A Yorkshire village has been left “like a ghost town” due to local businesses shutting.
Goldthorpe near Barnsley has a population of over 6,000 people but the centre of the village has been left full of boarded-up businesses.
Only a few salons, a betting shop, a pharmacy and an off licence remain open, with only one of several pubs still operating, with several cafes also boarded up.
While Goldthorpe is not unique in struggling to maintain a thriving centre given the recent challenges of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, several residents went as far to refer to it is a “dead town”.
Yorkshire Live visited the village to ask residents about their experiences.
Local resident James Jones says the place has been neglected, battling serious problems with anti-social behaviour and drug use, and he says that most people just want to leave the area. James, a married father-of-two said: "It is a dead town.
"There are lots of druggies here. It is just run down."
James, who lives one road away at the top of the high street, says most businesses are not just closed but shut down.
He said: "Most businesses are closed really.
"It is like a ghost town. It has been like this for a while, so it's normal here I guess."
James' views were echoed by David, a betting fan who has been living in Goldthorpe for years. David, who is in his seventies said: "Yes, it is a dead town isn't it.
"It has been like this since I got here. It was dead when I got here.
"It is still dead. I don't really care anymore, I am not bothered."
Another resident, Irina, blames Covid for a lot of shops closing down, and says despite people seemingly moving out of Goldthorpe, most houses get snapped up quickly, giving the impression the place is still an attractive place to live.
She said: "Regarding the shops I think it is because of the pandemic really because people who lived here for all their life don’t think to move.
“There are a lot of houses for sale but they are sold usually in few days."
South Yorkshire Police, Barnsley Council and John Healey, Labour MP for Wentworth and Dearne were all approached by Yorkshire Live for comment.
