Hebden Bridge- the UK's "second city"?

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

Er, well, that's the topic of a balmy BBC 'News' item today. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26472423

[Mister M 1,626]

How strange...I've been to Hebden Bridge many a time, I grew up not far from there....It can be called a lot of things, but not a city

[SevenRivers 10]

Do the BBC have a thing for Hebden Bridge?

 

Why is Hebden Bridge the lesbian capital?

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

Do the BBC have a thing for Hebden Bridge?

 

Why is Hebden Bridge the lesbian capital?

Maybe there's a clue in that link's wording!

[altus 540]

Er, well, that's the topic of a balmy BBC 'News' item today. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26472423

 

You didn't read the article then?

However, there is an interesting alternative suggestion - Hebden Bridge. It is not a suggestion to take literally, but it does make an important point.

 

Hebden Bridge, nestling in the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds, is certainly one of the most interesting and flourishing towns in the UK. It was once declared the "fourth funkiest town in the world" (whatever that means) and is often said to be the lesbian capital of the UK.

 

The suggestion that it is Britain's second city came from resident David Fletcher, who was active in the 80s saving the town's old mills and converting them to modern use.

 

His point is that Hebden Bridge is an inverted city with a greenbelt centre and suburbs called Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

 

His point was that the real second city of the UK is a northern, trans-Pennine strip that extends the relatively short distance across northern England, joining the built-up areas that lie second, fourth and sixth in the UK ranking.

 

Certainly, Hebden Bridge has attracted a lot of professional couples who are split commuters, one heading towards Manchester and one towards Leeds each morning. It is a place that allows both those cities to be treated as next door.

 

And maybe therein lies some kind of answer to the critical mass of London. It's not a second city called Hebden Bridge, but a super-city that tries to turn the great cities of the north into one large travel-to-work area.

[Happ Hazzard 10]

Birmingham is the UK's second city. Hebden Bridge is a nonentity.

[Halibut 12]

Birmingham is the UK's second city. Hebden Bridge is a nonentity.

 

Whoooosh...

[Bob England 11]

Great night in hebden bridge last time iwas in uk. Blues festival and lesbian wrestling.

[SpikeMac 10]

Great night in hebden bridge last time iwas in uk. Blues festival and lesbian wrestling.

 

Were the Smurfs in town?

[Anna B 1,417]

This was part of the BBC documentary 'Mind the Gap: London vs the Rest' part 2 of which was on BBC2 tonight, (Monday 10t March.)

 

Basically Evan Davies was arguing that to compete with London, the North needed a 'mega city' comprising of Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds. Hebdon Bridge is right in the middle and is doing well with its mix of independent businesses, art scene and tourism.

 

An interesting programme that needs to be seen, (it's repeated on BBC2 tomorrow at 11.20pm) even though you probably won't agree with its conclusions.

 

We have to do something to stop all the money, brains and talent migrating to London, which is what is happening at present.

Edited March 11, 2014 by Anna B

[EUCLID 11 10]

The money's emigrating to London, always has. But as for brains and talent ??

[Mr Clowning 10]

Birmingham is the UK's second city. Hebden Bridge is a nonentity.

Have you read any of this ?

 

I always used to think it was Burmingam but its apparently joint 3rd with Manchester (which has a higher population).