I personally have tears in my eyes after watching that vid I love this town and anything that can improve it the better.
Looks amazing. What an incredible transformation from the dark days I remember in the late 40s after WWII when much of the area looked like a bomb site. I hope to get over to see it when its near finished in a couple of years. Well done to all involved with putting it all together. Should make us all very proud!!
Ha - I don't want to get into political discussions on this forum, but when I saw we were going to be "gifted" a word wall, my first thoughts were "what sort of words were going to be etched on it"? My money would be on "we all bleed red" and "diversity is our strength". Not like back in the day, when "street art" meant someone had drawn a cock on the wall again. That's all.
Hull has an image problem, it has had for decades, anything that helps change negative perceptions often held outside the city has to be a good thing and City of Culture will certainly do that. The fact that it's also been the catalyst for long overdue improvements to the city centre is simply a spin-off benefit.
You've tried that argument before. What you missed then and ignore now is that this is additional money. It's taking little if anything from the budgets you mention, and will help them in the long term anyway as it will create opportunities in various forms. The statistics for education are a red herring anyway, and a boundary change could change them in a pen stroke. If the figures were compared on a like for like basis, Hull wouldn't be near the bottom. We have the money, there is the desire, and there are some great initiatives being proposed. They're happening, no matter what, so the smart thing would be to accept that, embrace it and offer your suggestions within that criteria to those that make the decisions. This is a great opportunity that we could all help build upon. Sod the debatable stats and naysayers, let's be proud of what we have and who we are.
Rather than contribute to a well-meaning plan that might create a small temporary bump but at the expense of necessary long term planning, I think the appropriate thing to do is move, actually. If the pop even the likes David Stockman are now calling happens before 2017 (hard to call given the huge amount of central bank led market manipulation nowadays) then huge investment in consumption vehicles (for want of a better term) will look even more foolish than the 'pioneering city' gambit. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/07/stocks-are-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen-stockman.html Edit - I take your point re education stats though (and maybe a few others, would be good to see real Hull statistics on unemployment and all the rest of it).
Here's the Trinity car park. please log in to view this image Still a wasted use of space imo. But could have been worse. Hopefully they will be using it for events and not just an unneeded car park.
Love the video. My only concern is they are expecting £25m to go a long way - when the pot runs dry you can guarantee they'll start chopping bits out so we get the 'budget' version. The plans are great though - I only hope they realise the full plan and not 3/4's of it. Our City deserves it.
It should start with the marina and that footbridge, that should be the land bridge. Bringing the Marina into the City and making it more accessible. The Marina really is a jewel in the crown and could make Hull the northern 'Riviera'.
They've said the car park will be closed for 'occasional heritage and festival events', whatever that means.
You think? Not saying you're wrong and I can't claim to know much about it. But if the application was simply for a car park I'd have thought the need might be questioned on the grounds it's across the road from a large multi story (prinny quay). Adding the bit about events might mean more work on the initial application, but make it easier to get through. But I am just thinking out loud here.
There are exceptions, but they don't generally consider 'need' in a planning application unless there are specific policies. Adding the entertainment part would other complications to be got over that could just add extra work that would be unnecessary for just a car park. It's possible they thought it would reduce objections, but objections alone don't tend to stop an application being approved, the objections need to highlight a specific issue. For example, there were lots of objections against energy from waste plants, but it was specific points from individuals that stopped it.
Cheers. I just hope that they do use the space for some interesting events. Princes Dock Street had become a popular spot, for good reason. I just think they could have done more with it.
There are often limitations on what can be done and sometimes for the most peculiar reasons. Sometimes the driver for a change is quite removed from the end result. I don't know, but looking at some of the other initiatives implemented or proposed, I'd be surprised if the entertainment element didn't form a part of some of the events and activities coming in the future. Especially if you look at some of the changes due nearby.
