The East Midlands Skybar

[pharmj]

It will be interesting to see what happens in the East Midlands in the year ahead. Hopefully we'll see the changes to all 3 cities that we have hoped for during most of 2011!!

[Leicity82]

From the BBC News website:

MPs invited to join new East Midlands parliamentary group

30 December 2011

Mr Ashworth said he hoped ministers would take the new group seriously
An MP says he is trying to set up an all-party parliamentary group for the East Midlands to help the region get a better deal from the government.

Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, said he would be inviting other MPs from the region to join the group in the new year.

Mr Ashworth said the idea had already been a success in the West Midlands.

For full article see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16357973

[Lears City]

There wasn't already a group?

[Leicity82]

According to the article there was a select committee set up for the region which the current government scrapped.

[Lears City]

Can't believe the government can scrap a committee set up to represent a population of millions. We need to fight together as a region, as we are seriously underfunded yet still have the same tax burden as other regions.

[Stefan88]

HS2: High-speed rail link 'to be approved'

The government is expected to make its final decision on the controversial £17bn HS2 scheme next week.

The 100-mile connection between London and Birmingham, which would be built between 2016 and 2026, aims to cut the journey time to 49 minutes. It would mark the first phase of HS2, with extensions further north later.

A Y-shaped section taking branches to Manchester, Leeds and possibly further north could be finished by 2033.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16453869




Judging by that map and having a quick look on google maps it looks like the high speed link will be passing through Derby. Is this correct? What does everyone think of this? Derby is a fairly major interchange for the EM region.

[Mark76]

Did you know we have less miles of high speed line than Morocco and Saudi Arabia?

[Captain Redeye]

Derby would be a logical choice as a shuttle/tram route could be run from Nottingham.

This leaves Leicester effectively cut off however. We might .. eventually have the Midland Main Line electrification but I think I'll be dead by the time that happens, at this rate


BG

[sparkrs]

tbh they can modify the railways as much as they want but, it will never be a subsitute for the car.

It will be nice to have such a quick way to London but realistically most of us would use it once a year,

[duane]

That map is a bit misleading. Use this one instead

http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/in-your-area

[Leicity82]

Judging by both maps our region will totally be missed. I assume we'd get our 'single station' in another phase.

[PerfectDark]

The railways can be a substitute for the car, more-so for London than anywhere else.

Even though I hate trains with a passion I'd still rather be sitting on a train for 2 hours than driving for 2 hours. Plus you can be getting drunk on the way there and be hungover on the way back, perfect.

[PerfectDark]

Is city's trendy quarter starting to lose its shine?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012Nottingham

Shopkeepers in Hockley are calling for more help from Nottingham City Council to attract shoppers to the area after one of its most renowned boutiques announced it was to close. Bryan Henesey reports...

WHEN Caroline Jackson opened women's boutique Pink and Lilly in Hockley in 2006, it quickly became a popular store for women looking for something unique to wear.

​
Caroline Jackson of Pink and Lilly says trade has fallen since the council re-routed traffic in the area.
But six years on and the award-winning shop, in Stoney Street, is preparing to close for good.

Mrs Jackson, of Mapperley Park, made the decision before Christmas after a poor year of trade, which she claims hadn't been made any easier by Nottingham City Council.

She said car parking charges on Sundays had affected her business, as well as restrictions on A-board advertising in the street.

Mrs Jackson said: "I was hoping for some sort of miracle to occur over Christmas but it never happened.

"I really believe that since the council re-routed the traffic, I have had a massive downturn in trade. It's really difficult to get into Hockley now."

Three members of staff will lose their jobs when Pink and Lilly closes on January 27.

Mrs Jackson, a fashion lecturer at New College Nottingham, said she may consider opening a new store outside of Nottingham, adding: "All this has left a bitter taste in the mouth."

The city council says it has tried numerous ways to boost trade in Hockley in recent years.

It has included pedestrianisation schemes, improved pedestrian links to Sneinton and St Ann's, providing access for buses through the centre of Hockley, and making sure that streets are kept clean.

Verity Mason opened vintage clothes shop A Vintage Obsession, in Goose Gate, Hockley, last April.

She said: "We do not expect parking charges to change now, but things like safety and cleanliness of the streets could be improved.

"We're not asking for them to spend millions on the area. If they get the basic things right it would it much better."

Robin Pounder has run vintage clothing store Wild, in Broad Street, for the last 29 years.

He said: "We've always been based in the same shop in Hockley and there has always been a problem in getting people to shop down here.

"Any sort of physical barrier – like the hill to Hockley from Clumber Street – is going to stop people.

"There's also nothing beyond Hockley for shoppers."

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance Hockley plays in the city's economy. He said: "While it remains essential to ensure that the city's main retail locations and shopping centres can compete , it is also important to ensure that the businesses located in the areas on the fringes of the city centre also receive an appropriate level of support to ensure that they remain viable."

City council leader Councillor Jon Collins said the authority was doing all it could "to help attract people into Hockley".

He said: "As a city council, we appreciate how difficult trading conditions are at the moment for all businesses, both well-known high street retailers and small independent businesses, in all parts of the country.

"We have worked with Hockley traders over many years to try to make a difference and bring improvements to the area."

Mr Collins said he did not believe that the on-street parking charges or traffic changes had had a detrimental effect.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/ci...ail/story.html

[duane]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16494013

Interesting article on skyscrapers being directly correlated with recessions.

[PerfectDark]

Correlation does not imply causation.

I read a similar article in the Guardian last night.

The fact of the matter is you get a building boom in economic boom time, the economy runs on a boom and bust cycle... so of course you're going to be building skyscrapers 'before' a bust.

The article in the Guardian went so far as to say "Watch out China... you could be going bust soon because of these tall buildings" which is complete nonsense! China is the world's biggest creditor, why on earth they would pick China of all countries to go bust based on the height of their proposed buildings is beyond me.

[duane]

The Alternative Map of 2012 Visitors

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16750151

[Leicity82]

Thank you Maria from Greece for a positive view of Leicestershire.

[duane]

And the riots/marches begin! Huge police presence everywhere

[Lears City]

Shame the snow hasn't arrived yet...

[WOTZDA POINT]

enjoying the occasion myself it's great live on radio leicester.

edl have got the worst route - Belgrave Gate

edl v uaf followed by the seagulls v the foxes then the tigers v the falcons

good afternoon of entertainment !