Sheffield is isolated from the world

[ohhshurrup 10]

Good points, Bago.

 

Someone who worked at the council once told me that Sheffield was a basketcase economically due to having a high burden of council homes and welfare services to support, and corresponding lack of council tax revenues, leaving no money for capital projects.

 

Not sure that this is true, because there has been plenty of development within Don Valley, etc. I wonder though, what the Supertram, World Student Games, Winter Gardens, etc. did to benefit the economy?

 

It's my impression that there is really nobody in Sheffield truly focused on a plan for the future. Projects seem piecemeal and sometimes for the aggrandisement of few local politicians and profit of a few interested parties.

[Unisol 12]

This is an interesting post, as it takes almost the opposite view to my posts, but seems no less valid. What you seem to be saying is that Sheffield is not a business town, so doesn't need business destinations. My point is also that it isn't a business town, but that's because it is isolated from business destinations.

 

You ask, what does Sheffield have to offer? A good question, but if the answer is 'nothing', we are looking at a bleak future. We do have a pool of labour for a start and the council can make it attractive for companies to do business here. We are centrally located and have land for redevelopment. Unless we start making more effort to compete nationally and internationally, Sheffield will be a dying town. We won't need links to a holiday airport then, because we'll all be on the dole or have moved somewhere else.

 

We have actually done much to change from an industrial economy to an engineering and services economy. In fact, I have been told that we turn out more specialist steel now than we ever did in the old days when we were known as a steel town. I think though, that we need to do a lot more. Sheffield doesn't seem like "City on the Move" to me anymore.

 

Sheffield no longer seems to have an identity. When I talk to Americans about it they've usually never heard of it unless I reference "The Full Monty". That's a sad state of affairs as far as I'm concerned and something I'd like to see change.

 

Sheffield has a lot of creative people. Though, I actually think the local government has let it down over the years with crazy piecemeal schemes that have cost money and done nothing other than spoil any character the city had. I'm also unconvinced as to the legitimacy of some deals.

 

I know the airport link is just a dream and may never happen, but I am using it as an example of what could actually be done. Nothing is impossible and Sheffield could become a vibrant, wealthy city. It really takes a winning attitude rather than saying 'it can never happen to us'. If you expect to lose on penalties, you always will

 

I come and go from Sheffield a lot and see things other cities are doing and would like some of that in Sheffield.

 

I'm not asking you to share my views. If you're happy living here with the way things are, that's fine too. However, it takes more than a downtown greenhouse with a few exotic plants in, which then gets hidden behind a giant hotel, to convince me that Sheffield has a future.

 

 

I've read some tripe on here, but i think that load of tosh really takes the biscuit!

 

[ohhshurrup 10]

Thank you. You're obviously part of the problem, rather than the solution.

 

 

I've read some tripe on here, but i think that load of tosh really takes the biscuit!

 

[troyhark 10]

I've read some tripe on here, but i think that load of tosh really takes the biscuit!

 

Would you care to be constructive rather than rude?

[Bago 10]

Uh-uh. In the HK example, it should be...

I'm going to airport.

I have luggage.

It has to be checked in.

I go by car,there may be traffic jam and check in at airport.

I go by bus, and check in at airport (for under $33/2.40UKP only)

I go by train (what train?) and check in at airport.

I go by airport express (only if I have a special ticket or octopus card, which cost at least $90/6.50 single way) and check in at station, so do not have to carry bags any further. Plus I can check in after leaving hotel at 9AM and can spend rest of day wandering around without my luggage [which cannot be around70KG cos of restrictions], before getting my evening flight.

 

Both the latter two options cost the same, but one is very convienient. And one is a PITA.[/Quote]

I don't know whether you had HK in mind when you made that example, but I'm showing you that the cost of the check-in facility which comes with using the airport express is much more expensive than other transportation. Hence why it's not used, and it's more expensive anyway. Also, due to high security reasons, some airlines do not allow this kind of check-in method any more. Therefore I cannot see in the future that this facilities would be imitated in other cities across the world.

 

So having used what I suggested for Sheff/Manchester else where I can confirm it makes travel much easier and gave us more time at our destination and cost nothing. We had to get train there anyway, so no extra cost to us above the ticket fare one has to pay anyway.

Maybe for the Sheffield/Manc route, you need a train ticket regardless because there are no underground link. Yes, if check-in facilities are provided for free. Maybe people will use it. It's only a 'maybe'.

 

Being on an Island/reclaimed land on the other side of Pennines is of no relevence here.

I mentioned that to emphasize the point that it takes up to one whole hour to get across to the island otherwise. It's a remote island. Therefore it is the ONLY (fast) underground route to access the island. Hence there is a demand to use any convenient services provided by the transportation companies. Whereas for the UK, there are many routes to Manchester Airport. Many different regional transport companies. Are you sure there will be that much demand for the service ? Will there be a high demand of people wanting to travel from Sheffield to Manchester Airport ? If so, who are these people ? If not, who do you have in mind ?

 

I agree with the point that anything is possible.

 

It's just that, right now, I don't and can't see it happening. Thinking about it, there is no need for a check-in facility from Sheffield to Manchester. Or rather, I would be surprised if this happens in the current travel climate. With stronger securities at airports and all the rest.