OT Negative Rotherham news

[howdydoo]

Both towns have Labour councils, so what’s going wrong in Rotherham?

Not prepared to gamble?

Demographics?


https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/data/people/population/1

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/media/17...ntral-ward.pdf

[LincsMiller]

Due to personal reasons both myself and my other half have looked at the possibility of moving back to the Rotherham area, but if I mention this to friends and family still in Rotherham they tell I'm going senile or something similar . I understand that the town centre is not the place it used to be but surely there must still be some decent areas around Rotherham ? Incidentally , whilst fishing on my now local ponds last week , a Sheffield holiday maker got talking to me and his summing up of Sheffield city centre was that it is now ( his words) " nothing but a sh.thole"

[Lasterman]

Parts of Rotherham are fine...no better or worse than in any other town. Places like Wickersley, Bramley, Ravenfield, Brecks and I'm sure many others too. It's the town centre that's crap.

[ragingpup]

Demographics?


https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/data/people/population/1

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/media/17...ntral-ward.pdf

Clicked on links but what are you saying they are telling us about the demographics?

Barnsey one indicated 92% of central Barnsley born in UK but can't see (might be being thick as usual) any similar data in the Rotherham link? AS I understand it the demographic break down of Barnsley and Rotherham is very similar

https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/...8__rotherham_/

Interesting to read about how Barnsley have improved their town centre whilst Rotherham seems by consensus (at least on here) to be relatively poorer. I wonder if it is just a more effective council make up is the difference as so much else seems very similar.

[animallittle3]

Clicked on links but what are you saying they are telling us about the demographics?

Barnsey one indicated 92% of central Barnsley born in UK but can't see (might be being thick as usual) any similar data in the Rotherham link? AS I understand it the demographic break down of Barnsley and Rotherham is very similar

https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/...8__rotherham_/

Interesting to read about how Barnsley have improved their town centre whilst Rotherham seems by consensus (at least on here) to be relatively poorer. I wonder if it is just a more effective council make up is the difference as so much else seems very similar.

I don't think for one minute there is any more money in Barnsley than there is in Rotherham Pup .

I'd imagine before spending the money BMBC did they clearly researched whether it was feasible to transform the town centre with the emphasis on still providing retail and leisure .

I believe it's 7 minutes on the train from Rotherham to Meadowhall which in my opinion is significant .

However if retail and leisure is dying in Rotherham town centre then the council just can't let it slip in to oblivion .

There are other alternatives like housing , apartments even office space which then lead to the need for bars , cafes , coffee shops etc etc .

[ragingpup]

I don't think for one minute there is any more money in Barnsley than there is in Rotherham Pup .

I'd imagine before spending the money BMBC did they clearly researched whether it was feasible to transform the town centre with the emphasis on still providing retail and leisure .

I believe it's 7 minutes on the train from Rotherham to Meadowhall which in my opinion is significant .

However if retail and leisure is dying in Rotherham town centre then the council just can't let it slip in to oblivion .

There are other alternatives like housing , apartments even office space which then lead to the need for bars , cafes , coffee shops etc etc .

Ah, sorry animal, when I said 'poorer' I meant not as good as Barnsley, not that there was less money available to improve.

It does seem that there may be a strong case to be made about one council being much more proactive and entrepeneurial than the other and all credit to Barnsley council if that was the case. I was just curious though that when the towns are so similar in profile and demographics there could be such a stark difference and quality of centralised decision making and use of funds could be a big part of that. However, Howdy seemed to indicate it was a difference of demographic and presented links that I couldn't make sense of to suggest demographics was an issue. Hence my enquiry.

All credit to Barnsley council though and all involved in making the town centre much improved. Maybe we can learn from that.

Intrigued that a poster things Sheffield centre is a s*it hole though - looked much improved on my last visit a couple of years ago, from what I remember in the 80s when I was a regular there

[animallittle3]

Ah, sorry animal, when I said 'poorer' I meant not as good as Barnsley, not that there was less money available to improve.

It does seem that there may be a strong case to be made about one council being much more proactive and entrepeneurial than the other and all credit to Barnsley council if that was the case. I was just curious though that when the towns are so similar in profile and demographics there could be such a stark difference and quality of centralised decision making and use of funds could be a big part of that. However, Howdy seemed to indicate it was a difference of demographic and presented links that I couldn't make sense of to suggest demographics was an issue. Hence my enquiry.

All credit to Barnsley council though and all involved in making the town centre much improved. Maybe we can learn from that.

Intrigued that a poster things Sheffield centre is a s*it hole though - looked much improved on my last visit a couple of years ago, from what I remember in the 80s when I was a regular there

Before and after of The Glass Works Square Pup .

https://youtu.be/a1id0HiVaqo

[howdydoo]

Clicked on links but what are you saying they are telling us about the demographics?

Barnsey one indicated 92% of central Barnsley born in UK but can't see (might be being thick as usual) any similar data in the Rotherham link? AS I understand it the demographic break down of Barnsley and Rotherham is very similar

https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/...8__rotherham_/

Interesting to read about how Barnsley have improved their town centre whilst Rotherham seems by consensus (at least on here) to be relatively poorer. I wonder if it is just a more effective council make up is the difference as so much else seems very similar.

Wards in and around the town centre of Rotherham it’s nearer 75%.

It’s not a nice place to visit end of.

[animallittle3]

I don't think Barnsley has any less undesirables as Rotherham or any other low income economy town to be honest .

I might be completely wrong here and it's only my opinion but creating such a first class shopping and leisure facility that feels spacious and extremely well planned complete with fantastic food outlets in the Market Kitchen seems to have attracted more punters who have a certain amount of money to spend instead of spending it elsewhere perhaps .

With the town centre busier and more vibrant perhaps you don't feel the undesirable element so much .

We aren't talking turning the back streets of Blackpool in to Notting Hill here by any means .

But If you provide the right facilities then maybe it will attract the people it's intended to reach , I don't know .

[LincsMiller]

I don't think Barnsley has any less undesirables as Rotherham or any other low income economy town to be honest .

I might be completely wrong here and it's only my opinion but creating such a first class shopping and leisure facility that feels spacious and extremely well planned complete with fantastic food outlets in the Market Kitchen seems to have attracted more punters who have a certain amount of money to spend instead of spending it elsewhere perhaps .

With the town centre busier and more vibrant perhaps you don't feel the undesirable element so much .

We aren't talking turning the back streets of Blackpool in to Notting Hill here by any means .

But If you provide the right facilities then maybe it will attract the people it's intended to reach , I don't know .

Well put Animal.