Local authorities and the regeneration of the English coalfields

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

The Audit Commission has published it's report on the regeneration of England's coalfields:

Quote:

This report presents the findings from research undertaken by the Audit Commission into a review of ten-years of physical, social and economic regeneration in the areas afflicted by pit closures.

The report finds that England's coalfields are a success story of renewal and growth, and that local authorities deserve much of the credit. It suggests the coalfields experience offers lessons to local authorities in other parts of the country as unemployment grows and companies lay off staff.

However, our report says that the job of regenerating former coalfields is not complete, despite all that has been achieved. They remain among the most deprived districts in England. National support for regeneration in the coalfields is still needed, particularly in addressing health, education and skills and other barriers to full participation by local people in the labour market.

Full report can be downloaded from here: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/NATIONAL-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=&ProdID=AD4449FE-0A61-42F5-AF84-85C80E722DBE

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

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jagman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

:curse:
A success story? liars.
I am so pleased that they have given themselves a nice pat on the back for their achievements in regeneration.
20 odd years down the line and they have managed pretty much sod all.

viewer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I know the report applies to England but I am not far from the former coal mining valleys of S Wales and would agree with Jagman's comments with regard to those areas also.

'Learning the ropes'

JR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Quote:

.....The report finds that England's coalfields are a success story of renewal and growth,

However,...., despite all that has been achieved. They remain among the most deprived districts in England. National support for regeneration in the coalfields is still needed, particularly in addressing health, education and skills and other barriers to full participation by local people in the labour market.

How can they claim success on one hand whilst acknowledging the need to combat poor health, education and job skills training ?!!

:curse: I feel a rant comming on. I'll go to my room and swear at the telly or something.

sleep is a caffeine deficiency.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

16 years ago

"jr48" wrote:
:curse: I feel a rant comming on. I'll go to my room and swear at the telly or something.

Ranting is fine by me 🙂 I spend most of my days ranting 😉

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

sparty_lea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

What they mean is they've tidied up all the nasty pitheaps and pulled down all the buildings but not quite got round to providing decent jobs for the ex miners yet.

There are 10 types of people in the world.

Those that understand binary and those that do not!

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Jeeees, whinge whinge....what's wrong with you all..... Both government and local government have worked their butts off for ex mining districts by supplying sustainable jobs such as Mc Donalds, B&Q, MFI etc and supermarkets and country parks ..... and .... and .... Oh crap I guess you're right.... guess we are all gonna have to sell even more burgers to each other....... sorry for the sarcasm.... I hate the whole f**king lot of them with a vengeance!!!! sorry for rant! :glare:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Well, they would say that, particularly in the abstract.
However, reading the report summary, a somewhat different impression arises.
I've yet to get any significant way into the full report but it's not all sweetness and light!

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

It's the same old style quango of report producers producing what everyone knows with the slant of "haven't we done well"

Looking at the W Europe coal situation, it is inevitable that pits start opening up. Forget the "we've made them dynamic, creative and low carbon". There are big reserves, they will need to come out. Give it a few years for the recession-depression to pass and we'll see it pick up. I'd put money on it.

Snag is the workers. I had the same thought about S Crofty. Are you going to get locals down there or more Polish, etc.

I think the dole is far too much of a choice and dirty, hard work isn't worth the extra money.

Don't blame the players, blame the game.

GolowDydh
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#10

"ICLOK" wrote:
Jeeees, whinge whinge....what's wrong with you all..... Both government and local government have worked their butts off for ex mining districts by supplying sustainable jobs such as Mc Donalds, B&Q, MFI etc and supermarkets and country parks ..... and .... and .... Oh crap I guess you're right.... guess we are all gonna have to sell even more burgers to each other....... sorry for the sarcasm.... I hate the whole f**king lot of them with a vengeance!!!! sorry for rant! :glare:

lets hope at least some are more sustainable than MFI.

I attended the Planning Inspectorate's examination into Carrick's development strategy last year. (objecting)
I am not sure whether the Inspector was being ironic when he asked us why Cornish people were hell bent on preserving engine houses etc. when elsewhere in the country the policy seemed to be to expunge all the traces of mining as they were regarded as eyesores.

The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#11

Jeez. He must have had an exceedingly dry sense of humour, aspergers syndrome or just wanted someone to dress him down a peg or two.

Ferking londoners

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#12

The planners and councils here did indeed deliver new service industries.... at rock bottom wages whilst at the same time eradicating all traces of what had gone before along with the pride of the community who were so naffed off at their treatment they didn't give a toss about keeping the local headgear!

At least from what you are saying there is some pride left in Cornwall!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#13

There is loads of pride in Cornwall.

Sadly, the local councils seem to be made up of people hellbent on "forward thinking" and are totally out of touch with the locals and their history. Largely because they are not the former and have no idea of the latter.

Quango driven non-jobs protecting their lucky arses and promoting the nonsense that is their prerogative.

First thing that should be chopped in this "recession" is the bloody SWRDA.

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#14

I sippose the question to be asked is could the money for the Thames Gateway regeneration project been put to better use elsewhere in the country or is this another case of the government being Londoncentric? Regeneration on vast scale.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5240664.ece

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#15

Careful Carnkie... don't forget that according to London... London makes all the wealth!!!! Hmmmmm.... however when it creates all the bad investments, debt, etc the rest of us poor *******s have to pay for it.
😠

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

Knocker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#16

The biggest problem (For the Quangos) we have here in Cornwall, is we are so proud of our past and we can see through their hair brain schemes to get us all into service sector jobs (They have a great new buzzword for it - Gentrification). There way around it is to paint us a bunch of backward looking yokels who need to be shown the light!

It was quite funny today watching the news, where one of the Councillors (Andrew Mitchell) who was vehemently opposed to Crofty Reopening, looking very uncomfortable trying to explain the fact he has to shut Newquay airport for at least 3 weeks as he dosn't have a licence to operate it (Because he doesn't have a control tower!) Thats what forward thinking does for you!!!! Perhaps he should have thought about putting a planning application in for it at least 12 months before taking over the airport instead of four months!!!!

ICLOK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#17

But there you have the point.... Every council needs and wants to create a new image or point of view that it can claim is its own.... this way its easier to sell to get investment from people who have little or no idea of where Cornwall is...

For gods sake don't expect them to expunge the virtues of an industry such as .... God forbid tin mining ..... its dirty and spoils their silvery blue eyed view of the future.... Tin mine versus golf club with a mining statue and a restaurent called "The headgear"..... No contest,
The fact its traditional and that Cornish Folk might like the idea of industries with a link to its past is zero to do with it.... this is about hard cash, politics and staying in power......

"Its still we the people.... right?"..... Hmmmmm

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh Creeper!!!!!

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#18

How exactly do we know what the new generation of Cornish folk want? I for one am not too sure.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#19

"ICLOK" wrote:
Careful Carnkie... don't forget that according to London... London makes all the wealth!!!! Hmmmmm.... however when it creates all the bad investments, debt, etc the rest of us poor *******s have to pay for it.
😠

I think it was the banks rather than London. That's a bit like blaming the gov. for the current crisis.

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

#20

London has a long industrial and manufacturing tradition, much of which has evaporated, and in this respect is little different from other parts of the UK. Some parts of London also have a fierce traditional pride in their industrial history - consider the now long lost docklands, for example. Before knocking 'London' try to do a bit of research so at least you know what you are talking about. If you wish to refer to "The City" (financial centre) or "Westminster" (political centre), then, fine. At least you might be a bit closer to the mark with your jibes.