Why I'm NOT backing Plymouth for the City of Culture bid 2017
Plymouth is dying. You only have to take a look at the vast amount of empty shopping units, the state of the roads, the decay of the Hoe seafront. It is ok for the Councillors to have these plans that do not come to fruitation, and I applaud the City Centre Manager for his vision, but it is embarrassing to have an open retail unit next to several closed units. The City Centre, even Mutley Plain has a plague of charity shops and coffee shops, sometimes next to each other.
Plymouth's roads are in great need of resurfacing, with pot holes which make the streets look like a third world City.
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Plymouth; A Dying City?
The Hoe Seafront is in great need of some tender, loving care and its continuous decay and lack of funding would have even Sir Francis Drake turning in his grave.
To gain the City of Culture award, the City needs to raise the standard, to give the impression that we are better than those who are competing against us. Whilst we have a Council that seems to spend more time squabbling and trying to outwit each other's Political Party, and those Councillors that you only see when they want your vote, they need to act now. Action not words! We need to do away with the same old fuddy-duddies who have tried, and failed to run a City successfully, and replace them with non-political members who have vision for the City, and not those who are Councillors just to claim expenses.
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City of Culture 2017? Plymouth has some hard work before it gets close.
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by mackiehev
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:37PM
“Yeah, Plymouth is dying. That why I left recently and moved to Leeds. Its sad that Plymouth has fallen appart. With the closing of the dockyards too I seriously doubt it'll get better any time soon! And now they're planning on doing more building work at home park? Maybe they should sort out the mess of the city centre first?! I can't believe that nothing has taken over the Woolworths all these years later. Very sad as I was brought up in Plymouth.”
by mackiehev
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:36PM
“Yeah, Plymouth is dying. That why I left recently and moved to Leeds. Its sad that Plymouth has fallen appart. With the closing of the dockyards too I seriously doubt it'll get better any time soon! And now they're planning on doing more building work at home park? Maybe they should sort out the mess of the city centre first?! I can't believe that nothing has taken over the Woolworths all these years later. Very sad as I was brought up in Plymouth.”
by mackiehev
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:36PM
“Yeah, Plymouth is dying. That why I left recently and moved to Leeds. Its sad that Plymouth has fallen appart. With the closing of the dockyards too I seriously doubt it'll get better any time soon! And now they're planning on doing more building work at home park? Maybe they should sort out the mess of the city centre first?! I can't believe that nothing has taken over the Woolworths all these years later. Very sad as I was brought up in Plymouth.”
by Winstonsmith0
Saturday, March 16 2013, 10:22AM
“@Plymptonlad, CityCyclops, Haunt
I agree, and already wrote earlier;
"Perhaps Plymouth's insularity and failing is partly the result of the invisible yet highly tangible solid wall surrounding this 'unitary authority' making it difficult to enter or leave the city whether you are business or visitor. Plymouth seems to lack purpose and direction. Why does it desire to stand separated from the rest of Devon? It seems that Devon is happy to now leave Plymouth alone!"
Plymouth politicians, for some reason that completely escapes me, seem to think the sun shines from plymouth's own estuary and everyone owes us. They do not appear to realise that it takes determination and invention to take a city forward. Instead they appear to only see their little feudal city as a fortress from those bad people out there (all of whom seem to be doing much better collectively).
I could be very wrong, and I look at this city as one who has not lived here for that long, but the rest of Devon seems far easier to get along with than Plymouth.
If we allow those who 'run' the city to isolate us, for whatever reason, then all the airports in Europe cannot help Plymouth - people will still not wish to visit or establish businesses here.
Plymouth, city of vultures!”
by Winstonsmith0
Saturday, March 16 2013, 10:15AM
“@Plymptonlad, CityCyclops, Haunt
I agree, and already wrote earlier;
"Perhaps Plymouth's insularity and failing is partly the result of the invisible yet highly tangible solid wall surrounding this 'unitary authority' making it difficult to enter or leave the city whether you are business or visitor. Plymouth seems to lack purpose and direction. Why does it desire to stand separated from the rest of Devon? It seems that Devon is happy to now leave Plymouth alone!"
Plymouth politicians, for some reason that completely escapes me, seem to think the sun shines from plymouth's own estuary and everyone owes us. They do not appear to realise that it takes determination and invention to take a city forward. Instead they appear to only see their little feudal city as a fortress from those bad people out there (all of whom seem to be doing much better collectively).
I could be very wrong, and I look at this city as one who has not lived here for that long, but the rest of Devon seems far easier to get along with than Plymouth.
If we allow those who 'run' the city to isolate us, for whatever reason, then all the airports in Europe cannot help Plymouth - people will still not wish to visit or establish businesses here.
Plymouth, city of vultures!”
by plymptonlad
Friday, March 15 2013, 9:37PM
“I think the DCC takeover is a great idea as the PCC is corrupt to its core. By that i do not mean the 99% majority of its honest hard working staff but its 1% ruling elite and their cronies. They know who they are and like the MP expenses scandal it's only a matter of time before they too are exposed for their corruption. They hide behind the wall of this papers monopoly with its muffled journalists and muted photographers.
It's just a matter of time.”
by CityCyclops
Friday, March 15 2013, 5:40PM
“Haunt has a good point here in that with Plymouth being 'devolved' from Devon County Council and running its own authority - it is also running around like a headless chicken. I run a business in arts and never cease to be amazed at the warm reception to my ideas in places like Tavistock, Newton Abbot, Ashburton and so on. A new innovation of mine has recently been accepted by another Devon town and I plan to deliver that arts project in April. The minute I suggest something in Plymouth it is all about why we CAN'T do it and importantly ... who takes the credit for it if its a good idea. Metal doors seem to slam down on me, people scuttle off to council meetings and everything trickles away to nothing. That is why I haven't been into the city centre since November 2012 despite living a short distance away. If the city doesn't support me, I won't support it. A decent transport link would make a huge difference. Look how popular and affluent Norwich is and look how far away it is placed in relation to other cities. They have excellent rail and coach links not to mention an airport. I rest my case.”
by haunt
Friday, March 15 2013, 4:51PM
“Get rid of PCC and let DCC take over, things would improve significantly”
by Rick_OShay
Friday, March 15 2013, 4:51PM
“I'm backing the bid because I think it will address some of the concerns that Mr/Mrs NakedWithGoat has.
The bid is a vehicle to promote the city and unify efforts to improve it, the idea that you should only bid if you are the finished article makes no sense to me.
Others have complained that the city is cut off and remote but a successful bid would bring experiences and shows to us instead. The opportunity for young people in the city to see and take part in the events would raise aspirations and be a great experience for them.
To mangle a quote from Oscar Wilde, you can't spend all your time looking at the potholes, sometimes its good to look at the stars.
Rick O'Shay
Zog”
by soultoucher
Friday, March 15 2013, 4:44PM
“@adrilane
It's good to hear that you like Plymouth so much, but think..it's a wonderful place to live you say,can you imagine how fantastic it used to be when it was cared for?
In the time of which most other posters speak? It's not because they're all 'old whingers' as they're often called, (I'm 32 so not too old) but if you were here 10 years ago instead of 6, you would have seen the difference too and had to watch it's rapid decline.
It's so sad if, like me you're a Plymothian, I hate being negative about it and probably others do as well.
Thanks for seeing the good that's still left.”