Kevin McCabe

[Hillsboro Blade]

You're right it was the Cinecenta

Sheffield City Council are masters at the easiest thing in the world, spending other people's money. On Polling Day the electorate of Sheffield would vote for a giraffe so long as it was wearing a red jumper.

 

[BushBlade]

I remember getting the bus down the moor and my Gran used to work at a deli / cheese shop around the corner at the bottom.
I agree that the MSC killed that end of town - just blocked it off as a dead end and meant that the footfall for businesses just stopped.
Bloody ugly building an, all.

They stopped the busses going down when it was pedestrianised though, that was before the MSC building and you could still walk round it. I used to walk that way to the Lane.
It was ugly though.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

But Sheffields spend , overall, is much higher than Manchester's, pro rata.

http://www.citymetric.com/skylines/where-are-largest-cities-britain-1404

(Look for urban area rankings in that link, then also consider the geographical position of the centre to that population)

Manchester, as a city, is not comprarable with Sheffield size wise. A quick look on a map tells you all you need to know. Don't be fooled by boundary populations.

UTB

Interesting article. The list of Primary Urban Areas (PUA) putting Sheffield 6th largest is the closest to the list I would recognise.

I enjoyed the article below it on US States too. The shape of Maryland is amazing!

 

[Come from away]

Be good to see the Centre cleaned up

 

[moDtheGod]

Yes. They showed Superman shorts as well as other cartoons at weekend matinees.

 

[blade too long]

I remember getting the bus down the moor and my Gran used to work at a deli / cheese shop around the corner at the bottom.
I agree that the MSC killed that end of town - just blocked it off as a dead end and meant that the footfall for businesses just stopped.
Bloody ugly building an, all.

I remember walking to the Lane on Saturdays
going down the Moor you could see hundreds of blades walking to the game it helped with the overall atmosphere at the lower end of the Moor , it was bustling
Once that big red brick monster went up it throttled the life out of the Moor , you lost the vista of the milling people all the way through to London Road and it looked emptier

 

[itsinyerblood]

Spot on. The ambition showed by Leeds council since the 1970s really does make our own council look comical. Having lived in Leeds for a few years in the late 90's / early 00s the difference between the two city centres felt like night and day and it still grates me how nothing has been done to address it. Long running sagas like the Retail Quarter just make us look like backwater bumpkins, we could blame the 2008 crash for a couple of years but all the other core cities have just got on with it since, whilst we keep floundering. I nearly fell off my chair when the Chinese investment in the City was announced, by our standards that really was a coup and I am still waiting for something to go badly wrong with that to be honest.

Sheffield is my home, I love it dearly as do my family. I can't ever envisage moving away from the place again, as I have done a few times in the past, but those who run the place really do need to get motoring now and show some ambition. The parallels with supporting United are almost frightening.

Good post mate, although I'm not from Sheffield, it is my home, and I like the city and it's neighbouring countryside, on the way up to Owler Bar you won't find a more beautiful or glorious site than the vista that presents, and it's probably the same within other journeys in and around Sheffield. Much of the tardy, sluggish decision making has been left with the council. Confronted with the usual array of big hitters, Ikea for example, the council seem to think they're equipped to deal with such companies on equal terms. They're not, they're outfought usually, until they sometimes create hurdles that have proved unworkable, which is why it's only recently been agreed to enable Ikea to begin work on their next store at Meadowhall.

Due to the nature of my job I've sometimes been invited to join working parties organised by the council. Mostly in the area of how to create initiatives for young people, one I recall, which resulted in the building of the rather grandly titled 'The National Centre For Popular Music', situated a few minutes walk from the rail station in Sheffield. This was a cock-up from beginning to end. One thing the council had performed well in was understanding how to fill in forms that could obtain funds from the national lottery and various european bodies at that time. So, £15 million was heading the way of Sheffield, and the working party was such a shambles that this multi-million testament to the youth of South Yorkshire was eventually sold to the local student union for approximately £500,000, a pittance compared to the original funding. I should add, I left this working group before the building of this farce began. It was clear to myself and a couple of other people that this council created group had no idea about what they were brought together to do, and although there were the usual battles concerning the ways money should be spent, where exactly the building should be placed, and the projected attendance figures (overestimates I must add that could never realistically be achieved), I eventually decided that this project would get bogged down in personal vanity so I left, something guaranteed to see this project go haywire, which it did.

 

[BushBlade]

Good post mate, although I'm not from Sheffield, it is my home, and I like the city and it's neighbouring countryside, on the way up to Owler Bar you won't find a more beautiful or glorious site than the vista that presents, and it's probably the same within other journeys in and around Sheffield. Much of the tardy, sluggish decision making has been left with the council. Confronted with the usual array of big hitters, Ikea for example, the council seem to think they're equipped to deal with such companies on equal terms. They're not, they're outfought usually, until they sometimes create hurdles that have proved unworkable, which is why it's only recently been agreed to enable Ikea to begin work on their next store at Meadowhall.

Due to the nature of my job I've sometimes been invited to join working parties organised by the council. Mostly in the area of how to create initiatives for young people, one I recall, which resulted in the building of the rather grandly titled 'The National Centre For Popular Music', situated a few minutes walk from the rail station in Sheffield. This was a cock-up from beginning to end. One thing the council had performed well in was understanding how to fill in forms that could obtain funds from the national lottery and various european bodies at that time. So, £15 million was heading the way of Sheffield, and the working party was such a shambles that this multi-million testament to the youth of South Yorkshire was eventually sold to the local student union for approximately £500,000, a pittance compared to the original funding. I should add, I left this working group before the building of this farce began. It was clear to myself and a couple of other people that this council created group had no idea about what they were brought together to do, and although there were the usual battles concerning the ways money should be spent, where exactly the building should be placed, and the projected attendance figures (overestimates I must add that could never realistically be achieved), I eventually decided that this project would get bogged down in personal vanity so I left, something guaranteed to see this project go haywire, which it did.

I've always wondered who they thought would actually visit it. Sheffield isn't really full of tourist attractions so it would almost require a special visit just to see the museum. You need a first class attraction for that.

 

[S64 Blade]

Good post mate, although I'm not from Sheffield, it is my home, and I like the city and it's neighbouring countryside, on the way up to Owler Bar you won't find a more beautiful or glorious site than the vista that presents, and it's probably the same within other journeys in and around Sheffield. Much of the tardy, sluggish decision making has been left with the council. Confronted with the usual array of big hitters, Ikea for example, the council seem to think they're equipped to deal with such companies on equal terms. They're not, they're outfought usually, until they sometimes create hurdles that have proved unworkable, which is why it's only recently been agreed to enable Ikea to begin work on their next store at Meadowhall.

The point on Ikea is not entirely true. It was the Highways Agency that held up the final approval of the store as they were not happy with the proposed change to road layout and how this would impact on the junction with the M1 at Tinsley.

 

[itsinyerblood]

The point on Ikea is not entirely true. It was the Highways Agency that held up the final approval of the store as they were not happy with the proposed change to road layout and how this would impact on the junction with the M1 at Tinsley.

Yes, the Highway Agency had their input, but the trigger for the constant delays began with the council who were opositional at every stage. Whilst I appreciate that the configuration of a highway needs to be considered carefully, Ikea were prepared to pay for the work involved, so it wasn't as if they were wishing to take this at a snail's pace. So here we are, finally, after many years, we are on the cusp of a new Ikea store opening in Sheffield. Such a pity it took more than a decade for this to happen.

 

[Revolution]

. So here we are, finally, after many years, we are on the cusp of a new Ikea store opening in Sheffield. Such a pity it took more than a decade for this to happen.

Speaking as someone who gets dragged round IKEA occasionally, it's not a pity at all...

 

[itsinyerblood]

Speaking as someone who gets dragged round IKEA occasionally, it's not a pity at all...

Made me smile, but it's inevitable I'm afraid, and at least it provides employment opportunities which has to be good.

 

[Revolution]

Made me smile, but it's inevitable I'm afraid, and at least it provides employment opportunities which has to be good.

Oh, I agree with that. People are daft enough to travel miles for an IKEA, and that's only of benefit to the city.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Agree with most of what you say here Alco. Sheffield Council are muppets and get many things wrong but at the time Meadowhall was a visionary thing to do. It was the biggest and best shopping centre in the country for a time. With hindsight you can argue it would have been better to support the city centre but at that time there wasn't much opposition to it.

The lack of support for the centre since is the issue. Leeds has white rose centre and a city centre. Manchester the Trafford Centre and a City Centre. Why can't Sheffield support the same?

There is only an infinate amount of money that can be spent. And what Leeds and Manchester have done is bring more wealth to the city first. That starts with business......big companies with their very highly paid young executives who need a place to live to match their lifestyle. As that grows, so do the swanky bars and restaurants, flash hotels and entertainment zones.....then before you know it you have a total regeneration.

As I see it, for Sheffield centre to be a success it needs something different to just shopping and what Meadowhall can offer. And that has to be culture. Leave Meadowhall to the day trippers just shopping....the centre needs to attract the residents and the city break folks.
Students take a hammering, however Sheffield is a top university in many aspects of study. That attracts top candidates from around the country. What you need is for them to stay in Sheffield rather than return home or go elsewhere. Jobs and business is key here too. And despite the theory about having no money....they have a higher disposable income than the vast majority of employed people. Debt yes....but spent here nonetheless.

Ten years it will take.

As a further note.....Sheffield built ponds forge for the student games. At the time it was a new olympic sized pool, of which there aren't many in th country now so can't have been many then. Sheffield should have been the national centre for swimming....much the same as Manchester has cornered the cycling. Missed a trick there.

 

[Bladesway]

I went to see Slade there in about 1984. Possibly a bit earlier.

I vaguely remember ABC doing a show there in about 82 but I could be wrong.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Oh, I agree with that. People are daft enough to travel miles for an IKEA, and that's only of benefit to the city.

The original plan for IKEA was to put it on the old YEB site on Parkway Drive. That would have made more sense as it would have brought shoppers from outside Sheffield much closer to the city centre. But oh no, the council, aided and abetted by John Lewis, decided it would be armageddon for the city centre shops. On every proposal for the redevelopment for the city centre, John Lewis has been in on the act and the council has had to acquiesce to them every time on the threat of them upping sticks.

The ideal solution is that someone with the city's interest at heart, for example someone called Cole, ideally with a brother, buys up John fucking Lewis and kick starts the regeneration of the city centre.

 

[TJB.]

They certainly had a policy to turn us into a traffic friendly city in the 60s & 70s, at the expense of countless old parts of the city.

Name a city with a thriving centre which is also traffic friendly. I certainly can't.

Manchester and Bristol centres especially are a fucking nightmare for car-dwellers.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

As a former student of the university of Sheffield I'd like to echo some of the comments. When I was looking for a grad job there are hardly any multi-million pound companies which have any sort of head regional office based there. Compare that to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool and they are swarming with them.

Sheffield definitely has a brain drain.

 

[itsinyerblood]

There is only an infinate amount of money that can be spent. And what Leeds and Manchester have done is bring more wealth to the city first. That starts with business......big companies with their very highly paid young executives who need a place to live to match their lifestyle. As that grows, so do the swanky bars and restaurants, flash hotels and entertainment zones.....then before you know it you have a total regeneration.

As I see it, for Sheffield centre to be a success it needs something different to just shopping and what Meadowhall can offer. And that has to be culture. Leave Meadowhall to the day trippers just shopping....the centre needs to attract the residents and the city break folks.
Students take a hammering, however Sheffield is a top university in many aspects of study. That attracts top candidates from around the country. What you need is for them to stay in Sheffield rather than return home or go elsewhere. Jobs and business is key here too. And despite the theory about having no money....they have a higher disposable income than the vast majority of employed people. Debt yes....but spent here nonetheless.

Ten years it will take.

As a further note.....Sheffield built ponds forge for the student games. At the time it was a new olympic sized pool, of which there aren't many in th country now so can't have been many then. Sheffield should have been the national centre for swimming....much the same as Manchester has cornered the cycling. Missed a trick there.

Re. Pond's Forge - due to the amount of subsidy required to keep PF afloat, it's rumoured that each swim requires a subsidy of just over twenty pounds. Love the fact that we have this facility but can't grasp this level of subsidy. Fiscally illiterate comes to mind.

 

[Revolution]

As a former student of the university of Sheffield I'd like to echo some of the comments. When I was looking for a grad job there are hardly any multi-million pound companies which have any sort of head regional office based there. Compare that to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool and they are swarming with them.

Sheffield definitely has a brain drain.

Really? More students stay on in Sheffield than any other major city (bar London) don't they?

 

[Grizzly blade]

Re. Pond's Forge - due to the amount of subsidy required to keep PF afloat, it's rumoured that each swim requires a subsidy of just over twenty pounds. Love the fact that we have this facility but can't grasp this level of subsidy. Fiscally illiterate comes to mind.

If that's accurate which no doubt it is, why am I not surprised?
Furthers my point that there is far too much short sightedness within this country, and money spent by people with agendas to line their own pockets first and foremost.
Brand new modern facility at that time....if only they had formulated a plan going forwards. Could say the same about the Don Valley stadium.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Sheffield scores very highly with students for experience, cost etc. And does well at keeping graduates straight after graduation. Problem is, very few students get their preferred career off the bat....they might hang about doing some work, but when they want the jobs for which their degree was primarily useful for they may not be staying in Sheffield long term.

Shame....students clearly like the place hence its ranking. So provide the business and commerce and see the place take off!!

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Sheffield scores very highly with students for experience, cost etc. And does well at keeping graduates straight after graduation. Problem is, very few students get their preferred career off the bat....they might hang about doing some work, but when they want the jobs for which their degree was primarily useful for they may not be staying in Sheffield long term.

Shame....students clearly like the place hence its ranking. So provide the business and commerce and see the place take off!!

This.

I know some that stayed for a while whilst they milled about for a year or so, before moving on for the "dream job".

In my earlier post I was more talking about the high end private sector graduate jobs. I am sure many teachers, nurses, doctors etc stay on in Sheffield.

 

[Beat Jedi]

Another shopping centre, that will be handy.

Yea cos the city centre is so already blessed with excellent shops.

 

[Minty]

Sheffield Council's biggest fuck up has to be the airport!

Let's build an airport and try to attract commercial airliners............with a runway too short to accommodate them.

And then sell the site following its failure for £1.

Genius.

 

[itsinyerblood]

If that's accurate which no doubt it is, why am I not surprised?
Furthers my point that there is far too much short sightedness within this country, and money spent by people with agendas to line their own pockets first and foremost.
Brand new modern facility at that time....if only they had formulated a plan going forwards. Could say the same about the Don Valley stadium.

Not sure what the solution is, but I do think that some town planners indulge in vanity projects, often to the detriment of the city or town they work in. If you look at genuinely nice visitor attractions like York or Harrogate, a lot of what appeals to individuals are the non-corporate attractions. We can visit M&S, Pret-A-Manger(not in Sheffield I must add!), The Gap(again, not anywhere in S.Yorks), or Lush, most times, but what makes the great visitor attractions work are the bijou, one-off businesses particular to the place in question. I've visited Edinburgh a few times and consider it one of the most interesting places I've been to. One of the keys is architecture, and admittedly Sheffield had the stuffing knocked out of it in WW2, but, and this goes right to the heart of town planning, the lack of vision, understanding of public needs,, and the sanctioning of buildings that connected with people, rather than distancing the public from their surroundings, these and other factors contribute towards an environment that is constantly interesting and invests a degree of civic pride in the place you live. I'm not suggesting that it's not possible to be proud of Sheffield as it is, I can cite plenty of genuinely nice, even great, buildings scattered across Sheffield, the trouble is that those that were torn down or demolished weren't replaced with the type of architectural empathy that makes a city centre stand out. The places I like to visit around Sheffield generally aren't located in the centre of town, partly due to stupidly high rents, but also because it would take the type of vision that enables more than just the odd, token business to survive. Maybe a strategy where the council, landlords, the public, and prospective businesses chin wag and attempt to create something far better than currently exists.

 

[Esablade]

Not sure what the solution is, but I do think that some town planners indulge in vanity projects, often to the detriment of the city or town they work in. If you look at genuinely nice visitor attractions like York or Harrogate, a lot of what appeals to individuals are the non-corporate attractions. We can visit M&S, Pret-A-Manger(not in Sheffield I must add!), The Gap(again, not anywhere in S.Yorks), or Lush, most times, but what makes the great visitor attractions work are the bijou, one-off businesses particular to the place in question. I've visited Edinburgh a few times and consider it one of the most interesting places I've been to. One of the keys is architecture, and admittedly Sheffield had the stuffing knocked out of it in WW2, but, and this goes right to the heart of town planning, the lack of vision, understanding of public needs,, and the sanctioning of buildings that connected with people, rather than distancing the public from their surroundings, these and other factors contribute towards an environment that is constantly interesting and invests a degree of civic pride in the place you live. I'm not suggesting that it's not possible to be proud of Sheffield as it is, I can cite plenty of genuinely nice, even great, buildings scattered across Sheffield, the trouble is that those that were torn down or demolished weren't replaced with the type of architectural empathy that makes a city centre stand out. The places I like to visit around Sheffield generally aren't located in the centre of town, partly due to stupidly high rents, but also because it would take the type of vision that enables more than just the odd, token business to survive. Maybe a strategy where the council, landlords, the public, and prospective businesses chin wag and attempt to create something far better than currently exists.

Leisure is the way forwards...pedestrianise the city centre, grass over the pavement, run a river down the Moor and plant some tree's...it's the future I tell's thee...

 

[Stretch]

Name a city with a thriving centre which is also traffic friendly. I certainly can't.

Manchester and Bristol centres especially are a fucking nightmare for car-dwellers.

Would agree with that. Even Birmingham city centre (which of course is much bigger than Sheffield) feels disjointed because it has a ring road the size of a motorway encircling and dissecting it. Glasgow springs to mind as one that has pulled it off reasonably well but they had an advantage as it was originally built on a grid, so they were able to maintain a lot of access without trashing the core city centre to build new roads.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Not unique to Sheffield mate.
Hull.....as it is now is bad enough.

20 years ago when I first moved near there it was atrocious but infinTley better than the 80's. It's getting better now , as someone has realised that areas like a marina, and using old areas around the docks and taking them upmarket and trendy instead of demolishing the buildings and replacing works!
I have recently looked back over old photos of Hull which show pre war was an old town surrounded by an old moat and river that was changed to industrial docks during the industrial boom.
As these docks became less used, and then the place was bombed to buggery, docks were filled in and investment post war was done as cheap as possible due simply to lack of money and over two decades. Hence the rise of concrete box's, and mismatched styles and architecture.
Roads were also steamrollered in following beeching and the rail infrastructure that I never knew was so vast in hull was replaced.

Looking back with hindsight, what a shame that all these old areas of docks couldn't have been used to provide riverside homes, shops, restaurants etc. What a place Hull could have been.

 

[Rodders]

Really? More students stay on in Sheffield than any other major city (bar London) don't they?

Based on my own experience, IT jobs in, say, Leeds are 10-a-penny compared to Sheffield.