Marks and spencer Swansea

[exiledclaseboy]

Swansea people enjoy nothing better than talking down Swansea.

 

[JackSomething]

Do you think that and I'll use 'Swansea' rather than target successive council administrations here, and also keep retail out of the argument as I think that's a separate issue; has made the most of the 7 miles of wonderful seafront, or the docks area. Was it a complete and utter disaster getting rid of the Mumbles tram. Do you think that the train station is in the right place. Do you consider Castle gardens a success, it was constructed in 1991 and is now ready for the bulldozer.
How about West Way I believe we are already on its 3rd iteration.
My other beef here is that many of the decisions about the future look of Swansea were made by people who didnt even live here and we not fully invested in its future. I could go on and on and on, and I understand it's all about opinions.
And if you like and you pay my design fee of a very reasonable of £150/hr I'll come up with a few options of how I think it should look, with any luck they should be ready in about 12-18 months time, and I thrown in some pretty rendered images for you.

I don't think they have made the most of it, although the refurbishment of the LC a good few years ago and the more recent building of the Arena have at least been an attempt to link the city centre to the coast. Decisions made many years ago like building the concrete horror that is the Civic Centre in such a prime location didn't help. What happens next to the building will be interesting and hopefully will help the situation.

Mentioning West Way, there were ambitious plans around 15 years ago to relocate Tesco from the old gasworks site and move Oystermouth Road underground for a stretch, creating a huge connection to the coast, with plenty of retail, food, and accommodation unites along the route. It had to be shelved because the amount of funds actually delivered by the EU were massively slashed. I believe it ending up just paying for the work done on Princess Way and the area around the LC2.

Losing the world's first passenger railway was obviously a bad thing, but didn't it close in 1960? Seems a bit harsh to blame the current lot for something that happened 66 years ago. They've looked at reopening it multiple times but the conclusion has always been that it would be horrendously expensive. Same thing with moving the train station, which being on High Street probably made perfect sense when it was originally built, although obviously not any more.

Castle Gardens was a no-go area before the redevelopment, most people wouldn't set foot in it. I don't like what they did with it but don't see it lasting 30+ years before being developed again as a disaster.

 

[JackSomething]

I should probably give it a rest to avoid becoming the new Dimi in this thread, but I do want to say that I see similarities in what people are saying here to things people say about the players.

Suggesting that the council just needs to make better decisions and 'sort it out' is all that is needed to make the city centre a paradise is a lovely comforting idea. It's similar to those who are always moaning at the 'usual suspects' in the team like Key, Cullen, Ronald, with the idea that all we need to do is replace them with better players in their positions and the team will be successful. It's a lovely thought, but almost certainly too simplistic.

All the comments come from people who care about Swansea/the football club and want things to get better, so I do understand the frustration. I just don't think it's realistic in either case.

 

[Neath_Jack]

I don't think they have made the most of it, although the refurbishment of the LC a good few years ago and the more recent building of the Arena have at least been an attempt to link the city centre to the coast. Decisions made many years ago like building the concrete horror that is the Civic Centre in such a prime location didn't help. What happens next to the building will be interesting and hopefully will help the situation.

Mentioning West Way, there were ambitious plans around 15 years ago to relocate Tesco from the old gasworks site and move Oystermouth Road underground for a stretch, creating a huge connection to the coast, with plenty of retail, food, and accommodation unites along the route. It had to be shelved because the amount of funds actually delivered by the EU were massively slashed. I believe it ending up just paying for the work done on Princess Way and the area around the LC2.

Losing the world's first passenger railway was obviously a bad thing, but didn't it close in 1960? Seems a bit harsh to blame the current lot for something that happened 66 years ago. They've looked at reopening it multiple times but the conclusion has always been that it would be horrendously expensive. Same thing with moving the train station, which being on High Street probably made perfect sense when it was originally built, although obviously not any more.

Castle Gardens was a no-go area before the redevelopment, most people wouldn't set foot in it. I don't like what they did with it but don't see it lasting 30+ years before being developed again as a disaster.

It’s crying out for a rail / tram link between the city and mumbles. That would be an absolute game changer for the area. If the appetite was there, money would be found.the amount of money that’s wasted on plans which never have any chance of getting off the ground over the years would go well towards paying it.

Swansea is the City of artists impressions.

 

[Smurph]

I should probably give it a rest to avoid becoming the new Dimi in this thread, but I do want to say that I see similarities in what people are saying here to things people say about the players.

Suggesting that the council just needs to make better decisions and 'sort it out' is all that is needed to make the city centre a paradise is a lovely comforting idea. It's similar to those who are always moaning at the 'usual suspects' in the team like Key, Cullen, Ronald, with the idea that all we need to do is replace them with better players in their positions and the team will be successful. It's a lovely thought, but almost certainly too simplistic.

All the comments come from people who care about Swansea/the football club and want things to get better, so I do understand the frustration. I just don't think it's realistic in either case.

Don't worry about things like that

I think ultimately what people from both sides of this conversation want is the best thing for our wonderful city

 

[Manselton Jack]

Successive council administrations have made some terrible decisions regarding our city centre.
The current lot do appear to be a bit different in all fairness, the Arena and the Parc Tawe revamp are steps in the right direction so maybe there is some hope finally.

 

[Neath_Jack]

Construction of Block B next, then the demolition of St David’s MSCP.