Polish Migration to the UK - A moderate speaks!

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May 15, 11, 16:33 #1

Hello,

I'm British. I live in Bognor Regis. A town that has become very popular with Eastern Europeans. Especially Poles.
When I first moved the town a few years ago people were very critical of the EU migrants that were coming to the town.
My response would always be along the lines of, "yes but they're here to work, often doing jobs British people don't want and lots of Brits go and retire to Spain etc so we can't have it both ways."

However the popularity of this town with migrants has had a detrimental effect after several years.
Many migrants are living in cramped accommodation and as a result they have little personal space so prefer to be outside in town, in groups often drinking cheap lager and not causing trouble as such but just presenting quite a depressing and intimidating presence all around the town of an evening. Including very drunk men who got in the habit of sitting on my neighbour's wall and leaving cans in her garden, which I managed to rationally and calmly discourage!

Also many of our shops have closed, speaking to shop owners the demographic has changed to one that prefer cheaper shops, pound shops etc and the Polish shops that have opened in town. The economy has a big part in this but the high street now has a litany of cheap shops and several Polish shops and many empty shops.

Students are suffering also, because housing they rented is becoming very scarce due to the mass influx of migrants seeking cheap rent.

With such a large Polish population it has become much easier to live and work in Bognor without speaking any English at all. It's so sad to be in a shop and the cashier says, "hello" to be greeted by complete silence because the person buying the goods doesn't understand or lacks confidence to respond in kind.

I feel like a guest in my own town and it's not uncommon to not hear an English voice on my street all day.

With the mini depression, the gangs of people drinking away their evening on benches Bognor feels more run down than it should! It's been an archaic and out moded seaside town for many years but this is exacerbated by the thousands of migrants in the town. There seems, correct me if I'm wrong to be a real reluctance to integrate with the British community at all.

So why am I writing? Well because there is a lot of inarticulate bile filled nonsense on these forums, I wanted to put forward an opinion from someone who considers themselves a liberal, but who is finding it increasingly hard to hold that viewpoint in a town that has to some extent been ruined by the vast number of migrants crowded into the town.
Also, because I'd be interested to hear from Poles in Bognor, do the British seem cold or hostile? Perhaps we each believe the other doesn't wish to mix! Maybe there is scope to improve on this.
Or do you live in another town with a similar situation where integration has worked better and the local council have managed things better with some innovative initiatives?

Mainly to put down in words some feelings I am uncomfortable with! I can't believe I find myself agreeing with David Cameron on capping immigration and the failure of multiculturalism! Anyway.... thats my piece. Peace!

IL

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	May 15, 11, 16:39 #2
You put forward some good rational points... It would be great to hear from any Poles that live in the town , or similar towns in the UK...

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Jul 17, 11, 19:02 #3

Idea_logical:

Hello,

I'm British. I live in Bognor Regis. A town that has become very popular with Eastern Europeans. Especially Poles.

I live just along the coast to you in Brighton.

It is a similar story here in that there are a lot of Eastern Europeans here (not too sure where from as I'm not all that good with accents, but Poland, Hungary and Lithuania would make sense).

There are a lot of foreigners here in general.

On the one hand it's nice to mix things up a bit, but on the other hand you can have too much of a good thing.

We simply do not have enough room for so many people.

Idea_logical:

I feel like a guest in my own town and it's not uncommon to not hear an English voice on my street all day.

When I go shopping, say for example in the local Tesco, I often feel I am the only one speaking English.

That's not to say I hear Polish spoken all over the place, it's pretty much every language under the sun.

I also feel like a guest at times.

Idea_logical:

I can't believe I find myself agreeing with David Cameron on capping immigration and the failure of multiculturalism!

You may agree with him (and I do as well), but what is he really doing to follow through on his election promises ?

More to the point, what can he do ?

Anything he wanted to introduce only includes immigration from outside the EU anyway.

johnboy

Oct 23, 11, 18:25 #4

It's good to hear a well articulated commentary on this forum.

I have recently bought a house in Bognor, I like Bognor and have moved down from the Midlands. West Sussex is a beautiful County and it's good that so many foreigners find Bognor a more attractive proposition than Croydon, Birmingham, Wolverhampton etc., (it's not hard to understand why!)

The future is better here than in the Devon and Cornish resorts where there are way too many old people that clog the hospitals, here there is a good balance.

Good for Bognor, although I do agree that the beer can drinkers can be a bit off putting, lonely and depressed, but not violent just drinking themselves into oblivion.

I'm happy for the future, but getting out of the European Union would make me even happier!!!!

margerytkaThreads: - Posts: 13 Joined: Oct 23, 11 ♀	Oct 23, 11, 19:29 #5
I got your point and won't go to Bognor :) However, you're about to lose a real treat: I don't drink:)

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,478 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER ♂	Oct 23, 11, 19:57 #6
At least Butlins will have plenty of staff. I was in Bognor recently just passing through and cant say i noticed evidence of many Poles, having said that they are everywhere. Especially throughout the South Coast.

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Oct 23, 11, 21:45 #7

I've been living in UK since December 2009. Cheltenham is a posh and bit expensive place but still it has a big Polish community. Near Gloucester has got even more Polish people.
When I went to Italy, at the beginning I didn't feel like to stay there permanently. I missed Poland so much and threatened my Italian friends to leave their country despite their efforts to make me appreciate the value of life in Italy. I wasn't a child but I acted like a little spoiled brat. I was so selfish. But I had grown to love what I was offered. It was a long and hard process but I came through. I met people whom I owe my life. They show me love and hope and give me the strenght.
It hurts me the way Polish people think of their place and future in English community. Out there is a whole and strong group of Poles, who feel UK their second home. There are others who dislike UK and stay here temporary.
Anyway, in my opinion some people never change wherever they go and those are simply hopeless cause. Many others should first experienced sth hard and no economical or working friendly as a UK and then might learn better about being respectful towards their host and open-minded. However, other minorities should be told to apply the same rule.

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Oct 23, 11, 23:21 #8

Of course we all know that life in Poland is not easy for many reasons. And because of this so many Polish people keep coming into UK. Okay, myself went abroad in part for earning some money. Well, my past bad economical situation was my fault, triggered by depression due to death of my brother. Friends of mine pushed me in trying to make a fresh start and overcome depression. It was so hard experience to me and now I don't feel to provide excuses for other Polish people, for their lack of kindness or their ignorance. We're free to move wherever we want to but this should imply willingness to learn and comprehend. I am reading Jonathan Sacks " To Heal a Fractured World. The Ethics of Responsibility" and all I can say so far : this book is must-to read.

peterwegThreads: 35 Posts: 1,997 Joined: Feb 16, 07 ♂	Oct 24, 11, 13:21 #9
If it wasn't immigrants it would be the unemployed, becuase the seaside towns are magnets for them.

isthatu2Threads: 13 Posts: 5,225 Joined: Apr 3, 08 ♂	Oct 24, 11, 13:30 #10
Not "their" fault most of the time though, especially on the south coast Ive heard its down to the local authorities in the cities selling off housing or upping rents and then dispersing the people to B and B land. Where they get trapped in a circle of unemployment as anyone who has lived in a resort knows there are never enough year round jobs for just the locals anyway.

RevokeNiceThreads: 21 Posts: 2,767 Joined: Jun 20, 09 ♂	Oct 24, 11, 18:24 #11
The term you are looking for is population displacement. Or, as I refer to it as, ethnic cleansing.

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