It's so bad up north that everyone should move to the south

Gayle · 13-08-2008, 13:57

....so says a leading professor!

I took this from a news report but I also saw the pompous twit on Look North last night. Basically said that cities in the north are beyond saving and the only way to have a decent standard of living in the future will be to move south!

I can't believe how misplaced, arrogant, incorrect and just plain stupid I thought he was!!!!!

This is the article with a link to the full report -
Cities in northern England are beyond saving and residents should move south, a new report from the Policy Exchange think tank argues.
Urban regeneration in the north is failing its citizens so much that only a mass migration to London, Cambridge and Oxford would free them from poverty.
To support this exodus, the report argues more affordable homes should be built and that planning restrictions should be relaxed.
"No-one is suggesting that residents should be forced to move, but we do argue that they should be told the reality of the position: regeneration, in the sense of convergence, will not happen, because it is not possible," the report concludes.

pipinfort · 13-08-2008, 13:59

I think this was a April fool left over from earlier this year...........move down south.........

Less · 13-08-2008, 15:21

Let's not be silly, he is obviously has a job as an Estate Agent on the side.

He wants all the gullible with money in the North, to inflate the prices of the houses down south by tempting them in that direction, (thus keeping him in work), and at the same time causing a collapse in house properties in the North so that he can buy them all up and sell them off to first time buyers from the south that are willing to commute.

shakermaker · 13-08-2008, 15:26

Has anyone seen Accrington town centre lately? It is completely depressing and it's getting worse every year. I can't wait to get out. Of course many think the grass is greener on the other side until they've lived in another place, but I do not wish to see my once quite pleasant town getting worse anymore.
Blackburn Road is the most depressing place I have ever come across.

jaysay · 13-08-2008, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

....so says a leading professor!

I took this from a news report but I also saw the pompous twit on Look North last night. Basically said that cities in the north are beyond saving and the only way to have a decent standard of living in the future will be to move south!

I can't believe how misplaced, arrogant, incorrect and just plain stupid I thought he was!!!!!

This is the article with a link to the full report -
Cities in northern England are beyond saving and residents should move south, a new report from the Policy Exchange think tank argues.
Urban regeneration in the north is failing its citizens so much that only a mass migration to London, Cambridge and Oxford would free them from poverty.
To support this exodus, the report argues more affordable homes should be built and that planning restrictions should be relaxed.
"No-one is suggesting that residents should be forced to move, but we do argue that they should be told the reality of the position: regeneration, in the sense of convergence, will not happen, because it is not possible," the report concludes.

Thats your trouble Gayle your to dam nice, pompous twit, he's the biggest plonker I've had the misfortune witnessing for a long time, I felt like gragging the ********** through the Telly and giving him a good slap. I just wonder where he was dragged up, maybe Tumbridge Wells or Virginia Water, I know he wants to go and jump in the Thames and take his mates with him.

mrskitty · 13-08-2008, 16:23

If only it was that simple

yerself · 13-08-2008, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Thats your trouble Gayle your to dam nice, pompous twit, he's the biggest plonker I've had the misfortune witnessing for a long time, I felt like gragging the ********** through the Telly and giving him a good slap. I just wonder where he was dragged up, maybe Tumbridge Wells or Virginia Water, I know he wants to go and jump in the Thames and take his mates with him

This report was, according to the 'Telegraph, published by 'Policy Exchange', a Conservative-leaning think tank. Wonder what andrewb thinks of it?

Northerners urged to move down south (From Lancashire Telegraph)

MargaretR · 13-08-2008, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by yerself

This report was, according to the 'Telegraph, published by 'Policy Exchange', a Conservative-leaning think tank. Wonder what andrewb thinks of it.

Northerners urged to move down south (From Lancashire Telegraph)

His 'guru' has already condemned it
BBC NEWS | Politics | City report 'insane' says Cameron

jaysay · 13-08-2008, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by yerself

This report was, according to the 'Telegraph, published by 'Policy Exchange', a Conservative-leaning think tank. Wonder what andrewb thinks of it?

Northerners urged to move down south (From Lancashire Telegraph)

There's not only prats with Labour leanings yerself, there's plenty left right and centre

yerself · 13-08-2008, 17:00

From their website:

Policy Exchange is an independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas which will foster a free society based on strong communities, personal freedom, limited government, national self-confidence and an enterprise culture.

Gayle · 13-08-2008, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakermaker

Has anyone seen Accrington town centre lately? It is completely depressing and it's getting worse every year. I can't wait to get out. Of course many think the grass is greener on the other side until they've lived in another place, but I do not wish to see my once quite pleasant town getting worse anymore.
Blackburn Road is the most depressing place I have ever come across.

I take your point to some degree but regeneration is only just starting to kick in in Hyndburn and things like the Blackburn Rd regeneration, Town Centre Masterplan, West Accrington housing, etc are all five year plans. If things are still the same in five years time then it's time to be really depressed.

Gayle · 13-08-2008, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Thats your trouble Gayle your to dam nice,

Is that why no one voted for me?

I can assure you I've only printed the words that I would let children read. The ones I thought about using are probably more in line with yours.

andrewb · 13-08-2008, 17:11

I too think its crazy, god knows what they were thinking.

There are some interesting ideas in the report though. It suggests removing restrictions on housing in the South, allowing housing to be built on industrial land. This would raise the cost of establishing new businesses in the south so might encourage more business start-ups in the North, improving local economies up here.

Margaret Pilkington · 13-08-2008, 17:14

I cannot believe that this was a serious suggestion.......has anyone thought of the impications of such actions?

Eric · 13-08-2008, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by yerself

From their website:

Policy Exchange is an independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas which will foster a free society based on strong communities, personal freedom, limited government, national self-confidence and an enterprise culture.

In other words, a right wing think tank .... they have them all over the world; our version is the Fraser Institute .... they are best shot at dawn, or, failing that, ignored