Feel free to use this topic to discuss the forum's recent interview with Jan Wilson, leader of Sheffield Council. If you haven't read it yet, then head over to the local interviews forum. http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/interviews

Just had a quick flick through the interview and was interested to see that there is a lot of 'public consultation' when things are being developed or redeveloped. Can't say that I've noticed much consultation in evidence and will be contacting Jan Wilson to say so.

I have just been reading the interview and it was very interesting, I was shocked to read that we still owe £170 million for the World Student games facilities though.

...but it is hoped that the relaxation of closing times of licensed premises will put less pressure on those resources as the Police will no longer need to be available at all the clubs at the same turning-out time.

Instead they will be potentially required by all clubs through out the entire night! This means the police will be on longer shifts which will cost more. The increased cost will have to be met with an increase in council tax and for what benefit - to allow a bunch of people to trash the city centre/fight through out the night rather than within a 1-2 hour period!? :gag:

As for the toilets, I wonder how long these "pop up" toilets will take to be trashed at 3am in the morning by a bunch of drunken 'revellers'? :suspect:

Having read the interview with Jan Wilson I have to say that she comes across as complacent and smug.
Take her comments about our so called superb sports facilities,well if they are so great then why is Don Valley in particular hardy ever used??
This particular venue is really a white elephant and doesn't seem to be attracting the international meetings we were told it woul'd when it was being built.
And as for the comments about the roads and traffic ,well its her council which is very well known as being anti car,take a lokk at the way this council do all they can to try to force the public on to unreliable and often dirty busses.
One favoured method is to continue to narrow the roads as much as possible and to add more and more bus lanes which simply adds to the traffic problems.
Another is the complete lack of available parking in the city centre which hits buisness and ends up making people avoid the city centre and go to meadowhall instead.
No this council does not deserve anyones support until it gets its act togeather.:mad:

Originally posted by royjames
Having read the interview with Jan Wilson I have to say that she comes across as complacent and smug.
For once, we agree!

No mention of a planned congestion charge...this can only be good news, right ? :suspect:

Originally posted by Geoff
...but it is hoped that the relaxation of closing times of licensed premises will put less pressure on those resources as the Police will no longer need to be available at all the clubs at the same turning-out time.

Instead they will be potentially required by all clubs through out the entire night! This means the police will be on longer shifts which will cost more. The increased cost will have to be met with an increase in council tax and for what benefit - to allow a bunch of people to trash the city centre/fight through out the night rather than within a 1-2 hour period!? :gag:

As for the toilets, I wonder how long these "pop up" toilets will take to be trashed at 3am in the morning by a bunch of drunken 'revellers'? :suspect:

Can't agree more on that Geoff! Also, who will be the first to fall in the pop up toilets and go underground with it:rolleyes:

Originally posted by royjames
Having read the interview with Jan Wilson I have to say that she comes across as complacent and smug.
Take her comments about our so called superb sports facilities,well if they are so great then why is Don Valley in particular hardy ever used??
This particular venue is really a white elephant and doesn't seem to be attracting the international meetings we were told it woul'd when it was being built.

Spot on. Manchester seems to be getting all the sports events and it's not even the national city of sport. Is Sheffield not even getting the chance to bid for these events?

She hasn't got a clue on the traffic... There's only one way that's heading, and its not good news for motorists :(

Originally posted by dinp
She hasn't got a clue on the traffic... There's only one way that's heading, and its not good news for motorists :(


I have that very same sinking feeling.

I hope the council will seriously start to tackle sheffields traffic problems - and that doesn't include making us pay more!

Jan Wilson seemed to be quite keen on getting feed-back and so I have sent her an e-mail with my observations, I hope people with sensible coherent grumbles or comments on her interview with the forum do get in touch with her
mailto:
jan.wilson @ sheffield.gov.uk

Mod Edit I've changed the email address to make it spam proof. Please type it into your email progam manually. Thanks, Tony. :thumbsup:

I just wanted to clarify that it's unlikely Jan will read/respond to this thread - but that shouldn't put people off discussing her answers amongst themselves.

I recieved an answer to my queries and she's told me about a planning group that I didn't know existed. She also explained the reasoning behind the road by the railway station. I understand the problems involved with moving it but still think that there were ways of making it more pedestrian friendly.

Originally posted by Geoff
[i]Instead they will be potentially required by all clubs through out the entire night! This means the police will be on longer shifts which will cost more. The increased cost will have to be met with an increase in council tax and for what benefit - to allow a bunch of people to trash the city centre/fight through out the night rather than within a 1-2 hour period!? :gag:


I'd make the clubs pay towards the cost of policing the city centre on a Friday/Saturday night. Staggering closing times is a good idea though - I think it will reduce the number of fights/incidents while people are queueing for taxis. Getting more taxis would achieve the same result.

I'm amazed, in my earlier posts i mentioned the fact that I had discovered a planning consultation group actually do exist and have regular meetings. Guess what I've been invited to attend next month, ooh I'm so excited I could squeak! I doubt very much that Jan Wilson has much to do with this group but if it hadn't been for Geoff interviewing her for the Forum I'd probably still be sat grumbling to my friends about all the lousy planning going on in our city and getting nowhere fast!.