Is it me or is Sheffield getting left behind?

[harryhw 10]

I start this thread by saying that there is a lot in Sheffield to be pleased about, in terms of there being some lovely countryside, friendly locals and lovely areas in the south west of the City, low cost of housing, and low crime rate, etc. I am not from Sheffield, however have lived here for the last two years and also spent several years in the early 90’s here.

 

However whenever I return from visiting other cities around the Uk and travel far and wide to Asia, Europe and the US I just feel Sheffield is being left behind in so many ways and it hurts me. Whether it’s the culture imbedded in the town hall, planning department or the general ambition of many of the population but I don’t see that great strive for self-improvement and betterment that is so vital to mankind. There is something that is stopping that retail scheme being built, speculative schemes being developed, big companies being attracted to this city on a big scale, and talented individuals from being attracted to this city. This has to change, because the likes of Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and even Liverpool are making big leaps forward which Sheffield seems to be incapable of doing at the moment. I am talking from a business and commercial side. You can see this in a very simple way by looking at the type of retailors and leisure occupiers who are in Sheffield city centre. It’s damming and it is embarrassing for a city which is supposed to be one Britain’s biggest and best. I think it has to be the council and the way that they have made it so difficult to do business in this city. These people seem to be on a complete different planet.

 

Now why I understand that all councils from those in Kensington and Chelsea to those in Sheffield are at times slow and bureaucratically stifling, the powers at be in Sheffield in my view are seriously damaging the long term future of the city. Not only minimising future growth prospects, but also creating an environment where more and more people are being sucked into either being dependent on this status quo of limited dynamic entrepreneurialism and state mediocrity or being forced to leave to seek the highest paying jobs. And what is sad about this is that these powers at be in the council are very comfortable on large salaries paid by the rest of us who are then punished by living in a less dynamic environment for our children and children’s children. Radical steps need to be taken. It’s actually pretty scary to think these people are controlling the destiny of Sheffield and I encourage everyone reading this to actually participate and vent the views to their council to try and hold them account when they decide that they want to hold up development of an old derelict workshop in some dead part of Sheffield, or they want to hire 20 parking attendants to patrol a sleepy residential road during the day, when they want to take 6 weeks to message back about an enquiry about council tax/parking charge, etc, or when they want to insert a claw back provision on anyone purchasing a property to develop and then sell on a profit. Sheffield city council incompetence is all around, every day. We need a modern forward thinking council who have not been captured by a sense of indulgent self worth and play it safe mentality that makes big radical change almost impossible. Sheffield city council is costing us money and making the broader economic and social environment far worse for the majority in this city.

 

Sheffield city council seems to behind the curve in recognising the situation at every step. They have been behind the curve on everything from the retail scheme, the ghettos in page hall, city centre living – talk about closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Sheffield will lose out as talent decides that it doesn’t want to come to a city which shuts down at 7pm and is like a ghost town after 7pm on a Wednesday because the only people living in the city centre are students and too skint to go out till midnight after they have necked a bottle of cider. Some sort of dynamism needs to be injected, not just JSA centres, drug rehab centres and pound shops and bookies. Take a walk from the moor down to castle market and up the High Street. This city has many strengths and a strong heritage of entrepreneurialism so why is it that we are now in a phase whereby we are letting the pointy heads at Sheffield city council and the planning department stifle the true potential of Sheffield to innovate?

Edited February 18, 2014 by harryhw

[Clown Shoes 10]

I agree with alot of what you say but i strongly suspect that this post is politically motivated.

 

Do you work for the conservative party by any chance?

[harryhw 10]

No it's not politically motivated at all. I run two businesses who serve customers worldwide and I truly fear for Sheffield.

I think 95% of politicians are a waste of space. In fact the politics in Sheffield is probably part of the problem. I certainly believe in the free exchange of ideas, goods and services and limited interference in my life but would not trust any politician. If it was up to me we would have 1/5 of the government and there would much more regional true responsibility.

[Happ Hazzard 10]

The remnants of the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire are still hindering progress. Until we have forward thinking business minded people in charge of the city instead of the usual bloated PC obsessed lefties that still think they are fighting capitalism.

[harryhw 10]

I recognise this, but even Councils in Manchester and Leeds are moving forward. I think the insular nature of these individuals could be the reason. I sometimes question whether they have ever left South Yorkshire?

[whiteowl 54]

This post is new and original. I heartily recommend all to read this post.

[harryhw 10]

I'm sorry, but this is more relevant now then ever. Even Sheffield is becoming a city of big contrasts. Do you want your kids to grow up in a city of such inequality? Because I don't.

[tinfoilhat 11]

I'm sorry, but this is more relevant now then ever. Even Sheffield is becoming a city of big contrasts. Do you want your kids to grow up in a city of such inequality? Because I don't.

 

Can you name a major city that doesn't have big contrasts?

[harryhw 10]

So what is the point of all these measures if the situation gets worse in Page Hall, Wincobank, Pitsmoor and a few people in Fulwood and Ecclesall get richer?

[Blaschka 10]

I agree with everything you say. It's sad that Sheffield is stuck in the past and there's no sign of a bright future. I don't know where to allocate the blame, if blame needs allocating.

 

This forum shows a very negative attitude which I hope is just representative of its members and doesn't represent the city as a whole.

[Clown Shoes 10]

We will twined with Bradford when their new shopping center is finished.

 

Might even overtake us in the near future.

[harryhw 10]

Sheffield is good, the place has real character but surely I am not the only one who can see that this is not sustainable to have a self congratulating parasitical lobby elite who serve no purpose other than exercising power? I am angry and wondering how to change things.