Should Boro Bid Again To Be A City?

The people who say no are incredible small time thinkers.

Middlesbrough should be a city and should position strongly for city status.
It has done Sunderland good. Christ if Preston and Newport got city status, and Derby, Chelmsford, Wolverhampton all since 1974, then Middlesbrough as figurehead of Tees Valley should be a city.
Show some pride and ambition ffs.
 
Cambsred said:
I think the same bid as 2012 should be resubmitted. Save the wasted energy and efforts.

If it doesn't win, resubmit the same one again in 2032.
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Most of that bid was put together through loads of people giving their time and efforts voluntarily. Like me.
As to what difference it could make - we asked Preston and Sunderland and both put a figure to it. I dont have my notes now but it was many £millions. Preston and Sunderland are relatively recent cities and surely excellent comparisons to Middlesbrough.
Teesside/Tees Valley is the biggest conurbation in the country without a city. The idea when we bid was for Middlesbrough to be city hub for Tees and to share out city functions etc with Stockton, Redcar and also Hartlepool and Darlo if they wanted in
 
Anyone who has been to an actual “city” will clearly see that Middlesbrough is not one.

- We have a rarely used, run down, disgustingly dirty outside, railway station where you have to travel on a rattler train for 40 minutes to Darlington to be able to go anywhere else.

- No trams, underground, metro or Uber links.

- Three old shopping centres rather than one new smart one that are barely reaching 50% occupancy rates with a dearth of huge name stores and restaurants.

- No real bar/club district.

- No centrepieces like smart buildings, statues or working fountains.

- The only ”skyscraper” is the empty CNE building that looks rundown and empty.

- A lack of cultural places or attractions in the town centre such as museums, galleries, iconic structures.

In my opinion the current town centre is dead. In the next Ten years they should focus on the derelict area in between the College and Transporter Bridge.

- Build a brand new, modern shopping centre near to where the Captain Cook pub was located and have various restaurant areas along the River in the style of Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth & Southsea, so we can make the most of our Riverside setting and enjoy views of the Transporter Bridge as we eat. This area will also have ample space for car parking to be built.

- Build a new modern arena in the same area to attract big name concerts.

- Build a structure such as Spinnaker Tower to be a new icon near the Riverside so you can have views across the new area, with view out to sea, where you overlook the Riverside Stadium, Transporter, Roseberry Topping, etc to give us a new modern icon and visitor attraction.

- knock down the Cleveland Centre and use this area to flatten, reroute and widen the A66 and expand the railway network so we are capable of handling newer, fast speed rail links.

- with the increased railway lines build a new, modern railway station with more than two platforms.

- use the current bus station as a park & ride to the new attractions.


Yes times are hard and money hard to find but each year Middlesbrough council needs to slowly build this up instead of wasting the space by building cheap housing and further unoccupied office space.

Only then could Middlesbrough dream of applying for ”City” status.
 
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Cannot fault your thoughts Norton Exile.
We have a great opportunity to make most of the river and haven't really made the effort to build on it.
Over the border is a blank canvas, watch MBC knack it up with more not to be occupied office blocks.
The CNE should be sorted or demolished before it falls down.
 
Vicious circle - wouldnt you need most of the financial benefits from being a city to realise your dreams?
But many of the things you want are happening.
There is a heritage action zone from the railway station towards the town hall and lots of grants and investment is available to form a historic quarter.
An urban farm will be developed this year over the border (near the original Middlesbrough Farm) it will be operated by Camphill Village Trust who run Larchfield and Botton as life changers for people with disbilities.
The old Town Hall will be renovated at last. Boho is being expanded into St Hildas.
Thirteen are building quality starter homes in town. See the billboards along Union Street.
As for the river. Teessaurus Park is now a big hit with the public and is to get s cafe and more facilities. The river walk has become really popular with families this year.
As for iconic buildings read the new book Ironopolis by Michael Johnson to read a celebration of our Edwardian and Victorian survivors.
For landmarks etc - well maybe the future will be guided walks on mobiles etc - we now have several coming on stream..Huntee. Hopefully one day some Boro football walks.
For more museums - we have a major opportunity with our near unique Transporter Bridge - but we need BIG public support to help that happen. Get on board. I am on the taskforce and we need positive help and support.
 
rob_fmttm said:
Vicious circle - wouldnt you need most of the financial benefits from being a city to realise your dreams?
But many of the things you want are happening.
There is a heritage action zone from the railway station towards the town hall and lots of grants and investment is available to form a historic quarter.
An urban farm will be developed this year over the border (near the original Middlesbrough Farm) it will be operated by Camphill Village Trust who run Larchfield and Botton as life changers for people with disbilities.
The old Town Hall will be renovated at last. Boho is being expanded into St Hildas.
Thirteen are building quality starter homes in town. See the billboards along Union Street.
As for the river. Teessaurus Park is now a big hit with the public and is to get s cafe and more facilities. The river walk has become really popular with families this year.
As for iconic buildings read the new book Ironopolis by Michael Johnson to read a celebration of our Edwardian and Victorian survivors.
For landmarks etc - well maybe the future will be guided walks on mobiles etc - we now have several coming on stream..Huntee. Hopefully one day some Boro football walks.
For more museums - we have a major opportunity with our near unique Transporter Bridge - but we need BIG public support to help that happen. Get on board. I am on the taskforce and we need positive help and support.
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Rob I applaud your dedication and positivity. IMHO we should definitely play on what we were insofar as to our building the world history and what we can with assisted city status Become .
I think the nation owes it to the countless lives hindered and indeed lost early by working in heavy industry before the advent of H&S . Not limited to the workers themselves but their offspring who breathed the smog and chemicals .
The nation owes us a mighty pat on the back and indeed favour .
 
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NortonExile said:
Anyone who has been to an actual “city” will clearly see that Middlesbrough is not one.

- We have a rarely used, run down, disgustingly dirty outside, railway station where you have to travel on a rattler train for 40 minutes to Darlington to be able to go anywhere else.

- No trams, underground, metro or Uber links.

- Three old shopping centres rather than one new smart one that are barely reaching 50% occupancy rates with a dearth of huge name stores and restaurants.

- No real bar/club district.

- No centrepieces like smart buildings, statues or working fountains.

- The only ”skyscraper” is the empty CNE building that looks rundown and empty.

- A lack of cultural places or attractions in the town centre such as museums, galleries, iconic structures.

In my opinion the current town centre is dead. In the next Ten years they should focus on the derelict area in between the College and Transporter Bridge.

- Build a brand new, modern shopping centre near to where the Captain Cook pub was located and have various restaurant areas along the River in the style of Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth & Southsea, so we can make the most of our Riverside setting and enjoy views of the Transporter Bridge as we eat. This area will also have ample space for car parking to be built.

- Build a new modern arena in the same area to attract big name concerts.

- Build a structure such as Spinnaker Tower to be a new icon near the Riverside so you can have views across the new area, with view out to sea, where you overlook the Riverside Stadium, Transporter, Roseberry Topping, etc to give us a new modern icon and visitor attraction.

- knock down the Cleveland Centre and use this area to flatten, reroute and widen the A66 and expand the railway network so we are capable of handling newer, fast speed rail links.

- with the increased railway lines build a new, modern railway station with more than two platforms.

- use the current bus station as a park & ride to the new attractions.


Yes times are hard and money hard to find but each year Middlesbrough council needs to slowly build this up instead of wasting the space by building cheap housing and further unoccupied office space.

Only then could Middlesbrough dream of applying for ”City” status.
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Forgive me, but your qualification for "City" status is somewhat questionable:
A fountain and tower blocks, with a the A66 ruining more of the town centre doesnt = City of Middlesbrough.
By rail - Its been a few years since the only fast connection North or South was via Darlington.
The Station plan is well in advance:


Further funding for Middlesbrough station redevelopment


05.08.20

Further funding for Middlesbrough station redevelopment ​

The revamp of Middlesbrough station is now fully funded after a further £9m was by the Government to the initial £35m.
Now £9.65m has been committed from a fund announced by Prime Minster Boris Johnson earlier this year for ‘shovel-ready’ projects.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen made the announcement yesterday (4 Aug) as the improvement work is due to commence next year.
The works will include an extension to platform 2, allowing it to accommodate new LNER Azuma trains as Mayor Houchen leads conversations with the government-owned operator to reinstate daily services from Middlesbrough to London.
The scheme will also see significant customer service improvements at the station including a new £6.5m entrance, with accompanying business units on Zetland Road.
A third place could see new platform 3 built to the north of platform 2 to further increase train capacity within the station.
The scheme is a joint partnership between the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, Network Rail, Middlesbrough Council and the Department for Transport, with support from train operators.
Mr Houchen said: “This final funding for the Middlesbrough station redevelopment will sit alongside the money I have already pledged to the scheme and ensures this project is now fully funded.
“This means we can get on with increasing the frequency of services and train routes and introduce the first services between London and Middlesbrough in decades.”

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Middlesbrough station revamp 'fully funded' as Tees projects get £17m

Government money has also been pledged for works at Redcar's former steelworks
www.gazettelive.co.uk www.gazettelive.co.uk
1623734282367.png

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

Middlesbrough Station gets £35m transformation

Middlesbrough Railway Station is to get a £35million transformation it was announced yesterday.
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk www.thenorthernecho.co.uk
1623734296046.pngScreenshot 2021-06-15 at 06-18-34 Middlesbrough Railway Station Re-development .jpgHAZ-Zetland-Road-impression.jpg

As for the A66 - it is like a running sore through the town - ideally the viaduct would go and the concrete carbuncle buried by cut - and - cover. It disects the "City" and places road vehicles as priority. If the Centre and public transport is to be improved, then building any more out of town shopping centres is counter-productive. A Tees-wide public transport infrastructure plan is already in place, but major investment is required. This is a major part of the Tees Valley regeneration plan - and also part of the Middlesbrough Integrated Transport Strategy 2018 - 2028:

Integrated transport strategy 2018-2028 | Middlesbrough Council

The Integrated Transport Strategy is one of a number of documents which set out our aims for transport in the town.
www.middlesbrough.gov.uk www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

The Integrated Transport Strategy is one of a number of documents which set out our aims for transport in the town. It was approved in December 2018, and sits below the Local Implementation Plan (LIP).

The strategy details our plans to:
  • build on our city-scale ambitions for Middlesbrough by providing a fully integrated transport network, which not only makes it easy to get around within the town, but also provides a gateway to the rest of the Tees Valley
  • deliver an integrated transport network which promotes sustainable travel (walking, cycling, public transport) by making sure different modes of travel work together seamlessly - for example, connecting walking and cycling routes to public transport routes - to enable development and growth
  • reduce the number of people dependent on their cars, which will reduce congestion, improve air quality, and help both social and economic regeneration
We'll do this by:
  • balancing the competing demands placed on the transport network
  • providing the right infrastructure for transport users to make informed decisions about travel
  • setting out proposed improvements for each mode of travel, which can be achieved individually, but which will also join up so users can switch their mode of travel easily
  • promoting and helping people to make informed travel choices
Read the Integrated Transport Strategy 2018-2028.

There is much to be done - not least taking back local and regional bus services back into public ownership. [Nottingham is an excellent working example - where private operators - Stagecoach / Arriva / etc have been priced out of the market by an excellent publicly run ,bus and tram service]. You cant control what you dont own - Stagecoach and Arriva wont engage unless they recieve public subsidy or make a bigger profit. Integrated transport means providing attractive, cheap, efficient, regular, accessible alternatives to the car. Privately - owned "public" bus and coach services in and around Teesside are inadequate and frankly an embarrassment to the area. Thats not an indictment of any local council or the people of the area, but the result of privatisation and operators prioritising profit over people.

The "Marton crawl" wont disappear anytime soon if action isnt taken - and "widening roads" - spreading more concrete and tarmac on and around Middlesbrough, is already choking people to death! Less tarmac and much better public transport is the answer for the future, not the cinderella option.
 
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The transport infrastructure needs addressing urgently.

high paid and good quality jobs are available in leeds, York and Newcastle. Loads of frequent trains go from Darlington and Northallerton but the infrastructure to get to such stations is poor. The cost of train ticket is really expensive.

Also we have saltburn, guisborough and stokesley that have terrible transport links.

Teesside airport train station is miles away from
The terminal, no trains stop there.

Also the links to Darlington and Middlesbrough to Yarm are poor.
 
indeedido said:
The people who say no are incredible small time thinkers.

Middlesbrough should be a city and should position strongly for city status.
It has done Sunderland good. Christ if Preston and Newport got city status, and Derby, Chelmsford, Wolverhampton all since 1974, then Middlesbrough as figurehead of Tees Valley should be a city.
Show some pride and ambition ffs.
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I think many people would now say Darlington is more of a figurehead of the Tees Valley than Middlesbrough, especially with a mayor who is perceived to be delivering far more than the Mayor of Middlesbrough is.
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
I think many people would now say Darlington is more of a figurehead of the Tees Valley than Middlesbrough, especially with a mayor who is perceived to be delivering far more than the Mayor of Middlesbrough is.
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Surprised if you can name the mayor of Darlington.
 
rob_fmttm said:
Surprised if you can name the mayor of Darlington.
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No I cant and quite clearly I was referring to the Tees Valley Mayor not Darlington's. Look at what is happening with regard to the jobs and transfer of govt departments etc that is happening there and compare it with what is happening in Middlesbrough and I know who is doing a better job.

Middlesbrough has the same issues now its had for years, none of the various councils have tackled the issues (or if they have they have failed drastically)

The Town is in the worst condition its been for many years. Some of us don't walk around with rose tinted glasses on thinking things are improving when they are not.

The so called Historic quarter has been touted for years, where is it?
The revamp of the old Town Hall has been touted for years. Not happened yet & I'll believe it when I see it.
Opportunities to create something around the Transporter could have happened years ago but it never has.
Transport issues have never been tackled properly, nothing has been done to improve use of public transport.
The Marton Crawl is worse than ever.
Opportunities to deliver on promises to develop land around the Riverside have never happened. Let's not talk about Ski slopes or super skyscrapers.

The extension of the train station platform to allow direct trains to London has come about by someone else's work not Andy Preston or MBC.

Can you imagine applying for City status, winning and getting a shed load of funds and then letting Andy Preston loose with it?
 
I kinda agree with NortonExile in that as an area it is lacking a lot that would be expected in a city. We need to recognise that being given city status isn't a silver bullet to the failures of the area. It needs radical levels of investment, jobs, education, civic facilities, a rethink of retail, and a cultural change if it's every going to power ahead as an area and get back out of the doldrums.
 
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