I returned from a rare trip to Bedford town centre a couple of hours ago. The pedestrianised pavements was the haunt of the homeless, the boozed up, the unemployed and young mothers with strollers. BHS stood empty and many of the other large shops, New Look and Poundworld, are in dire straits. The polite young druggy (arms scarred with needle marks) thanked me kindly for the change I dropped into his cup as he sat by the multi-storey car park ticket machine. I got back into my car, drove home in tears and wondered what had happened to my country. I sat at the computer and discovered that Bedford holds the unenviable position of seventh in England’s homeless/rough sleeper league. The New Bedford facility for these discarded people is run by a private company who advertise jobs for care assistants at just above minimum wage. I wrote an email to my MP, logged off, went outside and was greeted by the cats and the quacking call ducks. The lambs were grazing and the sun shining and I breathed fresh air and wondered if we could ever bridge the gaps between the haves and have nots. But wondering is not enough, yet that is what I will undoubtably do – to my shame.
gfreedmanblog 
I rarely go into Poole Town centre but a year ago I walked Kate Adie back to her car in the multi-storey. The staircase was full of young people stoned out of their minds. It was cold and I wondered how long they could possibly survive in that state. But above all I was concerned for my own safety because I am too old to run! Kate Adie said she had never been afraid to walk anywhere. It must be one advantage of having been a war correspondent.
I feel for you Gillian and know exactly how you felt, I dont go into Bedford at all now it’s such a sad and horrid place and I often wonder as well what life is coming to and how did the UK get this bad, what happened and when? 😦 I often think how lucky I am not to even be in this situation. I don’t own my own house but we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. We have had no money and lived off Baked potatoes for 6 months and have had good money and been able to look after ourselves, but it is luck. is it decisions? is it choice? ( I mean to drink or do the drugs) Who knows but its sad for sure, It’s always a relief to come back to the wonderful countryside where we live and breathe and realise just how privileged we really are 🙂