HS2 | Station & Development

[Aaronj09]

France is actually a very close ally. Our leaders have different opinions, but over the past 5 years the UK and France have been working together very closely on a number of things, especially our armed forces.

Anyway, Sweden and the Netherlands are quite close to the UK. I remember reading somewhere that those two countries would always wait or ask the UK to object to anything they dislike.. allies, or users!?

[Leeds1972]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

This whole issue wouldn't be a problem if the West Riding was reinstated...

'The West Riding' might be useful as a geograpical/tourist term as it includes Leeds, Harrogate, Skipton, the western Dales and much more (mind you, it also includes such delights as Castleford and Rotherham) but imo it makes no sense as an administrative unit in the 21st century. Although I was born and brought up in the old West Riding, nowadays the term mostly seems to suggest places like Holmfirth and Sowerby Bridge.

To get back on message, are we assuming an HS station will only ever serve journeys between Leeds and points further south? If the HS2 line is ever extended to the north-east and Scotland, would we need to consider north-bound trains also?

[Philo]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

This whole issue wouldn't be a problem if the West Riding was reinstated...

West Riding would be a nice way of covering the cluster of cities in west yorkshire plus their rural environs. But it also brings in Sheffield and surrounds, which isn't in Leeds City Region. Is that a problem for it as a piece of popular branding?

[mike okane]

Originally Posted by Aaronj09

Bradford was once the dominant city though, remember.

Leeds has the most international visitors of any settlement in Yorkshire, by the way..

Any evidence or examples of Bradford's supposed past dominance over Leeds ?
When the Aire and Calder Navigation of 1699 was connected to Hull ( Leeds had petitioned for Government assent for this from 1625) Leeds became an inland port with direct connections to Europe, the A&C was the HS2 of the day.This led to the end of York's dominance in the North. Of course, Bradford became 'Woolopolis' after the Cloth merchant's etc. began moving operations from Leeds in the early 1820's..it was in retrospect the best possible scenario Leeds could ever have envisaged. Iron and Steel, Engineering, Locomotive construction, Bricks and Printing, along with Leather, Flax and Dress trades took over as the main employers, ensuring Leeds was never purely a one trade town.
Would Bradford attempt to help drag Leeds out of the mire if their position's were reversed?

[Val Verde]

Originally Posted by Philo

West Riding would be a nice way of covering the cluster of cities in west yorkshire plus their rural environs. But it also brings in Sheffield and surrounds, which isn't in Leeds City Region. Is that a problem for it as a piece of popular branding?

I would have thought bringing back the West Riding of Yorkshire would surely a logical way of making the Leeds - Sheffield conurbation into a larger economic powerhouse similar to say the Rhine-Ruhr in Germany perhaps headquartering it somewhere relatively neutral such as Wakefield which was once the seat of the old Riding until it was killed off in 1974.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by Leeds1972

'The West Riding' might be useful as a geograpical/tourist term as it includes Leeds, Harrogate, Skipton, the western Dales and much more (mind you, it also includes such delights as Castleford and Rotherham) but imo it makes no sense as an administrative unit in the 21st century. Although I was born and brought up in the old West Riding, nowadays the term mostly seems to suggest places like Holmfirth and Sowerby Bridge.

To get back on message, are we assuming an HS station will only ever serve journeys between Leeds and points further south? If the HS2 line is ever extended to the north-east and Scotland, would we need to consider north-bound trains also?

I'd agree- I'm not particularly endorsing the reinstatement of the West Riding for administrative purposes. But for whatever reason, tourists seem to like historic or cultural regions rather than administrative units- which is why the West Riding might work as a subbrand of Yorkshire, but why West Yorkshire can never be a viable option for tourism. It would be negligence of half of Leeds' assets anyway- 'Come to Leeds and visit Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield!' What about Skipton, Harrogate and York?!

High Speed - yes, initially it will be for Leeds to points further south. However, some trains will bypass Leeds and head towards the ECML, although there'll be little time saving from Leeds northwards as obviously its on old track. I hope any extension of HS2 northwards sees a parkway station built, or incorporated into East Leeds Parkway.

[riclam]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

I would have thought bringing back the West Riding of Yorkshire would surely a logical way of making the Leeds - Sheffield conurbation into a larger economic powerhouse similar to say the Rhine-Ruhr in Germany perhaps headquartering it somewhere relatively neutral such as Wakefield which was once the seat of the old Riding until it was killed off in 1974.

The West Riding of Yorkshire was never abolished as such..merely covered over with the reorganisation and retained for ceremonial purposes

[John Robinson]

Originally Posted by Aaronj09

True, my grandmother always says the West Riding but even my mother who is in her 40's doesn't call it the West Riding.

Well I'm 60 and I do! I even write it in postal addresses sometimes, and it seems to work!

[LNGCats]

Originally Posted by John Robinson

Well I'm 60 and I do! I even write it in postal addresses sometimes, and it seems to work!

Given you only require a postcode and house number you could put whatever you wanted as the county as it is entirely irrelevant as far as during offices are concerned.

[John Robinson]

Originally Posted by LNGCats

Given you only require a postcode and house number you could put whatever you wanted as the county as it is entirely irrelevant as far as during offices are concerned.

That doesn't matter: I'm making my point... and spreading the word, hopefully!

You never know. Due to popular opinion, Humberside reverted into the East Riding (and a now separate bit of Lincolnshire).

I'm hoping that before my time is up Yorkshire will have reverted to the three Ridings.

[Leeds No.1]

In that sense, I'd rather just see it referred to as 'Yorkshire'. One strong county. Any divisions into ridings or individual counties should only be done for manageability. Our identity should be in the brand 'Yorkshire', not through the ridings or any other division.

[LNGCats]

Originally Posted by John Robinson

That doesn't matter: I'm making my point... and spreading the word, hopefully!

You never know. Due to popular opinion, Humberside reverted into the East Riding (and a now separate bit of Lincolnshire).

I'm hoping that before my time is up Yorkshire will have reverted to the three Ridings.

I'm sure the computers that scan the mail really take note

[joeb85]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

In that sense, I'd rather just see it referred to as 'Yorkshire'. One strong county. Any divisions into ridings or individual counties should only be done for manageability. Our identity should be in the brand 'Yorkshire', not through the ridings or any other division.

Good point well made. While living in Catalonia, I always thought that they branded themselves really well tourism wise at least.

[John Robinson]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

In that sense, I'd rather just see it referred to as 'Yorkshire'. One strong county. Any divisions into ridings or individual counties should only be done for manageability. Our identity should be in the brand 'Yorkshire', not through the ridings or any other division.

I'd go along with that, so long as we got back all the little bits that were 'nicked' by neighbouring counties!

[Leeds No.1]

Well it's down to them really isn't it. As long as they associate themselves as Yorkshire, they'll be Yorkshire.

[Leeds1972]

Originally Posted by John Robinson

I'd go along with that, so long as we got back all the little bits that were 'nicked' by neighbouring counties!

Some of those 'nicked' bits were historical anomalies that make no sense in the modern age. I lived for a while in Saddleworth which, although in the former West Riding, is on the far side of the Pennines. All its links were with Oldham and the rest of Greater Manchester, and I doubt if people who have grown up there since 1974 would want to be suddenly attached to Huddersfield. More to the point, what would be the logic of school children, fire engines, police, ambulances etc crossing the Pennines every day when services are on hand just down the road in Oldham? Just because a boundary has existed for centuries doesn't mean it can't ever be changed. After all, some of Sheffield's southern suburbs were once in Derbyshire - are you suggesting they be given back?

[Leeds No.1]

I don't have a problem with Saddleworth being associated with Oldham for administrative purposes, but I've always found places near the border seem pretty proud to be Yorkshire. Todmorden is similar.

[John Robinson]

Originally Posted by Leeds1972

Some of those 'nicked' bits were historical anomalies that make no sense in the modern age. I lived for a while in Saddleworth which, although in the former West Riding, is on the far side of the Pennines. All its links were with Oldham and the rest of Greater Manchester, and I doubt if people who have grown up there since 1974 would want to be suddenly attached to Huddersfield. More to the point, what would be the logic of school children, fire engines, police, ambulances etc crossing the Pennines every day when services are on hand just down the road in Oldham? Just because a boundary has existed for centuries doesn't mean it can't ever be changed. After all, some of Sheffield's southern suburbs were once in Derbyshire - are you suggesting they be given back?

I suppose we could take over Oldham?...

...er, no, perhaps not!

[mike okane]

It might not be seen as politically correct (these day's), but personally i'd really like to see the Old Danelaw Kingdom re-instated! There's about as much chance of that going down as the HS2 getting here anytime soon..

[Leeds1972]

If that means our TV becomes more like Danish TV with 'The Killing', 'Borgen' etc, I'd be inclined to agree with you.