isnt it

[Lytham Rover]

about time that we thought the unthinkable
ie drawing a line from the bristol channel to the top of the wash and voting to join in with scotland in breaking away from london and all the overpaid tosspots therein (and the tory scum)  and taking back our country?

discuss

[Jenny]

What a load of tosh

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Thanks for calling me scum I'll bear that in mind.  It's that kind of attitude that stops this place developing any better than it has.

Discuss that!

[Sheepskin Stu]

Tory scum out...

[Jenny]

Thanks for calling me scum I'll bear that in mind.  It's that kind of attitude that stops this place developing any better than it has.

Discuss that!

In addition, I hope that you don't use any public services that were in part funded by my substantial taxes I had to pay over whilst I was an overpaid tosspot in London.

[Orlandokarla]

A mate of mine from Kent often used to say "What happens north of Watford, stays north of Watford".

Anything north of Watford was simply referred to as "The North". 

[Lytham Rover]

Sorry if any offence
But I am fed up of seeing a two speed country
Watch escape to country and see 'ordinary people selling their houses in London for £500,000 and similar houses anywhere else selling for half that
Why isn't this or any govt trying to readjust the imbalance?

Do they even care?

[Jenny]

Its called supply and demand.

Simple.

[BobG]

And if we aim for an equitable and just society, it's wrong too.

BobG

[Lytham Rover]

Interesting article in the guardian pointing out the more people from Surrey go to Oxbridge than people from wales and the north east combined
It refers to London as a megaopolis and how the north has never recovered from thatchers axe

[Mike_F]

Trouble is, the few who do make it to Oxbridge from "The North" tend to stay down South when they finish. The brain drain perpetuates the cycle.

[OxonViking]

I'm sure there may a valid point in there but using the guardian to back up an anti Tory point is on par with quoting the mail in an anti labour one.
Houses do sell for more money but they cost more to buy and to live in. Earn more , taxed more. Simples What should the govt do? Money makes money and pays more tax. It's the way it is

[nutwellrover in dublin]

Hell fire that would make my journey back to Armthorpe on a Friday night imposable!! two weeks ago a broken rail at Retford turned a 1hr 40 in to a 4hr trip.

[jucyberry]

Truly cannot see what is so appealing about London and the like, It would be my idea of a nightmare to live there..

[The L J Monk]

Truly cannot see what is so appealing about London and the like, It would be my idea of a nightmare to live there..

'Tis a splendid little place. Great food, lots to see and do, loads of parks, well-connected...

[Sheepskin Stu]

It's not as good as Swaffham or Downham Market...

[Dagenham Rover]

Truly cannot see what is so appealing about London and the like, It would be my idea of a nightmare to live there..

I spent the best part of 28 years down there, left Donny as a 17 year old and came back nigh on 10 years ago, I loved it as a youngster got here there and everywhere, but I did have one heck of a profession when younger it was discussed on here a good few years ago. .......... but now no thanks Donny Rules

[jucyberry]

Ah but I like to be different so I would much rather move north than south.. London is ok for a visit but for me that's all.. I'm a bumpkin not a cosmopolitan 

[The L J Monk]

It's not as good as Swaffham or Downham Market...

Where is Stu, where is...

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Interesting article in the guardian pointing out the more people from Surrey go to Oxbridge than people from wales and the north east combined
It refers to London as a megaopolis and how the north has never recovered from thatchers axe

Is that not kind of like saying more people from Yorkshire go to Sheffield uni though?

[BobG]

I'm not very statistically significant as samples go, but I never went back to Donny after I left University. It is self perpetuating brain drain in my eyes. More, and better paid,  jobs darn sarf. So that's where you go. That pushes up house prices so you end up earning even more. And when the people with brains are there, where are most of the new jobs going to be created? So where are the new brains going to go?

The Italians haven't solved this problem. We haven't. Is it soluble at all? Maybe, but it would take one hell of an effort and some very long term commitment. The odd instances of it being tried always result in anguished cries from those that have to go to the sticks: the DVLA, the BBC, for just two examples.

Trouble is, whilst I really do not like London at all, there really are some absolutely cracking places darn sarf. I always thought I'd retire back to Donny. But I'm not going to. I like it too much round here - though even further west on the Somerset Levels is attracting me.

Cheers

BobG

[Mike_F]

Sod that, Bob. Retire to Bulgaria and shag yourself to a merry death!

[Jenny]

Truly cannot see what is so appealing about London and the like, It would be my idea of a nightmare to live there..

Y'see I will never ever understand it when people say they cannot see what is appealing about London. It is one of the best cities on this planet, truly cosmopolitan... Always something to see, always something to do. I have a book called 'Tired of London, Tired of Life' and it is absolutely spot on.

I personally think those who have negative views have never really experienced the 'real' London, they've gone for a few days, hit the tourist spots and found the experience frustrating which I can totally sympathise with because I used to work right in the middle of it and it drove me mad at times.

But away from that, watching the sunset from Greenwich Park, running down the Thames Path to the flood barrier, snapping up fruit and veg from amazing food markets, wandering around the city at 5am in the morning without a care in the world... I would give my right arm (and my left) to be back there.

As for the brain drain problem, its totally evident. Most of my friends haven't come back to Doncaster and the only reason I am there is through circumstance rather than choice. There is just nothing for young professionals and it would take something drastic to change that.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Truly cannot see what is so appealing about London and the like, It would be my idea of a nightmare to live there..

As for the brain drain problem, its totally evident. Most of my friends haven't come back to Doncaster and the only reason I am there is through circumstance rather than choice. There is just nothing for young professionals and it would take something drastic to change that.

100% true, exactly the thing I've got.  Most of my mates now live outside of the area, some abroad but most down south.  I can fully understand why and I'll not be around too much longer.  Doncaster doesn't offer much at all, I wish that would change but sadly it doesn't and the few of us who do stick around have to work in other areas and commute.  It's a shame as there is the ability in the town just not the willingness to get businesses in for these people.

[Mike_F]

If I was responsible for economic development in Doncaster I'd be approaching Londan/SE based businesses who don't necessarily need to be based there and showing them how mucj they can save in terms of property, wages, tax (if applicable - any breaks for investing in "deprived" areas).

Surely there would be millions of pounds in savings dropping straight onto the bottom line for any sizeable business. The first year could be costly in terms of capex and relocations packages but it would be recouped in no time.

I have always travelled nationwide for work and couldn't be better located. I've got customers in Dundee and Cornwall and they're equidistant. Doncaster's transport links to M18/M62/M1/A1 are fantastic. It really ought to be a hub for many more companies. If they were to run work placement schemes in partnership with Doncaster sixth forms and college along with the Sheffield universities they would attract a good calibre of staff for management roles with a huge pool of resource for warehousing, production, packing and distribution. I shudder to think how much businesses like Mars must spend on temp staff based in the home counties.

I know talk's cheap but I'd be really interested to see what sort of resource the local authority and Doncaster Chamber of Commerce put into this sort of thing.

[Mike_F]

P.S. I'm currently looking to move house. I'm in the market for a four bed detached property which would be a pipe dream in the South. That's one thing that Doncaster does have going for it, and as a home is a huge part of anyone's life it would surely be another selling tool to potential investors. Ok, with investment there would be a natural demand-led increasse in house prices but it would still be much more affordable than that London!

[Sheepskin Stu]

I'd love to hear more about how dynamic and fulfilling your lives are in the South Yorkshire area.

[Mike_F]

Sorry Stu, I'm too jealous of the Cheshire dream.

[Sheepskin Stu]

Haha. When your neighbour is John Ryan it's difficult. He never brings his bins in.

[Mike_F]

He'll attract urban foxes.