North/south Divide

[tomski]

Just watched a programme on bbc with the dragons den fella Evan I think. He was basically suggesting a Leeds/manc all one city needs to be created to compete with London.

 

Not sure how this could work as I just think London is too far ahead unless ridiculous financial incentives kicked in to move a lot of business full scale.

 

Does anyone think this could happen in our life time?

 

There was a ridiculous bit about Liverpool and campaigners wanting to keep ringo starr's old child house so the area could not be knocked down and regenerated. Its boarded up for fucks sake, like the rest of the street.

 

I was quite astonished to see how the populous of northern cities has really declined. I knew it had but was shocked by how much.

 

Next big city is Cambridge allegedly.

[Big E]

I think tomski has been hacked

[Winchester White]

Unless something horrendous happens, there is no way any uk city has a chance of getting within a fiddle of London. And you know what, I couldn't care less. People up north seem to resent London being so successful when in fact they should be bloody thankful; their tax receipts help normal folk to keep more of their wage each month.

[Andydee]

Don't be daft, all them southern types avoid paying most of their tax, don't they?

[Youri McAnespie]

I'll reply more eloquently tomorrow when I'm not half pissed, but in the meantime, I'll say...

 

in the words of the great Frank SInatra...

 

"If you can make it there, but, you'd probably be still in't same bucket elsewhere - it;s because your North!, your North! - they're all shit scared of you! Even Crawley!!!!"

 

 

[Pie Eater]

Just watched a programme on bbc with the dragons den fella Evan I think. He was basically suggesting a Leeds/manc all one city needs to be created to compete with London.

 

Not sure how this could work as I just think London is too far ahead unless ridiculous financial incentives kicked in to move a lot of business full scale.

 

Does anyone think this could happen in our life time?

 

There was a ridiculous bit about Liverpool and campaigners wanting to keep ringo starr's old child house so the area could not be knocked down and regenerated. Its boarded up for fucks sake, like the rest of the street.

 

I was quite astonished to see how the populous of northern cities has really declined. I knew it had but was shocked by how much.

 

Next big city is Cambridge allegedly.

Not surprising. Given the association with the uni, loads of established and start-up science/tech firms are moving in down there. AstraZeneca is abandoning Alderley Park to move all its operations to Cambridge

[Zico]

Not surprising. Given the association with the uni, loads of established and start-up science/tech firms are moving in down there. AstraZeneca is abandoning Alderley Park to move all its operations to Cambridge

From a business point of view I can see it developing, but not really as a city, as in its not like they will do loads of construction in the city centre and everything around it is countryside, more folk may move to surrounding areas and the science parks are out of town, but don't see it booming as a city

 

Its also a bit boring and backward once you get a few miles out

[tomski]

Unless something horrendous happens, there is no way any uk city has a chance of getting within a fiddle of London. And you know what, I couldn't care less. People up north seem to resent London being so successful when in fact they should be bloody thankful; their tax receipts help normal folk to keep more of their wage each month.

See I agree with a lot of that. Competing with London is not going to work.

 

As a second city compared to other countries Manchester is tiny and does need a revamp. Better transport and networking is obvious.

 

Can Manchester try and be different though and go for a particular industry or new concept. Its always surprised me that being an hour away at most from Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, etc isn't utilized more.

[birch-chorley]

What they were saying about not trying to polish a turd is right, the investment in that art installation in West Bromich was silly as its money down the drain when it would have probably worked.

 

The investment should be spent in the key city's (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol etc etc) then get the transport links right. The vast majority of the population are within a commutable distance if these city's it's just the transport links that really let the whole thing down.

 

Towns like Bolton, Chorley, West Brom work as commuter towns but there should be much better transport links to the big city's in the region.

[tomski]

What they were saying about not trying to polish a turd is right, the investment in that art installation in West Bromich was silly as its money down the drain when it would have probably worked.

 

The investment should be spent in the key city's (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol etc etc) then get the transport links right. The vast majority of the population are within a commutable distance if these city's it's just the transport links that really let the whole thing down.

 

Towns like Bolton, Chorley, West Brom work as commuter towns but there should be much better transport links to the big city's in the region.

Absolutely get the city right and the rest will follow as the towns of surrey Essex and Kent have found

[exiledwhite2]

The basic issue which is that transport links in and between the northern (Lancs and Yorks) cities are holding them back from reaping the benefits of the sheer scale and diversity they could muster

[Pie Eater]

What they were saying about not trying to polish a turd is right, the investment in that art installation in West Bromich was silly as its money down the drain when it would have probably worked.

 

The investment should be spent in the key city's (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol etc etc) then get the transport links right. The vast majority of the population are within a commutable distance if these city's it's just the transport links that really let the whole thing down.

 

Towns like Bolton, Chorley, West Brom work as commuter towns but there should be much better transport links to the big city's in the region.

Local transport links are appalling. Trying to get into Manchester for 9am (at least from Wigan/Bolton) is a piss take. Crap, tatty, overcrowded trains that don't turn up half the time and are roasting in summer/freezing in winter.

 

They talk about HS2 sorting some of the problem out but it will only help Manchester City Centre unless they sort out Northern Rail.

[H]

You should complain. I live 15 miles south of Bristol and there is one bus that gets there before 9.

And that goes all round the houses and takes over an hour.

Trains are non-existent.

Edited March 11, 2014 by H

[Not in Crawley]

Just watched a programme on bbc with the dragons den fella Evan I think. He was basically suggesting a Leeds/manc all one city needs to be created to compete with London.

 

Not sure how this could work as I just think London is too far ahead unless ridiculous financial incentives kicked in to move a lot of business full scale.

 

Does anyone think this could happen in our life time?

 

There was a ridiculous bit about Liverpool and campaigners wanting to keep ringo starr's old child house so the area could not be knocked down and regenerated. Its boarded up for fucks sake, like the rest of the street.

 

I was quite astonished to see how the populous of northern cities has really declined. I knew it had but was shocked by how much.

 

Next big city is Cambridge allegedly.

Nice to know I'm ahead of the curve.

 

It has huge tech parks on the outskirts, loads of new housing being built and new rail links. It's also only 35 mins to London on the fast service directly into Kings Cross and close to Stansted .

 

Mind you, I also think its a shite city stuck in the middle of nowhere and flat as fuck. Far too quiet and yokel for me.

[DirtySanchez]

Think part of it comes down to there being a theory that the 'second city' should be half the size, population wise,of the capital in order for it to compete. Obviously this doesn't happen in this country but there are examples across the world where it does. Didn't see the programme but it might have explained it.

 

As for the Cambridge thing, many moons ago worked down in Norfolk. There was a place called Thetford that was on its arse. It had an Ipswich postcode but it was reckoned that if it could change it to a Cambridge one then a lot more businesses would locate there as it would be cheaper but still have the connection through the postcode

[Not in Crawley]

London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are the only decent cities on this isle.

 

Maybe Bristol

[Ani]

London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are the only decent cities on this isle.

 

Maybe Bristol

When was last time you were in Leeds ?

 

It is a real improving and growing city. I hardly go in the centre on a Saturday but did this week it is busy, lots of good places.

[Zico]

Nice to know I'm ahead of the curve.

 

It has huge tech parks on the outskirts, loads of new housing being built and new rail links. It's also only 35 mins to London on the fast service directly into Kings Cross and close to Stansted .

 

Mind you, I also think its a shite city stuck in the middle of nowhere and flat as fuck. Far too quiet and yokel for me.

 

did you live there?  where bouts?

 

lived in sawston myself

 

biggest village in cambridgeshire

 

full of farmers and bikes (both female and mechanical)

[Pie Eater]

When was last time you were in Leeds ?

 

It is a real improving and growing city. I hardly go in the centre on a Saturday but did this week it is busy, lots of good places.

I like Leeds. Great city and seems to have improved even more every time I visit

[frank_spencer]

I like Leeds. Great city and seems to have improved even more every time I visit

The SiL lives in leeds went to visit t'other week.

 

Still not a patch on manchester or even brmingham

[Ani]

The SiL lives in leeds went to visit t'other week.

 

Still not a patch on manchester or even brmingham

No disrespect mate but how much of the city did you see on your visit ?

[ex_midlandwhite]

I worked out of our Leeds office today for the first time and was impressed. For our company Leeds is bigger office than our Manchester or Birmingham ones. It certainly seems to have a strong presence from a fair few big companies. Nice business district too down the Wellington Road.

 

Before I had only been fof nights out or weekends. It gets a thumbs up from me on that score too.

[ex_midlandwhite]

And as for Manchester vs Birmingham, it seems to me Manchester has had far more investment than Birmingham has had. Especially projects like metrolink.

 

Birmingham is celebrating getting funding for about 200yrds of on street trams!!

[ex_midlandwhite]

Double post

Edited March 11, 2014 by ex_midlandwhite

[frank_spencer]

No disrespect mate but how much of the city did you see on your visit ?

My bro went to Uni in leeds.

So i've seen all round kirkstall and Headingley as well as the centre during his 4yrs+ there.

 

The SiL lived in Meanwood (just moved to the city centre) so not so far from my brothers old gaff.

 

Spent a few nights in the Premier Inn opposite the arena (which does look nice TBF) spent most of our time in central leeds.

 

Perhaps it's because i know Manc and Brum better than Leeds but it didn't impress me nothing that countless other cities have to offer.