Independent shops closed down on Hessle Road because the people who shopped in them were moved out to Bransholme. It is still the cheapside district of Hull today so it wasn't down to the 'prices people didn't want to pay anymore'. The council didn't remove the retail from Whitefriagate they moved the outdoor market which was the reason people went down there. When the footfall goes the shops close. The Banks closing and solicitors moving out of the old town to retail parks hasn't helped either because when they move or close they take all their staff with them. I've have thought it through thank you Al, my family have four shops between us, so I do have a bit of knowledge of the politics that effect retail in this city and the actions and non action from various councils in this city. The city centre is finished as a retail destination as a result and the horse has bolted as I posted earlier. Of course the internet and people's changing shopping habits are a factor but a bigger factor in Hull is the way the city centre has been carved up and the independents being driven out by the big discount stores. Planning permission has to be granted to build these sheds and it seems the council grant every application without much thought of the longer term consequences. So I don't think alrawdah has really thought his 'every thing is rosy' comment through. Just pay a visit into Hull City centre al, have a good look around and then tell me the council have got it right.
Quick question - if it’s all Hull City Councils fault….why do we see the same on every high street in every town? Do HCC make decisions for them too? You’re letting your hatred of HCC cloud the bigger trend
Nope….not great, not **** - bang average. Typical northern town, not a huge amount of ambition in the 80s 90s granted
History of cronyism & corruption (google Robert Tarran) going back decades, In recent memory , put in special measures and found to have a culture of bullying. My own gripe is they have failed to attract inward investment for decades, and appear amateurish and lacking expertise, especially compared to other northern cities.
Some historic truth there….what about the last 10/15 years? Any ambition there? At what point do you stop hating & move on? Anyway this is going off topic - HCC are not responsible for the death of city centres. The problem is far far bigger than just a Hull issue
It was great we got the CoC but there is an element of helping the unfortunate in the awarding of it. Cov too, was bombed to ****, lost its manufacturing and seem long term decline. City getting to the PL I believe has been the major catalyst for Hull's resurgence, Siemens and Castle Street refurb owe little to council skills or entrepreneurship, it was facilitated by many bodies.
HCC is called to frig by some whatever they do regarding retail. St Stephens needed an anchor tenant to to go ahead, given that the likes of John Lewis* and M&S* showed no interest Tesco was next best. No Tesco no St Stephens, no new bus station, hotel, and Hull Truck and ABC and YEB still left to rot there. Plenty whinged about those two eyesores for years, not forgetting the iconic grot box on the front of Paragon station. HCC turned down the expansion of Kingswood retail units and we're slagged to hell. Abridged version, a complex issue with no easy answers. * Given their recent store closures perhaps a good thing.
Interesting - I don’t think city getting into the Prem made any difference at all in any regeneration.
Gut instinct suggests that to me too but as I haven't lived there or anywhere near for 50 years I'm prepared to be persuaded otherwise.
Instilled a 'feelgood; factor and 'yes we can' attitude. Amazingly the HDM predicted all visiting PL fans would be staying the weekend, unlike Championship fans who scuttle off back to their ****holes..
But how did that manifest itself in terms of regeneration? I can't believe Siemens care which league City play in.
The best thing to attract more funding is to absorb the East Riding suburbs as it enables bigger funding or certainly seems to in the case of Sheffield and Leeds . Timing is everything had we expected the internet buying trend then Whitfriargate could have been the cultural cafe restaurant area . I still believe had the council worked with the university it’s accommodation and some active buildings could have been city centre located that would have contributed to some survival . Most city centres are now too big or spread out for the footfall - Sheffield has the same problem even after massive investment - but then Meadowhall part killed it. It the centre is being filled with endless student apartment blocks even now I have first hand experience of this , the university has grown and the bars food shops and cafes etc in the centre are booming . It’s one contributory factor for some survival . If you pay people in food factories just above a basic wage then they have to claim universal credit their contribution to health , schools and social services will be almost nil. And if they spend a lot of their income in shops of their own origins or cash only that makes them a cost to the nation . I am sure the employers like Cranswick who make vast profits could afford it but won’t - that’s capitalism. When I started work in engineering I was told the the three R’s in this town the City Fathers I think they were called screwed it , Ranks Radiator and Reckitts they didn’t want g to he car industry here because it would drive up wages. If it’s a myth let me know . Trades are a cartel the sheet metal workers all used to pay the same , so some guys only moved for overtime if they got desperate . Rant over I am not sure what the answer is but we are desperate for one !!
