And that one last national name is desperate to be out of Whitefriargate...M&S have been looking at a number of options both in town and out of town as the space does not work for them...as soon as they move that would be a severe blow to the viability of Whitefriargate, unless change happens.
Part of it was, i was taking about using the concept of a glass roof and calling it a shopping centre really. However, alot of Trinity was already there and got incorporated into the plans for it, Bank Street, Trinity Square and Brigate were already located there with shops down and have now become part of trinity, it was only the main part inside the main domed roof that was built specifically. The outlying shop such as River Island closed partially so that Trinity could do up the fronts of the shops and install more windows down the side as they built an entrance next to it. It's done a St Stephens in Leeds though really as many shops have shut to open up inside or closer to Trinity
This if the council do not get over involved could help push the city onwards. The only thing that I am a little concerned with is all the social based schemes, this seems to be the emphasis rather than getting business involved a bit more. Key priority over and above the Green Port scheme is securing the long term future of BAE in Brough too. Once these technology based employers are secured things can progress and it would be a real boost for the area. Also need do basic things that may seem a bit of a gimmick but why not include the miles to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam on the road signs and have dutch/french signage too. We are a gateway to Europe and Whitefriargate was the gateway to the city. Surely we could get a continental market/bars food outlets in this area and even if we cannot cover the street like Leeds Victoria Quarter or Trinity Leeds we could cover 85/90% of the width. The thing is the council don't appear to have the will to do it or drive it forwards. I recently travelled to Israel and in the Jaffa district of Tel Aviv they have occupied all the old commercial warehouses with bars/restaurants and the taller buildings are all apartments. In short a real mix which keeps people in a otherwise deserted part of the city. Its as much a cultural shift too but we know that the people of Hull despite others misgivings are generally a progressive bunch, look at Princes Ave, we know we can do it. There is a lot of dead space above the shops which can provide true city centre living/good hotels too. I'm looking forward to see how this will pan out but am confident that if the council give cityplan free reign to take the developments forward it should be a winner.
If a bunch of football fans can come up with all these ideas, you'd think Councillors who are paid to do this stuff would be able to aswell
People get too caught up in the payment. The vast, vast majority do it part-time on the side of a full time career and its not as if they're selected by a panel assessing their visionary skills. Unfortunately the Hull electorate tend to vote for community hero types who vow to clean up the local park rather than have bold ideas for a future direction of the city. And unless they're a portfolio holder they actually get paid very little.
you've hit the head on the nail there between you. castle street needs covering with a glass roof so pedestrians can just walk over the top of it. and obviously that stupid junction at the south of ferensway needs closing off from ferensway as well.
How much are they paying Mandelson to come up with this stuff? Hull has had more plans than the NHS and none of them have produced anything. As for a world class tourism venue hasn't anyone told Mandelson that the motorway stops about 20 miles from the centre city. The planners should be looking at extending the motorway into the city, never mind bringing an aircraft carrier to the city and all the other pie in the sky ideas. Mandelson was in a Labour government that is responsible for the many of the problems in this country ie over immigration, a lack of financial management and the benefits culture, yet he is hired to tell us how it is going to be sorted. Honestly you couldn't make it up!
I don't think extending the motorway would make a difference, its the same road going to the same place at the end of the day calling it a motorway wouldnt change the tourism in Hull
99% certain it's a ceremonial position - unpaid. I think it was his great-grandad who was previously the High-Steward of Hull.
Plans were draw up to create and 'up and under' for that junction - the preferred option was for Castle Street to slope down with Ferensway-to-Ice Arena going over it. Slip roads off each street would be added too.
The motorway extension is more related to inward business investment rather than tourism. The M62 into Liverpool doesn't stop 20 miles short. I can't think of another city the size of Hull that isn't served by a motorway to its doorstep. One reason why Hull will never attract the big businesses. Sadly proved over many years eg Nissan choosing S'land over Hull. Don't get me wrong I am Hull and proud but lets be fair the transport infrastructure is dire. If the Siemens thing goes down the pan, these plans aren't worth the paper they are written on or the money Mandy is receiving. I doubt he's doing it for Jack S**t
Ah yeah i see what you're seeing with the Liverpool example, literally goes right into Liverpool. The location of Hull makes it hard to be a hub for transport because its more the end of the line, extended services to places like Liverpool and then more to London, Manchester and perhaps adding routes to Blackpool, Lincoln, Newcastle and perhaps Scotland via York could help, especially if the train companies link with P&O to ensure that the ferries are provided for. Other than that i can't see Humberside Airport becoming a major airport, ever
Roofing whitefriargate will make no difference whatsoever. The problem the city has it that there simply isn't the demand for what would effectively be 20 bars and restaurants. Yes you can say that we don't have any decent places in the city centre but the city simply couldn't sustain that number of bars, cafes as restaurants in one area and anyone who says otherwise is ignoring simple economics. The council needs to pay John Lewis what it wants to come to the city and build them a whacking big custom made store on the car park on Albion street as there isn't a site big enough elsewhere in the city. We get a big name like JL in, the others will follow. The fundamental problem we have is an inept council who refuse to consider anything innovative or risky
Good point Diddy...Like the Sports Village on the eyesore that is Walton Street fair ground. Used for one week in every year, then by dodgy market traders for what two days a week. Hull needs a huge shot in the arm and to get shot of Brady and the other clingons in the council who frankly are an embarrassment.
Mandy gets nothing. And talking down stuff like this is the reason **** all ever gets done, people need to get behind it, not just automatically assume that it's a load of bollocks. The width of the road affects **** all, the only traffic issue is Castle Street and addressing that is fundamental to everything else happening.
Rail services are far worse than the road network to Hull. Ever go for a night out West of Hull on a Saturday night, stay over and try get back on a Sunday? - one train every THREE hours. Appalling. Miss the train by a few seconds - that's a long wait in a train station. Half the time there is usually a problem too, meaning there is the need to catch a replacement bus from Selby - 2013 and on many occasions you can't even get a direct train to Hull, a major city in the UK!
Totally agree. I've already managed to talk the organiser of the #cityplan into considering getting today's panel of speakers to do a BBC Questiontime style event for the public to attend, ask questions and put forward ideas. Hopefully it happens.
