It's not unusual for locals to criticise their own town centre.
But when your own council says it is 'no longer fit for purpose', something must have seriously gone wrong.
Yet that's exactly how Ashton-under-Lyne was described by its very own Tameside Council last month, as it confirmed plans to give the town centre a shake-up.
In a report presented to councillors, officers at Tameside Council said the town centre was 'once a leading destination for both local and out-of-town shoppers' - but has since been 'identified as being no longer fit for purpose'.
The report added that Ashton has seen 'a large number of shop closures, and footfall has continued to decline'.
Fortunately, the council has been awarded almost £20 million to help regenerate the town centre - including new homes and business space at the former interchange, refurbishment of the market square and restoration of the town hall.
Ahead of the work, the Manchester Evening News spoke to residents and visitors in Ashton town centre, to see what they really think about the place - and how they would improve it.
Walking through the market square, Margaret Wright wasn't too impressed - although she felt Ashton had more going for it than 'ghost town' Hyde, where she lives.
"To me, it's just all the same shops," the 70-year-old said.
"The markets are going, and I don't know why, because you can get some really nice things on the stalls. In the supermarkets, you've got nothing.
"Older people like to have a walk round - not just go into a shop and think 'I don't want that'. For what they are charging - especially kids' stuff - you just think 'you're joking'.
"I would like a bit more variety of things, instead of just clothes. If you don't want to buy clothes then you've had it."
With days running out in the run-up to Christmas, one woman heading from the Arcades towards the market said she was too busy for a chat.
But as she made her way towards the market hall, she said: "I'll tell you one thing - they need to do something about it [Ashton].
"All it is, is pound shops."
A few shoppers were more positive about the town centre, including Ron Leach.
The 67-year-old, from Failsworth, said he had never been to the town centre before even though it is only '15 minutes down the road' - but insisted he would come back again.
He said: "I think it's OK to be honest, it's fine. There's quite a lot going on.
"There's no market in Failsworth, it's the forgotten town. Oldham is pretty poor.
"[Ashton's] probably about the best in the area to be honest. In Droylsden, there's not a lot there."
Grace Crosby and Kevin Bellis had travelled to Tameside from much further afield.
The pair had made the 30-mile trip from Orrell, near Wigan, to Ashton - where they met up with Karen Mistry, 50.
She said: "I think it could be better.
"There are no nice cafes - well there are one or two.
"There used to be a nice cafe for the over-55s in the town hall, that's gone. That's a shame because there's a lot of lonely people and you see them sat around."
While Grace was more positive about the town, which she visits 'once a week', she also wanted to see more cafes in the area.
"There used to be a cafe called Trifles that we absolutely loved," said Grace, 75.
"We need another one like that, it was a little bit more upmarket.
"We like it here because we like the market, it's very good. We've always liked coming here. The people are nice and friendly."
Asked what the town centre could benefit from, Grace said: "The toilets in the market need improving."
Kevin added: "Let's not forget the homeless - something to give them. There must be a lot of old buildings for that."
The 68-year-old said he preferred Ashton other towns closer to home, like St Helens, but admitted he liked it more 'when it was the old market'.
Ashton's old market burned down in a devastating fire back in 2004, but was rebuilt and reopened four years later.
The end result is something of a disappointment for one Ashton resident who grew up in the town and later returned to it, and gave his name as 'Joe Ashton'.
"It's a bloody dump - and it's a dump because of the people in that building there," he said, pointing to Tameside Council's flagship £48 million building Tameside One, before adding: "If there are any in there.
"I like the town, I think they are smashing people, they smile and say hello. The people are what makes this town but the council are not helping them.
"You are the only person that's stopped me and asked these questions. This is what the council should be doing."
'Joe' said there was a 'general neglect' throughout the town, and while he believed any bad reputation put on Ashton was 'unfair', he felt that 'pride had evaporated' from the place.
He added: "It needs something to hit you between the eyes.
"Just walk along the back, at Warrington Street, you see giant concrete blocks that have been there for about five years.
"The place looks like a building site. If you come into Ashton from the station, that's all you see.
"Go round and see the four-sided clock, which hasn't moved for about two or three years. It's not rocket science.
"The outdoor market looks bloody awful. It's just grey and dull. Get some kids from the college, give them a paint scheme so anybody that comes into town stops and thinks."
Sisters Teneesha and Cheyenne Dewar, both from Ashton, agreed that the town needs something to liven it up.
Teneesha, 31, said: "It needs doing up, definitely. There's literally one decent clothes shop.
"It's all food and bits of cheap stuff. There's not much here."
"I wouldn't travel out if there was a Primark or something like that here," added Cheyenne, 25.
Tameside Council has been awarded £19.87 million from the Government's 'levelling up' fund to spend on Ashton town centre - although its leaders were quick to emphasise it amounted to just 10% of the 'core funding' from Government that the council had lost over the past decade.
Borough chiefs say the cash can potentially support the construction of 470 new homes, 8,750 sq m of commercial spaces, a new health and wellbeing hub, and 8,500 sq m of retained retail space.
Improvements are also set to be made to walking and cycling routes, while public space such as the market square will be refurbished, and essential repairs will take place at Ashton's town hall.
Coun Oliver Ryan, Tameside Council executive member for finance and economic growth, said: "Our ambitious £19.87 million bid was based on our vision to carry out a variety of development works and improvements to the town centre.
"The bid was set within the context of our wider town centre master planning work, complementing investments we have already made in new education, markets and public service facilities and will support in accelerating delivery of the comprehensive transformation of the town centre.
"We are confident that Ashton will continue to grow and be a thriving and successful town centre. It already has a lot to offer and we will only build on this as we move forwards for Ashton and indeed all our town centres."
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