This comment made me have a look around Blackburn on Google Streetview and holy s***, Blackburn is a dire dire place. Looks like time just stood still since the 70s and nothing's happened since.
Most of the football grounds in this country are in the run-down or industrial parts of town. SJP is one of the exceptions.
Blackburn is an absolute hellhole, though. The road that brings you in from nearby (and rather pleasant) Bolton is aptly called the A666.