Great news(!) The owner of Chicago rock plans to build a development on the land

But when times were good during the industries what did the council do for the future of the town ,knowing that the pits weren't going to last forever ? Chuff all . As a town we are tip toeing into the 21st century about 20 years too late .

 

I wouldn't bother building anything it's opened up views to a beautiful building, what a blessing in disguise that fire was, it's got rid of an eyesore and Westway looks ten times better.

 

Aye they should make it into a little park. Wi a bloody gret big statue of Hecky reight int middle

 

I drive past every day and it's a massive improvement with it gone it was a pig ugly building it looks a lot better now

 

They need to knock down the REAL eyesore that is the fat man shop and then they could really make a feature entrance to the town from that side.

 

Was saying this the other day . The building above (i think its the the charity shop) looks lovely. The architect's and planners of today could learn a thing or two if they look up instead of looking down .

 

Yes but most of them were levelled by the Luftwaffe, not Barnsley where the council tore down the beautiful Victorian buildings and replaced them with concrete monstrosities.

 

Pretty common in a lot of towns that weren't hit by bombing

 

Do what exactly? Very, very common in industrial areas - lots haven't recovered. Not just mining and steel - mill towns in Lancashire as well have been hit.

 

What I'm saying is that when times were good the council did nothing to promote and take the town forward. I presume you live in Liverpool , a labour led council that had a vision for the city after the docks collapsed and transformed it into the modern and prosperous city it is today . Can you honestly say that when you return to Barnsley you are proud of what you see ? The truth is that this council has spent our money on ludicrous and unachievable ideas over the last 20 years and barely laid a brick but spent millions and millions in the mean time . Believe me I know ! You would shudder !

 

Can't compare the two. Liverpool and Machester are an anomaly- these two buck the trend in the north. Liverpool had tourism to build on which brings in millions of visitors every year - Beatles are a massive draw to overseas visitors as well as two large Premier League clubs - most of Liverpool's funding has come through Eu and private investment- 1 billion pounds invested by Duke of Westminster's companies.

Council hasn't aways been led by Labour either.

 

I'm trying to fight the corner of my town which I believe should be prospering. The council simply blame successive governments for our problems but thats a nonsense really. We've had, or got the money , it's how we've spent it where the problem lies .

 

Rebuilding in Liverpool hasn't come from the council - it is private investment and money from the EU! Our council budget has been cut drastically. Plenty of info about decline in the north - look some up

 

sorry double post

 

Agree totally, they could then make a really inviting gateway to the top of Market Street and New Street. The investigation into the cause of the fire doesn't sound too encouraging though: the land owner 'll probably build loads of shitty bedsits with the insurance pay out.

 

Went into the Better Barnsley exhibition today. When I asked where the bridge scheme had gone the bull5hite spokesperson in there tried to tell me that the council never wanted to install a bridge in the first place and that it was all Network Rail's idea. When I pointed out that the last time I came in he himself was raving about it and that they've actually already designed the new car park to accommodate it he tried to deny it all the knobhead. Unfortunately this Councillor Miller lapdog is probably the next geezer in line for a shoe-in as a councillor.

 

It's pretty easy to dismiss our problems when you don't live here . You say other Northern Towns have problems so obviously that means so should we . Let's just accept were a **** hole eh !

 

There's worst places believe me - Rotherham and Middlesbrough for example; however, once EU money stops coming in, then we've all had it.

 

Still care - did live there so do my family - i posted a few weeks ago it was a town I didn't recognise because there have been lotsbof changes- new library, bus station, train station, market on the way, metrodome - town hall refurbished, museum , alabraham , new schools, colleges, buisness centre buildings - you're right they've done nothing

 

They could go one step further than knocking that eyesore of Fatman shop down and tear the Alhambra down with it. Ugly building, garbage shops, it's somewhere you get out of the rain or use the toilet.