I visited Southampton yesterday for only about the third time in the last five years, and I was amazed at the decline in the place - I was quite upset to see just how trashy and chav it is becoming (bit like pompey really). Boaded up shops , shops that were upmarket replaced by cheap shops and markets - could be the recession I suppose, but I cant say I have noticed any where else I occasionally visit (including pompey) declining on this scale.