This is happening, of course, in conjunction with the Siemens arrival too. Positive times, it's great to see things starting to move and it's quite simply a unique opportunity to put Hull on the map and catch up on some lost years.
My opinion is that the whole concept of going for city of culture shows a thought process that has failure baked in. I know there is an 'The Apprentice' style belief in the concept of sometimes you have to 'fake it to make it', but that really betrays horribly flawed thinking. Putting the cart before the horse in simple vernacular, for me I would describe it as results orientated thinking. The street furniture in Victoria Square is **** because the city has suffered for a long time. But replacing it will not mean the city is suddenly no longer ****! Make the city no longer **** and the street furniture will be replaced. Focussing energy on replacing street furniture in the belief that it will somehow magically fix the city is as flawed as all the previous thinking - top ten city - pioneering city - 70k Boothferry park plans - the superdome - and as equally doomed to fail. It will cost, but we won't know how much, obviously...
The cost question was answered further up. We donate some, to get three times as much directly back, plus the later benefits. So, yes, it's free cash that will go elsewhere if we don't get it. So, how do you see turing it down as being g to our advantage, especially as it will go elsewhere and widen the gap.
Ron you are getting a little too fixated on the street furniture and missing the point of city of culture. We may be a poor relation to many other cities yet that does not mean we suffer cultural poverty, we are rich in culture, identity and history and art should be for the masses not just the middle classes.
No I asked what the cost was - I am not concerned with what comes back. The reason being that the cost is taken from the poorest, then re-distributed to others. I have only referred to the street furniture because others have.
They've also cut the stop smoking programme and weight loss programmes such as "Fitfans" and "Active Lifestyles". In Hull 34% of adults smoke, 70% of men and 61% of women are obese or overweight. These are the last services they should be cutting
I was recently speaking to somebody who runs an arts organisation that will benefit hugely from the city of culture. Said about how knew plenty of people that had gone without food in the previous month (I know that this really gets inside somebodies head), and said that felt we needed to focus on the basics and let culture take care of itself, as I have said in this thread... She said 'have I heard of Maslow's hierachy of need?' ( have). Hen basically went on to say, yeah those people need food, but we need art. Doesn't cut it for me.
I know I am in a minority when it comes to the city of culture - fine by me, I respect others but I will happily voice my opinion.
I sort of see the point your making. But the city of culture has to be good for the city. Lets try this, The pedestrian area ( Queen Vic square, King Edward St,Jameon St ) has to be resurfacd some time soon. The ambulance chasing lawyers that frequent that area are pushing people to sue the council for tripping on the poor surface. That cost would be down to the council so if extra money is made available ( from central government, lottery money, the arts council etc ) to make it even better with more lighting or other street furniture thats a good thing isn't it ?
I don't think the city of culture is wholly bad - have never said that. I think we need an austerity city of culture. We need to ensure every pound spent both in the past and the future is DEFINITELY repaid. The poorest people in society are those that need council services most. They CANNOT be expected to foot the bill for a cit of culture party they will not benefit from. Remember the 40% cut in council budget now is a result of austerity that is a result of the government supporting a housing and credit bubble the poorest have not beefitted from. Also, remember that unemployment is a function of the capitalist economic system - before it there was no unemployment. Why should these poor people foot the bill yet again? Edit - poor people don't have a voice, so it is easy for the council, appealing to an electorate that is not comprised of those poor people to take money from essential services and funnel it inot headline grabbing city of culture bullshit that in the long term will only exacerbate problems within the city.
There are plenty of free, volunteer led, activities in the community that people can access easily that address the health issues you have mentioned.
I volunteer somewhere one morning a week. A fellow volunteer - 60 odd, ill, is basically going to have to sotp because the dole are telling him it is limiting the time he is available for work.
Why do time bombs still,tick in this digital age? Why should we sort out Polish alcoholics? Is this one of the benefits of immigration we keep hearing about?
Obesity and being overweight those two signs of poverty. Just like you see in Africa with all those poor, overweight and obese people.
The cities that have had UK City Of Culture Status? There aren't cities which have had it, there is only Derry, Hull being the second.
There's some bollocks being spouted on this thread... example... if someone goes without food for a month they die. Bring on city of culture! Having moved back to the area last year I can't wait. I'm confident it'll be brilliant for me, everyone here and everyone who has the oppotunity to visit our improved, improving and glorious city.
It needs something doing and damn fast. I went into the city for the first time in a while about 4 weeks ago, I left feeling depressed - it's horrendous. Empty shops everywhere and just looking unloved, uncared for and really rough around the edges.
Exactly. Have been through there a few times recently and noticed the same thing. St Stephens, Princes Quay, and City of Culture are the opposite of the answer. With that I retire let everyone else go on about how good the new fountains will be and how they will encourage everyone to spend spend spend money they don't have, that will go to non tax paying multinational corporations anyway lol.
I never said they were signs of poverty. I just mentioned that there are free services people can access if they need to address obesity and smoking related heath issues. Not sure what else I can add to that really. I thought it was quite a simple statement of fact.
