Award for Infrastructure - Leicester - High Commended, St Margarets bus stationAdd a decent bus service and we'll be on to a winner :| ;)


BG

St Margaret's Bus Station looks very nice now, especially the electronic timetables.

So. Will the bog standard cities be getting any financial help to reduce their carbon emissions? Or will they just be expected to pay for the work out of council tax and rates?

I doubt it!

So. Will the bog standard cities be getting any financial help to reduce their carbon emissions? Or will they just be expected to pay for the work out of council tax and rates?

The grant is only £250,000. And no, other cities won't get the extra funds. Note: Only Bristol, Manchester and Leeds are getting the funds. Nottingham is a pioneer in green energy anyway especially with this £1b energy consortium.

why are both liverpool and manchester, and, sheffield and leeds core cities? (whatever the fuck that is) there so close to each other that surely just one of each could cover the other

can someone please tell me why my posts are so fucking hard to read, is it cos i is thick or something?

could some one please tell me why the last part of my last post looks like ali g wrote it, ive been called a wigga enuff times but ive never actually started writing like one

from ep

East Midlands Trains - the new operator for the East Midlands and South Yorkshire - starts its franchise tomorrow.

Run by Stagecoach Group, it will run the mainline services to London St Pancras International. It will also be in charge of regional rail servicesand inter-regional services between Norwich and Liverpool.

The company will spend millions on station and train improvements, with more CCTV cameras, car park spaces, improved journey times and new links to Europe in partnership with Eurostar.

Tim Shoveller, the firm's managing director, said: "We are really looking forward to Sunday and getting stuck into what we do best - running a railway of which both our passengers and employees can be proud."

New livery will be unveiled on Monday.

from ep

How long do you think it will be before people start noticing a difference?

As soon as they change the colours on monday lol.

^^ :lol: - I wonder what the visual consequences will be!

that tim shovellor guy was on east mids news the other day, he looks like a rite freak, his bottom jaw sticks out so much that if he bangs his chin he will swallow his head

and his trains look fucking worse than he does

some old bloke just walked into the library and said 'its still cold outside' so i told him to put some fucking gloves on then and stop moaning, its november, wot the fuck is he expecting, a fucking heatwave. anyway im on a warning again, but its not my fault, i hate it wen people talk about the weather, they onley mention it cos they got fuck all to talk about so feel they have to make small talk. fucking middle class old people, always feel they have to say something, just dont say anything, keep it shut, fucking weather, we know its fucking cold, why cant they walk in and say 'easy bitch, wheres ur large print novels'

:lol:

they onley mention it cos they got fuck all to talk about so feel they have to make small talk. fucking middle class old people, always feel they have to say something, just dont say anything, keep it shut,

It can be a bit like that on the internet sometimes, too...

I think the Core Cities group used this - have fun

http://www.constructaregion.org.uk/

Hey - for once I think they do things better in Nottingham...

A schoolboy was given an unexpected surprise for his 16th birthday when a stripper turned up in his drama class. The stripper, dressed as a policewoman, had been booked by the boy's mother to mark her son's big day. The woman even asked the teenager's teacher at Nottingham's Arnold Hill School and Technology College to film the event so the family could see his reaction.

:lol:

my mate teaches at arnold hill. ha ha ha.

You guys are the best - I used to pray for this when I was 16...

Most parents like to pull out all the stops to make a child's 16th birthday as memorable as possible. But having a female stripper surprise your son in front of his teacher in class would not feature on many wish-lists.

Yet that's what happened when one woman booked a special performer for her son's big day.

She stipulated that the surprise take place in drama class - and even asked the teacher to film it so the family could see the boy's reaction. But - thanks to what has been put down as a booking error - a female stripper turned up in place of the gorilla-suited man the unnamed mother had apparently asked for.

The stripper, who arrived on cue halfway through the lesson, first walked the birthday boy around the classroom on all fours. Then, gyrating to the sounds of Britney Spears, she spanked him before stripping down to her bra and knickers and insisting the "naughty" schoolboy rub cream all over her body.

At that point, the teacher - who had not been told what the surprise would entail - called an immediate end to the show.

Last night, education officials launched an investigation into the bizarre incident at Arnold Hill School in Nottingham.

The pupil's mother has told them she was the victim of a booking error.

Classmates refused to name the boy, claiming they had been told to stay quiet by teachers who insisted he was "already in enough trouble".

But one teenager, who witnessed the show, said: "It happened just before lunch when we were in drama class, discussing our GCSE coursework.

"The teacher suddenly announced: 'Something is about to happen'.

Then a woman in a very short skirt walked in dressed as a copper.

"She asked the lad to stand up, which he did, and told him he had been a very naughty boy because he hadn't been doing his homework.

"Then she put on some Britney Spears music and got out a collar and lead from her bag and told him to put them on.

"No one could believe it. Next she ordered him to get on all fours, led him around the classroom and hit him 16 times - one for each year - on the bottom with her whip.

"Then she took off some clothes until she was down to her bra and pants, pulled out some cream, put it on her buttocks and told him to rub it in.

"To be fair to the teacher, you could tell she was just stunned - and when the cream came out she told the stripper: 'That's it. That's enough'."

The teenager said the boy ran out of the classroom while the stripper calmly packed her bag and left.

"Everyone was in a state of shock," added the source.

"Apparently the boy's mum arranged the whole thing. But all she wanted to do was embarrass him with a little bit of fun.

"She thought she had booked something like a gorilla to chase him around the classroom. She certainly didn't expect anything like this.

"Apparently minutes before the stripper turned up the mum told the teacher something was going to happen and gave her a camera to film it all."

A spokesman for the school would only say yesterday: "There was an incident, we are aware of it, and it is being dealt with."

Nottinghamshire County Council, the local education authority, is investigating.

No pupils have been suspended and police officers are not involved.

Dave Lewis, of Nottingham-based agency Sam's Entertainment, said the firm who took the booking had acted unethically.

He said: "If this happened in front of the kids then it's outrageous. We get kids ringing up now and again, but we always say no.

"Sometimes someone will say they want something for their teacher, but when we ask for written permission they don't call back."

That must be every 16 year old teenagers dream.

Im practically crying at the moment after chopping up 6 onions to make some french onion soup.
I've been in tears for about 20 minutes I can barely see :lol:

Programmme about the redevelopment of St Pancras Station tonight, 10pm on BBC 2 - it's called 'The 800 Million Pound Railway Station'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/14/guardiansocietysupplement.carbonemissions

Almost 12 months later, with a phenomenal amount of new awareness at all levels of government and society, there is a real sense that things have moved on. Now, some 277 authorities have signed the [b]Nottingham declaration[b/] - a voluntary pledge to tackle climate change - a 30% increase on last year. Scotland and Wales have their own versions and all local authorities are signed up.

Feels good when they talk about us like that. The "Nottingham Declaration". :D

Good stuff!

http://www.gwll.org.uk/upload/images/image30.jpg

Hey Nottingham. Where's the cheese?

Can anyone name a type of cheese that originated in Notts?

Can't wait to see how this pans out...

Su Pollard.

Paper Lace :lol:

Can't get that "Billy Don't Be a Hero" song out of my head now...

My work here is done :devil:

Look where they were all from...

Michael Vaughn (born 27 July 1950, in Sheffield, England) — guitar
Chris Morris (born 1 November 1954, in Nottingham, England) — guitar
Carlo Santanna (born 29 July 1947, near Rome, Italy) — guitar
Philip Wright (born 9 April 1946, in St Annes, Nottingham, England) — drums / lead vocals
Cliff Fish (born 13 August 1949, in Ripley, Derbyshire, England) — bass
Jonathan Arendt (born 13 August 1949, in Tokyo, Japan) — bass

I hate that song too - thanks for ruining my day Mark76

MWUHAHAHAHAHA

Yeah, sorry.

Showaddywaddy.

Santana was in Paper Lace? :?

http://www.carlopaulsantanna.com/

Showaddywaddy - pure cheese. I remember people walking around in those suits and shoes - madness!

See! Leicester... Cheese capital of the East Midlands :lol:

Does Nottinghamshire lack cows* and grass** or something

*The bovine ruminant

** The stuff on your lawn. Not the stuff you buy from dodgy looking types in Radford/Hyson Green

http://www.artisanalcheese.com/prodinfo.asp?number=10515

Only problem with that is Stilton originated in Leicestershire and is named after a village in Cambridgeshire. So it's not a native cheese of Notts.

Try again

Damn you! Foiled again!

I guess we just win with the retail, the regional institutions, the public transport, the architecture, the arena, the core city thing, the science city thing, the media and the economy. And we make the best example of the cheese you invented.

But you invented it. Fair play to you.

I see you left out sport...

Yes, sorry, I suppose we beat you with our national watersports centre, national ice sports centre, test cricket ground, the oldest league football club and double European Cup winning football team as well...

PLus, I bet you've never had cheese riots: "In 1764 there were cheese riots in the city due to an increase of a third on the price of cheese compared with the previous year. Stallholders at the Goose Fair were pelted with cheese, large cheeses were bowled down the streets and the mayor was unceremoniously flattened by a 100lb cheese."

National Watersports Centre (closing down)
National Ice Sports Centre (Torvill & Dean more cheese)
Test Cricket Ground (fair enough)
Notts County (wooooo)
Forest (League One)

What about rugby? Got any double Eurpoean champions there?

We respect our cheese!

When did Nottingham stop being called Snottingham?

Does the original name mean "the home of Snot"?

The National Watersports Centre is not closing down. It will just changes its name from National Watersports Centre to Watersports Centre. ;)

When did Nottingham stop being called Snottingham?

Does the original name mean "the home of Snot"?

Your nearly right. :lol:

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names it's:
'Homestead of the family or followers of a man called Snot'

National Ice Sports Centre (Torvill & Dean more cheese)

Actually, more the home of UK ice hockey (if you like that sort of thing, forgot to mention Nottingham Panthers ae the reigning champions, play-off winners, whatever??) Olympic speed skating etc

Forest, league One

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Rugby etc

Egg chasing. Meh.

When did Nottingham stop being called Snottingham?

Does the original name mean "the home of Snot"?

Whereas Leicester...

"Recorded on a document of 1087 as Lægreceastrescir, the county takes its name from that of the city of Leicester, referred to as Ligera Ceaster in a document of 917AD. The origin of the first part of the latter's name, "Lei-", is not certain. The last part "-cester" shows the town developed on the site of a former Roman station (Old English ceaster. The most likely origin of the first part is that it comes from the name given to the people who lived in the area."

So, the name of people who lived in... a station? Like, tramps?

^^

That's just interpretation - a man called 'Snot ' was a fact. :D

The Romans didn't have trains. It was more like a fort or castle. There is of course the theory that the "Lei" bit comes from Leir - or the modern version Lear. Hence Lears City, with the poor grammar included.

No mention of snot though...

The Romans didn't have trains....

Snot possible.

Snot likely either

Someone's posted a video on You Tube from Leicester station about the last few hours of Midland Mainline and Central Trains:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDP6wC_9ynw

and someone else has shot a video of the first 'East Midlands Train':
RwmIWqzLiNk&rel

i dont think ive ever been so bored in all my life, this site is fucking shit now

i dont think ive ever been so bored in all my life, this site is fucking shit now

I agree BG I go on and read with increasing despair at the lack of new and seriously interesting developments in Leicester. This has meant the content has sunk to level of point scoring with our hyper ego'd neighbours. Its just so not interesting:ohno:

I agree, this site has been dead over the past 2 days.

Right, thats it im off to cook some dinner and watch TV. Anything would be better than this shit :lol:

What has upset you so much?

Another big conference in Notts:

A Major tourism conference is due to be held in Nottingham next year. The European Cities Marketing conference will attract 150 city leaders from across the continent.

The announcement will help strengthen Nottingham's growing reputation as a good conference venue.

Earlier this year the Conservative Part Spring Forum was held in the city and last week, the Core Cities Summit brought some 500 representatives of the top eight English cities outside London.

Tourism experts believe business visitors boost leisure tourism if they have a positive experience at a conference, either returning to the city themselves or encouraging other people to go there.

Chief Executive of Experience Nottinghamshire Professor John Heeley said: "It will be an excellent opportunity to showcase the quality and range of Nottinghamshire's venues."

The conference will be at the Crowne Plaza hotel. This year's event, which has just concluded, was in Prague.

The city is also bidding for the 2009 Rural Tourism Congress.

Some Midlands News from EGi.

The overspill from the South East into the Midlands looks set to continue through the creation of new settlements around Milton Keynes, reports the Financial Times in a Regional Focus feature.

The East Midlands Development Agency points to the strength of Nottingham in financial and business services. Real Estate Investors has promised to spend £100m in the West Midlands in 2008.

Birmingham, however, has suffered from stagnation in new-build city flats, and developers have built for a market that Savills says has evaporated. Some developers have been asking to reconfigure developments that have already received planning permission, such as Masshouse Developments. Alan Chatham and Mark Billingham have removed The Mailbox from the market.

Why has it been so dead on here for the past few days?

Why has it been so dead on here for the past few days?

Its weird really as its not as if theres been not alot of new developments being announced over the last few days, I mean in Leicester alone, there is the;
Eco town, Tigers Stadium, Digital Media centre etc.

This is the Skybar, though. The place to talk about any old rubblish that comes to mind.

So... Who else saw tonight's Doctor Who vignette?

I did. It was completely pointless but gave me a worrying amount of pleasure - especially when the new Doc made fun of the old Doc's celery. I'm easily amused.

what i mean is, im sick of reading the same load of bollocks over and over again, theres so many threads or whatever there called that it takes me hours to read them and most of em are just the same old arguments, nothing new.

still wiv me?

i prefered it wen there was just one leicester thread, it onley took ten mins to catch up, cos i use a library i wen im not banned, i can onley get on here once every now and then and by then theres hundreds of posts to read thru which wouldnt be so bad if i hadnt read thru them hundreds of times before

still wiv me?

and u mite have noticed wen i get bored i turn into a little fucker

Something you might find amusing (if you're not from Nottingham) (http://newsbiscuit.com/article/home-by-christmas-police-to-withdraw-from-nottingham-228)

Oh that started my day in such an enjoyable way! Very amusing! What a random website though?!

Yeah, it's like a British version of The Onion (http://www.theonion.com/content/index)

ive just wrote an article on it about robin hood, under the name of dale lee bullet inn, i hope it dont get ripped to shreds, it took me half an hour to register on the bastard

Something you might find amusing (if you're not from Nottingham) (http://newsbiscuit.com/article/home-by-christmas-police-to-withdraw-from-nottingham-228)

Excellent, the only thing most people will probably think its true, it is true isn't it..:nuts:

Trent Street man betta watch ot

how the fuck do u work storage heaters? ive not had the heating on in 4 years and im sic of being freezing.

Take some more smack, mate. That'll fix yer.

Take some more smack, mate. That'll fix yer.
Oi, crime rate is high enough in Leicester alreayd, dont need BG jacking more old ladies again..

Well... so much for rushcliffe be the all high and almighty... can't even meet their energy targets lol.

Calls have been made for five councils in and around Notts to be fined after it was revealed that they are set to miss Government targets on home energy efficiency. Ministers have been urged to cut funding from those authorities who fail to achieve a 30% cut in the amount of energy consumed by households by 2011, compared to 1996.

Erewash Borough Council is leading the way, having already achieved a 28.6% improvement, while Nottingham City, Newark and Sherwood, Ashfield and Broxtowe councils have all topped 20%.

But with five years to go, Rushcliffe, Amber Valley, Gedling, Bassetlaw and Mansfield are all set to miss the target.

Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on Warm Homes, called for tougher action after Government officials admitted powers to order councils to improve performance have not been used - and there are no sanctions against those who miss the target.

Mr Simpson also warned councils are in for an "almighty shock" if they expect to make huge improvements in the final years.

"Nottingham's figures are pretty good, but two thirds of the authorities in the region are behind in the delivery of energy efficiency targets," he said.

"There are some authorities in the lower echelons who are never going to make it. If at this stage you are running at 15% or lower then you're in serious trouble."

Mr Simpson suggested those councils which fail to hit the mark should have some of their Government grant cut.

The targets were set when the Home Energy Conservation Act was introduced in 1995.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently published the figures councils had achieved by 2006 - ten years through the 15-year period.

To be on course, councils should already have passed the 20% mark. Erewash Borough Council has reached 28.6%, Newark and Sherwood District Council 23.8%, Nottingham City Council 23.4%, while Ashfield District and Broxtowe Borough councils are both on 20.8%.

But Bassetlaw is languishing at nine per cent - for 2005; Defra did not have its statistics for 2006 - while Mansfield was down on 9.8%.

A spokesman for Mansfield District Council claimed they started from a low position because of the area's background as a former coalfield area.

He said Defra's figure did not take into account improvements carried out by private sector households.

Taking this into account would bring the council up to 14-15%, he added.

A spokeswoman for Erewash Borough Council said it had one officer who was responsible for raising awareness with residents and giving advice.

A Defra spokeswoman said all authorities have to report annually on progress.

But the target was not a legally binding and no sanctions applied to authorities on course to miss the target.

She added: "The Sustainable Energy Act 2003 provides a power for the Secretary of State to issue an Energy Efficiency Direction to local authorities, requiring them to take energy efficiency measures which will result in a specified improvement in energy efficiency in an area by a specified date.

"This power has not been exercised."

She said the department is currently consulting after a review of the scheme.

The review found inconsistency in energy efficiency - making it difficult to accurately link performance to funding.

A Nottingham City Council spokeswoman said: "A lot of factors have contributed to us being well on course to improving our home energy efficiency by 30% in 2011. Encouraging people to change basic energy aspects in their homes makes all the difference.

"We have successfully promoted loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation. We have given out over 130,000 free low energy lightbulbs that are saving over £1m on fuel bills every year and our July 2007 survey found a typical home had 5.3 low energy bulbs."

She added that updated building regulations meant new buildings are more energy efficient and grants are given out to property owners and tenants.

Amber Valley Borough Council said it offered advice surgeries, promoted grants and offered home energy checks.

nah, smack makes u feel cold and miserable wen it wears off. il just keep wearing my coat, although as most old people say 'u wont feel the benefit wen u go out' and as i say, i wont feel fuck all if i freeze to death

From 2003, but interesting detail about the advantages of the Three City model, which is seen as essential in making the East Midlands a top 20 European region:

http://www.emra.gov.uk/files/file334.pdf

Three Cities Airport...

I have not got time to read that right now however i'll get back to you sometime soon.

Can't you sum it up for us lears?

The Three Cities need to combine to have any clout on the European stage. Nottingham currently better placed, due to having less reliance on declining manufacturing - but all three cities have lots of potential. Too much detail to summarise, though there is some interesting stuff about how Nottingham is leading the way on transport and its model should be copied in Leicester and Derby. Imagine a Tri City tram network!

The Three Cities need to combine to have any clout on the European stage. Nottingham currently better placed, due to having less reliance on declining manufacturing - but all three cities have lots of potential. Too much detail to summarise, though there is some interesting stuff about how Nottingham is leading the way on transport and its model should be copied in Leicester and Derby. Imagine a Tri City tram network!

I obviously haven't taken a look at the reprort... Intact I'm sitting in the market square spectator lounge watching the world go by whilst writing this ob the iPhone....but... From what I do know about this three cities thing I agree with most of it. I agree with the three cities thing... I agree we can o
work together to encourage investment, I agree we should work together to better our infrastructures, I agree we teach and guide eachother etc... The only thing I don't agree with is that we need to actually be seen as and call our self 1 city (the east midlands).

I can't see why we can't be seen as three separate cities (note its called tri-city) not one city) and still real all the same benefits.

what do you lot think?

I can't see why we can't be seen as three separate cities (note its called tri-city) not one city) and still real all the same benefits.

Because none of our cities on its own has the potential to compete with the offers of other (often European) cities. Nottingham or Derby can't compete with Hamburg or Marseille on their own - they are just not big enough. But Nottingham/Leicester/Derby between us have the intellectual/population/infrastructure capacity to do so.

Take Hamburg - a wealthy city region of 3.5 million people (http://international.hamburg.de/index.do?ok=18338&uk=18362). As the report says, the "Three Cities" covers about 70% of the population of the East Midlands in a pretty compact area. So the "Three Cities" has a comparable catchment.

Of course, I would agree with you that we can't submerge our identities in some made-up pseudo-corporate branding. Just as no-one knows what the East Midlands is or means, so no-one will know what the Three Cities means. But it seems to me self-evident that marketing Nottingham Leicester and Derby together where that benefits everyone is no bad thing.

Maybe i'm not making it clear what I mean:

Because none of our cities on its own has the potential to compete with the offers of other (often European) cities. Nottingham or Derby can't compete with Hamburg or Marseille on their own - they are just not big enough. But Nottingham/Leicester/Derby between us have the intellectual/population/infrastructure capacity to do so.

I understand (and agree with this) this...

Take Hamburg - a wealthy city region of 3.5 million people (http://international.hamburg.de/index.do?ok=18338&uk=18362). As the report says, the "Three Cities" covers about 70% of the population of the East Midlands in a pretty compact area. So the "Three Cities" has a comparable catchment.

I understand and agree with this.

Of course, I would agree with you that we can't submerge our identities in some made-up pseudo-corporate branding. Just as no-one knows what the East Midlands is or means, so no-one will know what the Three Cities means. But it seems to me self-evident that marketing Nottingham Leicester and Derby together where that benefits everyone is no bad thing.

And I agree with this... My point is simply about the East Midlands name. We should promote ourselfs Nottingham, Leicester and Derby rather than the East Midlands.

Finally... with this.. is there any particular reasons we can't all aim for our own individual targets? For example.. the tram thing I was talking about in the EMA Threads... Notts is a place of transport excellence...we want to bring more of that by being able to take people directly to the airport. Would it be wrong for us to support that more than we support an idea of moving the train line so our trains are linked to EMA?

Nottsterby!

Leicbyham!

Deringster!

Lastly.. couldn't I argue that "productive competition" would be better than total co-operation?

By that I mean working together to improve infrastructure between our cities but still fighting it out to attract the top businesses and investment?

McClaren finally sacked :applause:

Finally... with this.. is there any particular reasons we can't all aim for our own individual targets? For example.. the tram thing I was talking about in the EMA Threads... Notts is a place of transport excellence...we want to bring more of that by being able to take people directly to the airport. Would it be wrong for us to support that more than we support an idea of moving the train line so our trains are linked to EMA?

Bcause a direct train link running from the EMA to Leicester, Nottingham and Derby benefits all three cities whereas a direct tram link to Nottingham only benefits Nottingham only.

We need something like the Docklands Light Railway to connect the airport to all three cities (and Loughborough).

Exactly.. and this is my point... should we be held back for Leicester and Derby?

My point is simply about the East Midlands name. We should promote ourselfs Nottingham, Leicester and Derby rather than the East Midlands?

Absolutely, for two reasons:

1) Geo-politically - the "official" East Midlands covers a lot more than Nottingham - Leicester - Derby. Parts of the Manchester suburbs (bordering Stockport) are officially in the East Mids region, as are the Lincolnshire coast, and the area just north of Milton Keynes, but obviously none relate to Nottingham - Leicester - Derby.

2) "The East Midlands" is a horrible made-up name of no real identity (as we have argued in the airport thread). Nottingham, Leicester and Derby have an identity. And even if that identity is not clear abroad, the people of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby are very clear where they come from and are proud of it.

Now we're in agreement, but does that mean we shouldn't compete. Does that mean we must be held back if we do something that dosn't benefit the other two?

Exactly.. and this is my point... should we be held back for Leicester and Derby?


Why would it hold you back? You'd benefit from it just as much as us and Derby. Stop being so bloody selfish.

Why would it hold you back? You'd benefit from it just as much as us and Derby. Stop being so bloody selfish.

Mark. I'm having a serious discussion... Comments like "stop being so bloody selfish" really won't get you anywhere or convince me of anything mate.

I understand we wouldn't benefit from it as much as you.. my point is we wouldn't benefit from it as much as we would from a tram link.

Should we put a hold on our transport plans just to please Leicester and Derby? This is a case in which Leicester and Derby are essentially holding back Nottingham. My concern is that we will see more of this in the future if this is the case.... and personally.. I have not yet been convinced over any reasons of why we should be dragged back by Leicester...and Derby.

Oh for God's sake

I shall personally lobby North West Leicestershire District Council to refuse permission for NCT to even think about extending the tramline into Leicestershire.

You just want all the new jobs, investment and prestige developments to go to Nottingham. You want Leicester and Derby to be no more than dormitory towns for the almighty capital of the East Midlands with only just enough of a retail and leisure offer to keep the plebs happy but not enough to seriously challenge Nottingham's pre-eminence.

Admit it.

I'll wait on a wiser response from a wiser forumer so i can discuss this in a wise manner..

That's abit extreme don't you think?

I'll wait for you to fuck off and die

You can't really have this discussion without having some idea of the costs.

But, as far as I am aware, re-routing a heavy rail network would be extraordinarily expensive and disruptive, and is therefore never going to happen.

Anyway... so back to the point..

couldn't I argue that "productive competition" would be better than total co-operation?

By that I mean working together to improve infrastructure between our cities but still fighting it out to attract the top businesses and investment?


Should we put a hold on our transport plans just to please Leicester and Derby? This is a case in which Leicester and Derby are essentially holding back Nottingham. My concern is that we will see more of this in the future if this is the case.... and personally.. I have not yet been convinced over any reasons of why we should be dragged back by Leicester...and Derby.

Just to add... London is a great big growing cities because it has loads of little areas within is battling it out for the top spot.. they all have different unique parts about them, some have overground, some have trams, some have channel tunnel links etc.. all of them are battling it out for the big business... but they work together to improve infrasctructure... crossrail, channel tunnel, other transport projects etc.

Should we not do the same in the EM?


But, as far as I am aware, re-routing a heavy rail network would be extraordinarily expensive and disruptive, and is therefore never going to happen.

Exactly. I said this the other day... Suppose it was treble the cost of the tram link. Should we put our third of the cost into the tram or the rail link?

Exactly. I said this the other day... Suppose it was treble the cost of the tram link. Should we put our third of the cost into the tram or the rail link?

Well, to be honest, this is entirely why posting on t'internet is a waste of everyone's time! To answer that question you would have to do a careful and thorough cost/benefit analysis of the different options. None of us is arguing a case from a position of authority or knowledge. We are all pissing in the wind!

So, who knows?? Maybe there would be less direct benefit to Nottingham from a rail rather than tram link, but maybe that would be outweighed by the general uplift in the region's economy that the rail link might give. The city might be better off because the wider region is better off. I haven't got a clue, I suggest you and Mark haven't got a clue either:).

The more general principle suggested by the Three Cities report is that we are, in many senses, in this together. Nottingham can't become a more thriving successful city on its own if it's near-neighbours Leicester and Derby lag too far behind (and vice versa).

I doesn't have to be a full scale railway. Like I said, it could be something like Dockland Light but on a bigger scale. Heck, I'd even support NCT extending the tram line to Leicester. What I don't support is a scheme that will make Nottingham a far more attractive destination and Leicester far less (than either already are).

I doesn't have to be a full scale railway. Like I said, it could be something like Docklnad Light but on a bigger scale. Heck, I'd even support NCT extending the tram line to Leicester. What I don't support is a scheme that will make Nottingham a far more attractive destination and Leicester far less (than either already are).

Building a tram from Nottingham to EMA doesn't make Leicester a less attractive destination, just as building Highcross doesn't make Nottingham's shopping offer any less good.

One thing that the report talks about which makes sense to me is for each city to build on its successes. So it makes much more cost-effective sense to build a tram from Nottingham to EMA than from Leicester, because Nottingham already has a tram network to feed into. You'd get far more benefit for your money in building a really high quality futuristic regular guided bus service to Leicester, with motorway priority, perhaps.

I think we have established that Leicester, Nottingham and Derby will have to work together - to compete with other European city regions. This does not mean that either city needs to lose its identity. This does not mean that each city should not pursue its own ambitions either.

Any of the citys can push their case for jobs, amenities, transport etc...Three ambitious cities, will in the end result in a potent Tri-City force on the European stage.

I personally think that an integrated transport system for the three cities would be a massive driver in giving us economic clout. The EMRA report states this too.

Historically our three cities have been linked for many centuries. Leicester was the capital of the Middle Anglia/Outer Mercia area, which at one time covered everything from the Humber down to Dorchester.

Under Danish rule, we made up three of the Five Boroughs, which then came under Danelaw jurisdiction. The old Middle Anglia and Danelaw combinations have resulted in the East Midlands that we know today.

Leicester, Nottingham and Derby have been closely linked for centuries. The worlds second oldest railway ran through part of Derbyshire to Leicester. The links between our three counties led to Erewash Valley coalminers, fearing the loss of their Leicestershire trade, to create their own railway.

We have worked together in the past and competition between us has led to great advancements. We should be very proud of our historic and innovative region.

Yeah, but Binge, it's the difference between a relatively fast, smooth journey (tram or train) and a relatively slow. bumpy one (bus). Even if they used the motorway the buses can still be caught in jams and tailbacks. Unless you're suggesting a bus lane on the M1.

Like I said, it could be something like Dockland Light but on a bigger scale. .

You see, this is where all your visions and polls and stuff come unstuck.

I am willing to bet you five shiny English pounds that the potential passenger traffic on a light rail system in Europe's financial capital dwarfs, by some margin, the potential traffic between Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and East Midlands Airport, and therefore any talk of a light rail system "like Dockland Light but on a bigger scale" is totally incredible.

Why settle for light rail? Why not campagin for a teleport-based system. it's as likely to happen...

Yeah, but Binge, it's the difference between a relatively fast, smooth journey (tram or train) and a relatively slow. bumpy one (bus). Even if they used the motorway the buses can still be caught in jams and tailbacks. Unless you're suggesting a bus lane on the M1.

Yes, I don't just mean to palm Leicester off with some old corporation double deckers and a lick of paint. I do mean considering something as radical as laning the motorway (or seding buses down the central reservation), prioritising traffic signals etc etc. Something more like this (http://www.tbus.org.uk/).

Would your tram link really be any more financially or economiically viable?

How many people actually fly in to EMA with the express intention of visiting the East Midlands? How many just use it to make a cionnecting flight to somewhere else? and of the former, what proportion of those are travelling to each city/county?

A tram link to Nottingham would be more financially viable than one to Leicester because the route to Clifton would already be built. But is it viable to build to EMA now, on the current economic models? - no, it isn't, which is why Line 2 will stop at Clifton (and not even make the obvious link, from an infrastructure point of view, of running to EM Parkway).

Yes, I don't just mean to palm Leicester off with some old corporation double deckers and a lick of paint. I do mean considering something as radical as laning the motorway (or seding buses down the central reservation), prioritising traffic signals etc etc. Something more like this (http://www.tbus.org.uk/).

Binge i think thats a great idea for most of the public transport in Leicester. That trolley bus has all the benefits of a tram, but without the cost of building tram lines. I think this is the future for Leicester!

So, who knows?? Maybe there would be less direct benefit to Nottingham from a rail rather than tram link, but maybe that would be outweighed by the general uplift in the region's economy that the rail link might give. The city might be better off because the wider region is better off. I haven't got a clue, I suggest you and Mark haven't got a clue either:).

Exactly Binge.. and this is why I brought up this point. Just to point out to mark... I didn't bring this up to start an argument.. but instead to hear everyones thoughts on the matter.

Naturally.. I would support about expanding the line to EMA.. A rail line seems like it would hold us back... but would it? As you say the wider connectivity may have more benefits.

I think we have established that Leicester, Nottingham and Derby will have to work together - to compete with other European city regions. This does not mean that either city needs to lose its identity. This does not mean that each city should not pursue its own ambitions either.

Any of the citys can push their case for jobs, amenities, transport etc...Three ambitious cities, will in the end result in a potent Tri-City force on the European stage.

I personally think that an integrated transport system for the three cities would be a massive driver in giving us economic clout. The EMRA report states this too.

Historically our three cities have been linked for many centuries. Leicester was the capital of the Middle Anglia/Outer Mercia area, which at one time covered everything from the Humber down to Dorchester.

Under Danish rule, we made up three of the Five Boroughs, which then came under Danelaw jurisdiction. The old Middle Anglia and Danelaw combinations have resulted in the East Midlands that we know today.

Leicester, Nottingham and Derby have been closely linked for centuries. The worlds second oldest railway ran through part of Derbyshire to Leicester. The links between our three counties led to Erewash Valley coalminers, fearing the loss of their Leicestershire trade, to create their own railway.

We have worked together in the past and competition between us has led to great advancements. We should be very proud of our historic and innovative region.

I agree totally Lears.

I think this tri city, core city, working together, competing against each other model is a fascinating argument.

I think what comes out of these debates is the importance of the three main connurbations to be open cities. That is the need to be able to move freely and do business with the rest of the world.

I suppose cooperation is inevitable, because as Europeans (difficult for many of us to accept but of course it is a fact economically and politically if not culturally). Then Tri City cooperation will give us the economies of scale to be helped from Brussells. My only problem with this is, is there enough resources for each city to have the same standard of facilities ie International arena, or tramsystem ? No i doubt it, economically it would make more sense to concentrate all the good things in one city, resulting in a core city. (European model of development i think )

But globally maybe each city feels it can compete on it's own using the free market ethic of encouraging competition and winning at the expense of other cities or regions. This i feel uses the market place as the decision making tool if something is viable it will get done or built. Allthough big ambitious projects are rarely done without public sector cooperation. But it may result in more freedom for a city to do what it wants for it's people. For example duplicate facilities ie arena and tram system and as a result discourage one dominant core city. (Free market global model i think )

Perhaps the future is a combination of the two cooperation and competition.

But i think it is important for policy makers to understand the basic principle that a certain density of population needs a standard of facilties in relation to the wealth and technology available today.

My argument is that however this is realised whether publicly funded or privately funded or a combination of both. It is essential that the people of a city with similar populations should be entitled to feel that their city is not second rate. And just because two cities of simliar population are relatively close to each other does not automatically mean that one city should have and the other should make do without.

EMA- Good chance to show cooperation ie a link from Parkway or reroute main line (Tri city). Or each city can be competitive with its own links (free market competition). Or one city can dominate (core city) with its own best link.

Interesting points Cob Rox. And I agree.

If we go by this tri-city one city thing. We're a city of 2.5m people (or however much it is). Manchester is similar sized and has one arena, yorkshire is similar sized and has one arena. Using that argument Leicester does not need an arena because "our city" already has one.

I personally think.. we.. like London should work together to improve infrastrcture.. lets improve transport, improve connectivity. This is the most important thing. For example... tram links in Leicester that allow you to get to Nottingham or Derby from your doorstep. Though is unrealistic any time soon I think this is the vision we should be heading for. This way... we really are a city of 2.5m people... anyone can work anwhere.. be there for any time.. there are not transport constrains. A single parent mother should be able to drop her kids to School in Nottingham but still be able to get to work in Leicester for 9 o clock.

Now at the same time... I think all cities should be in competition with each other. Yes.. there should be an equal levelled playing field but we should all be able to get out and strive for our own investment. We should all be fighting for the big businesses, be fighting for the big investments etc. Competition will without a doubt increase performance, increase investment in this and that from our councils.

I think this is the model we should follow. I don't believe any city should be held back for another city. Leicester should be able to peruse its arena.. if the guys who will fund it turn around and say we don't think there is an economic case for an arena than fair enough. In the same way... Nottingham should be able to pursue tram links to EMA, if the government turn around and say a rail link between the three cities would be more beneficial than fair enough.

I say this is like London because London is one large city. Larger than we will ever be. But if we look at their model.. all areas in London have the ability to go out and secure investment. There is loads of competition within the city. If I have a large multi-national business there are so many places I could locate. I wouldn't get told I have to locate in a particular section of London because they have the least investment, or because they are not doing as well as places like the city or canary wharf... there is loads of competition. This competition is leading to better and better facilities, larger offices, high quality buildings etc. This in turn in bringing more and more businesses to London, creating more and more demand, leading to more and more competition.

However.... they still work together in London to ensure there is a level playing field. Crossrail is being created to ensure people on the outskirts can access the places of employment, to improve connectivity, to provide links to the airport etc.

See my point?

What do you guys think?

With the arena comment. Birmingham has 2.5 million people and two arenas. There are two arenas in Manchester. Leeds is likely to get an arena - hence there will be two in Yorkshire. I do take the point however, that if experts were to conclude that Leicester can't support an arena, then so be it. My campaign is only aiming for the powers that be, to look at the possibility.

Our cities should be able to pursue their own aims. I agree with that. However, I don't agree that one city should have everything at the expense of the others. The whole point of the tri-city model is that it needs to work. that can only work if each city has an impetus to be involved and some sort of reward from our enhanced status. I also think if something works well in one city, then we should look to replicate it in the other cities.

An interesting debate this. I was just thinking what the actual popluation is and what a list of the facilities we have would look like?

Quick thoughts:

- 4 football teams - two planning 45,000 seat stadia, one looking at 50,000 seats
- 2 rugby teams - one looking to expand to 30,000 seats
- 3 cricket teams - Test venue 17,000 seats, one 12,000 seats the other 9,500 seats
- 5 shopping centres
- 3 main railway stations
- 5 universities (6 if we include Loughborough)
- 6 hospitals (I think)
- served by three motorways
- indoor arena
- tram network

Looks impressive eh? If we were linked together with a transport network - then we would be a top 20 region in Europe!

If we were linked together with a transport network - then we would be a top 20 region in Europe!

Don't forget, the "Top 20 region in Europe" thing is an aspiration for the whole East Midlands.

The argument for the "Three Cities" is that Derby/Leicester/Nottingham and the areas inbetween (3 Cities does include Loughborough) make up 70% of the population and even more of the economic activity of the East Midlands as a whole.

The EMRA report does mention that the Three Cities will need to be the force that makes the region successful. I'm assuming that Northampton is still part of the East Midlands - and there are major plans fro expansion there. Not sure how they fit in though, because I guess that the southern parts of Northants look to Milton Keynes and possibly the Home Counties, for identity/co-operation?

To what extent does Mansfield look north? Lincolnshire is quite confusing too, in an East Midlands context?

Yes too big and confusing. Maybe dare i say it, it is time to claim the East Midlands for the three cities and towns and villages in between to clarify and simplify things ?

You see - even those of us on this thread, living in the East Midlands, and with a keen interets in regional issues DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS!!!!:)

The idea that it's a good idea to label anything "East Midlands" (like an airport, say??) and expect anyone else to know where it is is ridiculous!

For anyone who's interested - "The East Midlands is geographically England’s fourth largest region in terms of area (15,607 sq km) and the second smallest region in terms of population. The region consists of 5 counties and 4 unitary districts: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Derby City, Leicester City, Nottingham City and Rutland County, and is one of England’s most diverse regions."

Map here (http://www.gos.gov.uk/facts/factem/?a=42496) - look at how little area the Three cities area takes up compared to the whole.

Yes Binge the East Midlands seems to mainly cabbage fields :lol:

Som more hefty reading material here, relating to East Midlands rail usage and future plans...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/strategyfinance/strategy/rpa/pdfemrpa

Apparently the Three Cities area includes the cities and their counties. So that covers a large part of the East Midlands.

The Peterborough UA is massive :eek:

Apparently the Three Cities area includes the cities and their counties. So that covers a large part of the East Midlands.

Except the Three Cities doesn't, if you read the document! In Nottinghamshire, for example it's the City, Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe, not Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield or anywhere further north.

It seems Rushcliffe Borough Council are good at recycling things just not getting the citizens to turn the lights off at bedtime

From the BBC

Council champions recycling table
People in a part of Lincolnshire are recycling and composting more waste than any other district in England.
North Kesteven District Council has topped the household recycling and composting category in the government's league table for 2006/07.

The figures show 55.5% of household waste was made into compost or recycled in the area.

Rushcliffe Borough Council in Notts achieved 52.2% and Harborough District Council in Leics scored 48.6%.

Gedling Borough Council in Nottinghamshire was one of the top 10 dry recyclers, with a rate of 32.1%.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council in Leicestershire had one of the lowest household waste rates per head at 329kg (0.3 tonnes).

Across England, 83% of local authorities collected less household rubbish than in 2005/06 and 94% of councils recycled and composted more of their household waste than the previous year.

From EP

Business leaders have accused councils of undermining their own strategy for tackling congestion that costs the East Midlands economy nearly £1bn a year.

City and county councils in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire have been carrying out a study into how congestion could effect the region over the next 20 years.

But bosses from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Chamber say different councils are proposing different solutions to the problem.

The Chamber has already held talks with Nottingham City Council about its plans to introduce a workplace parking levy.

Now it has sought an urgent meeting with the city council in Derby after discovering that the authority is thinking of bringing in congestion charging.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Chamber, says councils should not be drawing individual conclusions when they are still carrying out a collective study.

He said: "We have sought a meeting with Derby City Council as a matter of urgency because we believe the problem of congestion cannot be tackled city by city but requires solutions that take into account demands on the transport infrastructure across the entire area.

"Now we see Nottingham City Council going it alone in pursuing its workplace parking levy, and Derby looking at congestion charging in order to obtain Government funding for road improvements - something some of our members argue they have already been paid for through existing rates, road fund licensing and fuel charges."

The idea of any form of congestion charging has sparked controversy among Chamber members, who worry it could damage trade while increasing costs.

The Chamber has supported the 6Cs Congestion Management Study that the councils are carrying out, but also wants to see improvements in the region's transport infrastructure such as roads like the A46 and A453.

Mr Cowcher added: "The results of the study will better inform any decisions on what the actual problems are and the package of measures that will be needed to tackle them, and we should wait and see.

"It's too early to make any conclusions at this stage."

"I feel like I have been acting in Coronation Street all my life and now I am King Lear."

Ian Holloway on his appointment as Leicester City manager.

Excellent- More proof of the tensions between individual city autonomy and regional cooperation.

I'm for regional cooperation when it comes to transport.

Leicester's policy seems to be to out price the car from the city centre with high car park fees and parking meters everywhere. And to have relatively expensive and disjointed public transport.

Rumours of congestion charges but nothing definite

We get by though, we manage by taking out an overdraft and fighting are way into the city. :lol:

BTW i wish people would get in the habit of leaving used but still in date day tickets in the bus shelters. Not naughty, no i'm just being environmentally friendly by recycling and not using extra paper and ink on needless extra tickets. :lol:

"I feel like I have been acting in Coronation Street all my life and now I am King Lear."

Ian Holloway on his appointment as Leicester City manager.

Great quote i think he is a real character and i have a good feeling about him being a successfull manager. Not for us though ! he will probably get tempted into the premiership next month. :lol:

Haven't you just done the crazy mad bastard thing with the last guy? (Not Meggo, the other one...) D'you think Mandaric picked the wrong "crazy guy" in the first place??

Martin "Mad Dog" Allen was too mad for Mandy. Hopefully this one will be less mad?

forest aren't doing too bad are they? 2-0 there might be a switch in divisions between notts and Leicester at the end of the season?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I've just been taking a look through the rail thing Lears posted the other day... and i'm only on the 13th page but looking at this.. rail links in Nottingham will always be significantly better than they will be in Leicester. I'm just making a point... but for example:

Notts already has direct links to (im only listing the places Leicester dosn't have direct links too): Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, (I can't remember the other big cities). There are no plans in that masterplan to connect Leicester to places like this.

It is a short term priority to connect Notts with Leeds. While it is a medium/long term priority to to connect Leicester with Leeds.. however.. It is also a medium/long term priority to then improve frequency with Notts and Leeds.

There are also plans to improve journey times between Notts and Manchester (by cutting out sheffield), Lincoln, Bingham..... whilst there are no specific plans to improve frequency/connectivity in Derby or Leicester other than to improve frequency with Nottingham.

I thought it would also be interesting to note that the heaviest passenger flows are from Leicester to Nottingham.

I think what we really need would be a high speed link with Manchester. Although the current trains aren't exactly slow they are pretty small and get full up far to quickly.
The stop at Sheffield is a right ballache aswell having to go back on yourself.

I though it would be interesting to Note that the heaviest passenger flow in the region is from Leicester to Nottingham.

We should benifit heavilly from some line improvements. The trains can travel at 125mph but are limited to 70mph on most of the Midland Mainline.

And look at this.. this is absolutely ridiculous. Averages speeds:

Nottingham to Manchester - 43mph!!!!
Nottingham to Birmingham - 43mph!! :wtf:

Derby to Birmingham has an average speed of 64mph and they call that competitive??

The Role of The Railway

Rail passengers tend to make much longer trips than car passengers and rail’s market share increases significantly for longer distance trips. Rail’s longer distance focus means it is not in direct competition with local bus networks.

Can't they see that the only reason this is is because local rail services are so slow that its faster to get on a bus or drive?

Low cost air services from Nottingham EMA to Glasgow and Edinburgh appear to have impacted upon rail demand between the East Midlands and Scotland.

You don't say!!!! It will cost me about £90 quid to go to edinburgh and will take about 5 hours whereas it will cost about £30/40 on the plane and will take 1 and a half hours or so.

Derby has quite a large station though for it's size, as alot of transfers take place there.
Has anyone been on the train to Sheffield recently? There are loads of track works going on and it crawls to Sheffield from Langley Mill. It goes so bloody slow.

I though it would be interesting to Note that the heaviest passenger flow in the region is from Leicester to Nottingham.


Is that just Leicester to Nottingham or is Nottingham to Leicester included in that as well?

People in a part of Lincolnshire are recycling and composting more waste than any other district in England.
North Kesteven District Council has topped the household recycling and composting category in the government's league table for 2006/07.

The figures show 55.5% of household waste was made into compost or recycled in the area.

this is indeed true, and just to help encourage it further still north kesteven district council is near bottom nationally for government funding. no kind act goes unpunished.

oh and that rail planning document, nice to see they have such outdated population figures. the 2006 lincolnshire figures are 13000 more plus how can they remove grimsby from this? grimsby is basically dependent on lincoln for its railways as the railways go through lincoln to grimsby! without lincoln grimsby doesnt have rail access but of course north east lincolnshire isnt included in the planning figures. fucking dicks, grimsby is part of lincolnshire!

next question. why does nottingham to grantham get 2 trains per hour and nottingham to lincoln get 1? not sure how they can compare the lincoln to london journey to MML as almost no trains at all connect. they arent taking into account that there have been so few connecting trains gner had to lay on buses to feed their customers to newark!

next up, how can they say the lincolnshire road network isnt faster than taking the train? its always faster to drive somewhere than it is to take the train. as an extreme example it takes 3 and a half hours to go from lincoln to kings lynn..... oh wait, kings lynn despite being a nearby town relatively speaking isnt in the east midlands so they ignore all those places. again a nice way of rigging the railways to look better than they are.

they do however point out more people are going from here south, thats because lincolnshire is part of bloody east anglia! the only places you can get a train to relatively easy from lincoln are places like sheffield and nottingham but people want to go to cambridge and peterborough (thats where the road journeys tend to go).

i see the freight part completely misses out the bottleneck that is central lincoln. so many freight trains go through that central lincoln is literally shut down for up to 40 minutes of every hour as the level crossings close.

apparently we have good road networks too. hahah. thatll explain why there's frequent gridlocks because the population is booming and no one is building any roads or putting on any new public transport.

check out figure 4.1. see hwo they actually lump in walking with flying! 10% of people travelling over 200 miles walk, or "other". muppets.

:lol: I thought you'd have lots of opinions on this

well there's lies, damned lies, and DoT statistics.

well there's lies, damned lies, and DoT statistics.

what will I take I wonder for them to buck up on their ideas??

no big transprt project outside of London seems to given any real though or time of mind.

the place with the fastest population growth outside of london is lincolnshire... and if that doesnt make them buck up their ideas nothing will. you add the equivalent of a small town to your population every five years and get nothing at all, infact they actually fund you at lower levels per capita than the rest of the country as you're growing whilst they will give you the same money as in 2001 or in some cases 1991! interestingly, transport is actually ranked as the number 1 issue in lincolnshire according to the pollsters ahead of things like the economy, crime, education and health! thats how bad it is.

There have been plenty of good photos of East Midlands cities on these forums yet none of them have ever been featured on a banner. Why is that?
Aberdeen has, Liverpool has numerous times, manchester twice that I've known of, London numerous of times, Birmingham?, Leeds?

We need to get more English Cities on the banner IMO.

Stef, that was Aberdeen, Hong Kong the other day!

Yes I no that but there was another one last week that was Aberdeen in Scotland.

Stef, that was Aberdeen, Hong Kong the other day!

I think it was Aberdeen in the 22nd century after more North sea oil was discovered :lol: (did look a bit like Hong Kong though)

lincoln has been on the banner before :) speaking as one of the people who controls this site... if you want banners then make a banner thread and i'll pick the best examples.

bte what are the dimensions for banners?

just wanted to say congrautulations danz on nottinghams rail links to manchester and leeds etc, as no one from leicester seems to be biting from ur provocation i thought i would, dont want you to feel that ur boasting has gone to waste mate and that no one on here from leicester could care less if ur trains run to leeds and manchester, seeing as these are two great cities, ican only assume that the passengers are travelling from notts to leeds and manchester and not the other way round.

a bit like the point u keep making whenever u get the chance about how its only one way traffic wiv people from leicester visiting notts and no one from notts bothers coming to leicester.

and this isnt a case of a leicester person getting the hump wiv notts again, as the same old boring predictable people keep saying, its just a response to nottinghams number one fan, danz.

:lol:

13 minutes, fuck me danz, do u live inside a computer mate?

Not quite.

he is surgically connected to his apple mac via the iFuse plug neural plug in.

:lol: :lol: Whilst Gothic is browsing his Windows desktop made in "99 but upgraded seven times ;)

il take ur word for it

why has the outlet shopping center in mansfield changed its name to east mids?

Ah well spotted Braunstone. That "designer outlet" is just a massive TK Maxx really. Boring, dull and pointless. So they should rename it "East Midlands TK Maxx".

I agree that its not an amazing centre but its far more than a tkmaxx? I didn't even realise there was a tk maxx down there.

I was saying the outlet is like one big TK Maxx. Full of people rushing like cattle to buy cheaply made and expensively sold "designer" gear.

ohh yeah yeah I agree.

What were you doing in Mansfield, BG?

And, isn't Manfield "up there" in relation to Nottingham, Danz?

It depends what you mean by up there. If you mean north then yes it is lol.

Where the bloody hell has everyone gone? This is the second time this week it's gone completely dead.

Christmas shopping. No-one knows where to get a Nintendo DS pink or/and black, do they???:)

I dont know where to suggest apart from the usual electronic shops.

I would try amazon.

Game have got the pink and black ones. But you have to buy as a bundle...

http://www.game.co.uk/DS/Hardware/HardwareBundle/~r333089/Pink-DS-Lite-With-MySims-Bratz-Forever-Diamondz-Disney-Friends/

I dont know where to suggest apart from the usual electronic shops.

I would try amazon.

Game have got the pink and black ones. But you have to buy as a bundle...

http://www.game.co.uk/DS/Hardware/HardwareBundle/~r333089/Pink-DS-Lite-With-MySims-Bratz-Forever-Diamondz-Disney-Friends/

"Sorry, out of stock. Try again later."

Its the same with wii's. There out of stock everywhere aswell.

and it's been a year.

Its the same with wii's. There out of stock everywhere aswell.
It's: THEY'RE out of stock.

GOD DAMN IT :mad:

Sorry mr punctuality I didn't realise it bothered you so much.

Ahem, I think you mean, "Mr Punctuation".

I don't give a shit to be honest!

crangle!

Stef: :pet:

Christmas shopping. No-one knows where to get a Nintendo DS pink or/and black, do they???:)

I got one from Game in the Shires :banana:

I bought one from game in the shires

does shires have one of them things between the e and the last s, you know the one i mean, i think its this one ', as in shire's

is that the rite puntuctuality?

Shires does not have an apostrophe, no.

You will all be pleased to learn that the little Bingethinks will have their Nintendos after a friend of a friend has bought them in the States for us. Only 75 quid each there, too!

Are the formats compatible?

Got my nephew a PSP game which wasn't compatible with his US PSP?

Yes, apparently the DS is "regionless".

thanks

Check this out

http://www.robinhood-game.com/

And they even manage to get missions in Leicester and Derby in it too :D

AND... It's free

^^ There was an article in the Leicester Mercury a couple of years ago about that.

Has anyone been watching the series "Robin Hood"? Apparently it's quite good although I have yet to see an episode of it.

Yes I have

And, yes it is.

:lol: It's AWFUL

its fucking awful

its fucking awful

I watch it on Sunday I thought I was pretty good. Derby got mentioned on their a few times lol.

This is just typical! All the Leicester lot are posting that Robin Hood is crap; all the Nottingham lot are posting that Robin Hood is great. Can we not put our petty regional differences aside and judge something on its own merits? Robin Hood is crap, and that is the end of it.

:lol::lol: But I thought it was alright?? There is not really that many amazing british series out there.. one of the better ones I feel.

c'mon we can all agree that Maid Marian is a bit of alright :lol:

And did you know that Sir Guy of Gisborne (a bit of an unfortunate title) in the series is from Leicester.

Not seen it, so no comment...

From EP:

Chinese car and motorcycle companies are seeking to set up a centre in the region.

The East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) has signed an agreement with the Chongqing Automotive Industry Office committing both sides to finding suitable premises.

The arrangement would see Chinese companies setting up here to learn from the region's expertise in automotive technology as well as boosting their commercial research and development activities here.

Emda is now seeking appropriate sites for the centre.

De Lorian Again any one ?

Or is it get a free factory , and cheap kit then shut it down and take all the high tech kit home, due to economic conditions after a short time like happend with some of the factories in the north east.

:ohno:


Or am i just a sceptical .....

Is it just me or has this forum not been too active recently?

The forum or the thread?

The whole forum has been dead recently. Infact the whole of the Uk forum has been dead.

The forum or the thread?

Both really.

The whole forum has been dead recently. Infact the whole of the Uk forum has been dead.

Blame the weather? :(

That'd make more sense if it was blazing hot and sunny out.

The run up to christmas would be the obvious reason IMO. There are lot of maturer forumers on the Uk forum so this time of year is a busy time of year for them.

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares - anyone see it last night. The Curry Lounge in Nottingham - newish restaurant at the bottom of The Axis? Wasn't a great edition, to be honest - the restaurant manager was too reasonable and willing to change to what Gordon Ramsay said. The chef had come from some grand hotel in India and was a decent chef, not the clueless bastards they sometimes have that make for great telly.

Anyway, it made Nottingham look buzzy, handsome and not at all a gun-toting hell-hole. Lots of shots across Market Square - GR riding on a tram etc. Busy night-time economy. Days out in the summer sunshine. The restaurant team drinking outside Fire & Ice in West Bridgford.

Bit of a contrast from Phil and Kirstie, anyway...

I saw the last 20 minutes of it and I agree it made Nottingham look good. About time channel 4 did the city some justice though really.

Just come back from my kid's school nativity play. Was a bit surprised to see the owner of the Curry Lounge in the audience!

From today's Leicester Mercury:

BREAKING NEWS: PARK WINS £1.4 MILLION IMPROVEMENT BID

14:35 - 12 December 2007

Watermead Park has won its £1.4 million bid to improve its paths and bridges.

The beauty spot was part of the Connect2 project which has beaten competition from Sherwood Forest, the Eden Project and the Black Country.

After a two week-public vote, Connect2 received nearly half the vote, and 79 projects across the country will now get their slice of a £50 million Big Lottery pot.

Watermead Park's bid was put together by the county council, Leicester City Council, neighbouring town and parish councils, British Waterways and cycling charity Sustrans. The campaign has been backed by the Leicester Mercury.

Cash will be spent making the park easier for cyclists, the disabled and young families to use.

On receiving the news they had won, John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans, said: "To say I am delighted is such an understatement - this is fantastic news for Sustrans.

"But more importantly, it is fantastic for the 79 communities and many other partners and local authorities across the UK with whom we have been working for the last two years.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us, but the hard work starts now to build those bridges, tunnels, crossings and networks of paths.

"Ultimately the real winners will be those millions of people who will now be able to Connect2 their shops, schools, workplaces and each other every day."

The Big Lottery Fund has been running the competition in conjunction with ITV.

Sir Clive Booth, chair of the BIG Lottery Fund said: "What an amazing nail-biting journey these contestants have been on.

"I congratulate them all - and importantly, the winner of the Big Lottery Fund's People's £50 million prize, Connect2, whose project to create new walking and cycling routes in 79 communities UK wide took 42 per cent of the vote."

Leicester Mercury website, 12th December, 2007

Ha ha ha ha ha ha Danz will absolutely do his nut!!!!!!!!
:rofl:

£1.4m :lol: :lol: :lol:

wot a waste of money, no one will use these paths, well, except for ramblers but there a bunch of twats anyway, and no one will be responsible for there upkeep so theyll just get overgrown etc.

still, at least sherwood forest is fucked ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

oh yeah, and at least 1.4m is better than 0.0m

It's better than nowt.

How much did Sherwood win, again? :hilarious

1.4m is nothing these days, theres houses around the corner from me that are worth more than that

Could some one please arrange for me to get £1.4 million? I could buy ten houses on my street with that. At least our National Forest is doing well in Leicestershire. 7 million new trees planted now...

Did you know there are something like 40 trees for every person in the UK?

Or something like that.

You must have a nice house then

Three bedroom semi detached - 1930's build. It is quite nice thanks.

You must have a nice house then

Mee-ow!

Been having a look at average house prices.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/fn.stm?se

In Leicester the average for a semi-detached is £150,000, which is what my house came out as when last valued.

Only £129,000 in Nottingham...

We all know about Nottinghams tightly drawn boundaries but lets not go there. Anyway whats the highest value house sold in Leicester and Nottingham?

Within city boundary - or outside as well?

within first if anyone can find out (i dont know the answer by the way!)

I can't be bothered to look beyond this

http://www.ourproperty.co.uk/stats/t/leicester.html

http://www.ourproperty.co.uk/stats/t/nottingham.html

Highest in Notitngham I can find - £1.2m, 5 Cavendish Crescent Nth, the Park

1.4m is nothing these days, theres houses around the corner from me that are worth more than that

er sour and grapes spring to mind :lol:

not really you were going for a slice we was going for the lot

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2144/houseph6.png (http://imageshack.us)

This one round the corner from me (red pin) went for 1.15m and it hasnt even got a swimming pool or tennis court, god knows how much they would cost!

^^ Is that Beeston Fields Drive??

yep, its funny cos youve got that oneside of wollaton road then central (a dump estate) on the otherside!

That road is absolutely amazing IMO.

have you been down it? its private so you cant drive but you can walk down it!

Is Beeston Fields Drive actually in the Nottingham city boundary?

have you been down it? its private so you cant drive but you can walk down it!

I've driven down it but had to turn around at the end because of that barrier thing.

Its amazing. Unbelievable diverse, they've got the old cottages, with that spanish villa, than that modern mansion, every house is so different on that street.

Is Beeston Fields Drive actually in the Nottingham city boundary?

Im not sure?? It could be any more a part of Nottingham though.

I think within the Leicester city boundary - the best houses (price and architecture) are to be found in Stoneygate.

Here is a small part of the area from above

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2107963843_d605c8c61c_o.jpg

I remember reading in the Leicester Mercury about 2 years ago, that the first £1 million house had been sold in the area.

Is Beeston Fields Drive actually in the Nottingham city boundary?

not technically although it should be as beeston is clearly part of the city, it is all urban from nottingham city centre to beeston

So it isn't in Nottingham then...

My personal favourite in Notts city boundary is obviously the park estate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Park_Estate)...

Constructed began in the 1800's... they even have their own website (http://www.theparknottingham.co.uk/)!

Was home of Eleanor of Aquitane (Queen of England and France), Sir Jesse Boot, Hugh Grant, King Richard Lionhart, John Player, Sir Paul Smith and many more (http://www.theparknottingham.co.uk/module-htmlpages-display-pid-5.html)

We're very lucky to have such an amazing estate so close to the city centre.

you can clearly make out the whole estate on this map...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2171/2107981205_bb53988ee5.jpg?v=0

If you look at my pano you can see the houses overlooking the city beside the castle:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/953947242_c828656c90_o.jpg

It includes houses such as these (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-15639647.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy)...

http://media.rightmove.co.uk/37k/36248/36248_168061_IMG_01_0014.jpg http://media.rightmove.co.uk/37k/36248/36248_168061_IMG_08_0014.jpg

These (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-7935855.rsp?pa_n=3&tr_t=buy)...

http://media.rightmove.co.uk/5k/4979/4979_nom070038_IMG_00.jpg http://media.rightmove.co.uk/5k/4979/4979_nom070038_IMG_03.jpg

and these (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-7779975.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy)...

http://media.rightmove.co.uk/8k/7225/7225_29LentonRoad_IMG_01.jpg http://media.rightmove.co.uk/8k/7225/7225_29LentonRoad_IMG_12.jpg

Imagine having a garden like that.. and living a 5 minute walk away from town and on the doorstep of the castle?

I should be a saleman..

So it isn't in Nottingham then...


are you blind thats what I said

not technically although it should be as beeston is clearly part of the city, it is all urban from nottingham city centre to beeston

I know the Park Estate - it is very nice! You'd like Stoneygate too Danz. You should visit - and there is a little shopping complex at Allandale Road too.

http://www.stoneygateshops.com/stoneygate_shops/stoneygateshopsl.html

Wasn't Knighton (Leicester) named one of the richest areas outside of London a few years ago?

There are some houses in West Bridgford (Dovedale Road and Melton road) that would probably sell in the region of £1mill.
There huge and most of them either have pools or tennis courts.

West Notts College to Turn Into Uni:

A new university could be set up in a Nottinghamshire town after a multi-million pound grant was approved.
Bosses at West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield have secured £64m from the Learning and Skills Council to pay for the new campus.

Another £20m is expected to be raised, in part from the sale of the old site.

The university, along with an adjoining business park, would help regenerate the area and could be open by 2010, managers said.

'Fit for purpose'

Plans for the new campus, adjacent to the existing site in Derby Road, already have outline planning permission despite some opposition to building on the greenfield site.

The principal, Asha Kemkha, said she believed university courses would be a natural progression from what was on offer at the moment.

"We are hoping to develop our higher education facilities further and be able to expand our higher education curriculum.

"I know this is the desire of Mansfield people to have a university of their own and this puts us in a very, very strong position," she said.

Ms Kemkha added: "It should raise people's aspirations and it should give us a fit-for-purpose college which is right for the 21st Century."

oh my god who the hell would want to go to uni in Mansfield! :nuts:

Youd probably get in with three Es

About time Notts got a third university!

And another big conference in Notts. I don't think Leicester are part of Eurocities form memory. Not sure why... Hull is I think.

Representatives from 30 of Europe’s major cities will descend on Nottingham Trent University today for the inaugural Eurocities working group on culture and creative industries for creative cities.

The group aims to develop the best environment for cities to attract creative industries, promote their interaction and increase their attractiveness and competitiveness.

It has been established by Eurocities, a network that brings together local governments of European cities to share knowledge and ideas, analyse common problems and develop innovative ideas.

Nottingham has been the chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum since 2006, and lobbied for the setting-up of the new working group to showcase the economic and social importance of the creative sector in European cities.

Councillor Malcolm Wood, chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum, and Nottingham’s corporate director of community and culture Michael Williams will open the conference in the university’s Bonington Building, which is home to its School of Art and Design.

Members will hear about the university’s work to support the city’s creative industries.

The working group will aim to provide a range of benefits including new forms of access to financial resources, access to business support, training and entrepreneurialism and new projects and collaborations. It will also draft a policy paper on cities’ recommendations for EU policies on the development of the creative industries for use in lobbying the European Commission and national governments.

Perhaps we didn't want to be.

don't rise to him!!!! :ohno:

I don't think he intended to start an argument :dunno:

I agree he does not intend to but he has a funny way of doing so. To be fair Danz is a prolific poster and long may that continue cos he is always stimulating debate. Where do you get your energy Danz and do you ever work????

I agree he does not intend to but he has a funny way of doing so. To be fair Danz is a prolific poster and long may that continue cos he is always stimulating debate. Where do you get your energy Danz and do you ever work????

:lol: My business is internet based. I spend all day on the net... I can't help but to check these forums every one in a while...

However.. I wasn't trying to start an argument. Your not part of Eurocities..?? Everyones part of Eurocities... even places like Hull... A conference in Notts will see cities "develop the best environment for cities to attract creative industries, promote their interaction and increase their attractiveness and competitiveness"

Why the fuck aren't Leicester a part of that? Why wouldn't Leicester want be a part of that? Your being left out/lagging behind on and awful lot... Tell your councils to get of their arses and make some moves...

I'm not from Leicester.. and its not my responsibility/in my interest to have a moan about that... but after seeing you lot moaning your council lots of other times.... I posted that so one of you lot could moan again... I thought this would inspire you lot to overthrow your council.

So.. phil... can you now see how this post was in the best interest of Leicester!??

Danz, perhaps I sounded a bit flippant.

But why do you say because we are not in a group (of which there are loads) we are lagging behind? Perhaps our council decided it wasn't worthwhile. Perhaps they decided they would probably have little influence in the group, and could use there time better in other ways.

To be honest sounds like another European group that has a grand title and delivers very little. Looking at the sites press releases(http://www.eurocities.eu/main.php) we see all the typical European grand vision but what has Nottingham got out of it?

But why do you say because we are not in a group (of which there are loads) we are lagging behind? Perhaps our council decided it wasn't worthwhile.

I'm not saying your lagging because your not in the group. I'm saying your lagging based purely on your lots moaning. I bet I could find 10 quotes from the last 2 weeks from your fellow forumers complaining about LCC lack of pro-activeness, or lack of ambition etc

Perhaps they decided they would probably have little influence in the group

Do you feel Leicester couldn't have an influence in such a group?

and could use there time better in other ways.

With all the moaning about your council you lot do they're obviously not using they're time as well as they could be...?? Jumping into core cities and sending one or two delegates to find out about the best ways to attract core creative industries isn't going to hurt is it?

we see all the typical European grand vision but what has Nottingham got out of it?

- We host big conferences that bring in a little extra into our economy. And gives us a chance to show of our city and build links with other cities on the continent. Last month we had the Climate change conference, this month we have another.

- We share best practices with the rest of the Euro cities. Rather than having to work everything out for ourselves we get to learn from other cities mistakes.

- In a way similar to core cities they work together to encourage european leaders to make decisions in favour of the core cities. I think this recent planning thing was part of that. Eurocities have been pushing for changes to our complex planning systems.

- And now... we're working on the best way to develop the best environment for cities to attract creative industries. Giving us that extra little edge when it comes to attracting exciting creative industries.

Sorry Danz, but what a load of waffle.

People moaning about their council. Jees, thats a first. Everybody has complaints about their elected representitives locally & Nationally it's always been that way and it always will be. Personally, not happy with everything they are doing, but on whole they are moving us in the right direction.

Again Danz, What has it actually delivered? Has it really raised Hull's profile? Has it lead to new jobs, or new investment?

I'm sure it has it's merits, but i'm hardly up in arms that my council has not met with representives from Bruges to discuss more guff about climate change. I'm sure we'll survive.

Fair enough ;)

Actually I believe our council has a hell of a lot to learn. Maybe they just feel too embarrassed to discuss our joke of a transport system with cities in Europe who do it much, much better and have been doing so for years :mad:



BG

I agree. There is a lot we can all Learn from eachother. Nottingham is no exception.

But this is why I feel it would be a bog standard thing for Leicester to at least want to be part of such a group. Evidently, mph12 feels differently.

I had a weird little dream last night.

I was in some kind of room with wooden floors and white walls. Nearby were two middle aged chaps: one playing a synth and the other sitting on a barstool and singing. The singer was wearing a large brimmed hat and looked familiar.

Watching them was a row of other middle aged men (40 and up) so I asked one of them who the two chaps were and he informed me that they were a band called Eyeless In Gaza (or words to that effect). That's a real band, btw.

The weirdest part is... It was in Nottingham :lol: