.
"To enter Derby you've got to pay. You can go shopping out of Derby and it's free. All roads lead back to the council.
"I've badgered them about public toilets, there's none this end of Derby. It's basic stuff. Nottingham has got more."
However Lisa Stewart, 65, said: "I saw we'd been ranked lowest on Facebook. I'm sure there's worse cities out there.
"There's Birmingham, they reckon Nottingham isn't a good place to live. Leicester, too. It's not all bad here.
"But I suppose there's not a lot here really."
One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Its become pretty lawless as a result of being neglected by the council. I don't feel safe in the city centre anymore.
"No wonder people are staying away, I don't blame them. "
Another local Andrew said: "It upset me, I'm from this town all of my life.
"This is for the local council, the police and the amenity people to put their heads together and sort it out.
"They've run this city down for the last ten years. The shops, everything.
"The nice side of town has just been left while they just try and drive people to the Intu shopping centre.
"What is that going to do to the people of Derby now that survey is out. That is a degradation of the city.
"They're telling you to go wherever, to Leicester. That survey will drive people out of Derby.
Other people reacted to the survey on social media, with a web user commenting: "We have some nice areas in the city centre but the rest is dire .
"Our council has closed Queen Street Baths and the Assembly Rooms, the Guildhall and the markets.
"There are no public toilets, empty shops dirty streets and so underfunded and way behind other major cities in the UK."
One person wrote: "Its got rough as hell in the past few years too. Full of crime and ASBO behaviour. Used to be lovely but now louts run riot."
Another added: "Be honest, Derby is an absolute dump. Flats converted from shops; charity shops; empty shops."
A fourth commented: "I used to love the Derby I grew up in now its ruined I hate going down to the town centre."
Speaking in defence of city, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Derby City Council's cabinet member for city centre, regeneration, culture and tourism, said: "Derby is a great city with so much to offer and I'm proud to call it my home.
"Comparing us with more established, large-scale tourist cities like Liverpool and York is a little unfair, but we punch above our weight and leave people pleasantly surprised.
"We have so much to offer visitors, from the internationally recognised Museum of Making, part of the Darley Abbey Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, to our incredible independent cafes, restaurants and shops.
"Our exciting cultural offer also continues to grow, with high quality events year-round, listed on our Visit Derby website."
"We're investing heavily to create a vibrant city centre and tackle the challenges that are affecting high streets up and down the country.
"Next year will see the completion of major developments such as the new conference and entertainment venue at Becketwell, and the re-opening of our Victorian Market Hall after an extensive renovation.
"There's much more to come with the renovation of the Guildhall and redevelopment of the Assembly Rooms site to create a new cultural heart for the city.
"Change is coming, and Derby is only going to get better."
