Woman’s hometown ‘besieged’ by tourists who forced her to leave

Sonia Bell says York is now geared towards tourists and students and people like her are being forced to move to smaller towns and suburbs due to property prices and the cost of living.

A woman claims her hometown is ‘besieged’ by tourists and has forced her to leave.

Sonia Bell moved to the countryside eight years ago, but was born in York.

But she claims to have been driven from her home by rising prices and a massive influx of tourists.

The 36-year-old says the city is now targeted at tourists and students and people like her are forced to travel to smaller towns and suburbs, reports Yorkshire Live.

Sonia also says it’s too expensive for residents after surging property prices in York and Airbnb allows people to pop up everywhere and drive residents out of their homes.

She said: “I was born in York and moved eight years ago because of the prices, it’s ridiculous, I can’t afford to live in York.

I started avoiding downtown when I was 18 and am now almost 37, it just got worse and worse. It is 100% suitable for tourists.

“Where I live now, if I need to shop I go 20 miles to Hull rather than having to go to York.”

“I live in a small town and this is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Sonia says York City Council is orienting the city towards strangers rather than spending money on residents and homes in need.

She added: “The council puts all the money into the town center for tourists and students and forgets the locals, my mum and dad have had dampness in their little flat for 10 years.

“All the houses are falling apart because they don’t use silver on them.

“It’s awful, the locals are just forgotten who they really are.

Sonia says: “There’s nothing for locals and it’s too expensive, all locals avoid the city center like the plague.

“I took my two sons to York and every place was packed – we ended up in Wetherspoons.

“I feel like a stranger in my own town, it’s not the York I grew up in.”

The 36-year-old also claims increased tourism has affected traffic in the area as well as access to and around York and claims traffic is so bad that air pollution is affecting the health of his mother.

Sonia said: “I rarely visit York, I don’t go there at all, my parents now come to visit – my mum has COPD and her breathing improves within hours of her coming to visit.

“And the traffic is ridiculous to get into the center.

“I loved and was proud of my hometown, but now I find it difficult when the town doesn’t care about its own people.”

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