As the header suggests. I know her quotes are straight down the line but nobody changes their mind that quick unless there's good reason.... ONE of the key members of the team responsible for delivering Hull's year as the UK City of Culture in 2017 has resigned - less than six weeks after starting her full-time role. Marketing director Alison Flint, who was head of marketing for Liverpool Culture Company during its year as European City of Culture in 2008, has accepted a job back in the North West and will leave her position in Hull at the end of this month. Hull 2017's chief executive Martin Green thanked Alison Ms Flint for her work to date and said she had "made her decision with grace and at the right time for the project". Ms Flint began her three-and-a-half contract on April 1, although she had been working with the city of culture team since November. In a statement, the company said "she has ensured the project is on track to deliver in 2017 with major elements of the marketing plan, including the development of the brand identity and the digital communications strategy, moving ahead on time and on budget". Ms Flint added: “This has been a difficult decision but it is the right time to take it as the team comes out of the planning phase and works towards delivery. “I have very much enjoyed my time with this hugely experienced and committed team and wish them the best of luck for what I know will be a tremendous year that captures the fantastic spirit of the people and city of Hull.” The recruitment process for a new marketing and communications director will begin immediately and Phil Batty, who is director of education and legacy will step in during the interim period.
It's not looking good and this City Of Culture thing could end up making Hull a laughing stock more than it already is. I despair at watching guys dig holes then paint signs on the floor and that is it, nothing seems to be moving in any direction towards the promised investment benefits of this award. Humber Street our 'artistic' area is under construction or demolition its hard to tell, nothing happening at Holy Trinity yet after the initial statements of intentions and in the meantime the pedestrianized areas of Hull are slowly becoming death traps with loose paving slabs and bricks, how someone near to the Ebenezer Morley pub hasn't tripped up yet, drunk or not, is a miracle.
The City Of Culture year is 2017, it's currently 2015, you don't seriously expect the works to be completed already? The £25m revamp of the city centre starts in the latter part of this year, there is major redevelopment work going on around the Fruit area, there's new hotels being built with a view to opening in 2017, there's already a major investment program going on as a direct result of us being awarded City Of Culture.
The paper trail & positive spin Doctoring always seems larger in scale than completed works that can be seen with the naked eye.
But there is no urgency about It OLM its ages since the award was announced and as you know matters with councils are not exactly known for the speedy conclusions. Casino, Hotel, West Park, regeneration of Anlaby Road all once headlines but nothing happened, except for a few garden walls built, I'm well aware that a lot of things are not in the council's control, New York Hotel for instance, but the time scale, although seeminly plentiful at the moment, does not leave a lot of room for unexpected delays. And no I wasn't expecting stuff to be finished but I did expect to see a bit more than a bit of sign language on the ground.
The difference between the other things you've mentioned and the City Of Culture improvements, is that there obviously a deadline to work to. All the works required are being started shortly(stuff like the Fruit regeneration is well on it's way already) and will all have to be completed by the end of 2016. The person responsible for setting everything up only started work just over a month ago, obviously it's a bit of a problem that she's buggered off already, but at least it sounds like she got the big things in place before she left.
Good, I'm glad to hear it OLM, but from what I understand Fruit has actually more demolition going at the moment than regeneration, but that may be part of the regenerationg process.
Plus she was the marketing Director, not the operations Director She's developing brand identity and digital marketing strategies...not hiring in road building crews!
Makes me puke all that bollocks. The word "Hub" will be along shortly. Road building crews is more like it.
