I know I am a Bradfordian and Bradfordians and Loiners don't really go together, but I really can not get over how much people like Leeds! Any loiners on here, or anyone who does like the city, I just want you to know thats fine by me, personal choice and all that, but my opinion needs to be expressed also. Admittedly, credit where credit's due, Leeds is extremely good for shopping. The centre is about five times as big as Bradford with about 2/3 of that being used for the main shopping area. That 2/3 is absolutely fine, there are specialist shops, "oddity" shops in the arcades, selective shops, bargain shops and your common-a-garden high-street shops. Apart from the arcades, the vast majority of the stores are contained within "Arndale" type shopping centres with only a few shops out on the street. The Merrion Centre is West Yorkshires first multi-storey car park (watch someone correct me on that one
now...). All in all though, Leeds Centre accounts for very pleasant shoppping. The bit I don't like though, is the remaining 1/3 and the areas as you move out of the city centre. Walk towards where the Granary Wharf is. Over that way is loads of rough ground used as makeshift car parks, grotty railway tunnels and the "widely acclaimed" Granary Wharf. The rough ground and all that is just a waste of perfect;y good ground that could be used very well for more shopping places, which would be a welcome addition. The shops round that area are grotty and unwelcoming, and I wouldn't go in for fear of catching something. I The railway tunnel(s) - I cant remember whether theres one or two, are the worst place in the world for getting mugged in my humble opinion. They are not just tunnels, they have little doors in the side contained within little alcoves, which rapists, murderers or muggers could contain themselves within. The biggest atrocity of them all, however, is the Granary Wharf. never before in my life have I seen such a well-spoken-of shite hole. The brochure shows it as a sunny, bright plaza bustling with people and shops. In reality, this is what it is:
You walk into the railway tunnel, which I don't like anyway and take a stab at which off-shoot tunnel will lead you to the GW. You then try various tunnels until you reach the darkest ,pokiest (and the one that looks most dangerous) of them, and continue through darkness for the best part of a quarter mile. You then get there. You see a few doors and go through them. You see empty units and one unit selling incense. OK so theres a bit more than that, including some very nice chess sets (at about one and a half ton each!!!!!) and computer shops and that, but you think never mind as you see a sign for the "Waterfront" and think you might like it there. You follow these signs and end up at a small glass window overlooking the river going under a bridge with graffiti on the wall. How nice.
This is now going to sound really awful, but the worst thing about Leeds has got to be...The loiners. Told you it would sound really horrible, but let me explain. Not ALL loiners are like this, I know quite a few and are friendly with a few, but most loiners seem to think that they are a cut above everyone else. They have a "snobbish" air about them like they are in some way better than us Bradfordians. I don't think I am better than a loiner, I don't think taht way. Maybe its just how they are and they can't help it.
Not only that, but in really popular areas such as HEadingly, as I walked towards the stadium all the cast iron railings were rusting and falling over the edge of the little embankment things by the side of the path and all the road signs were practically unreadable - in a really fancy font and mucky and rusting - VERY difficult. If that was in Bradford there'd be letters to the council and the papers and everything, either that or no-one would want to live there but NO! No-one complains about it or even mentions it - maybe its because leeds is ALLOWED to be a shithole. Maybe Bradford should apply for a permit?
I know I've babbled on for a bit and I'm going to stop in one moment, but there is one more thing I would like to say about Leeds and peoples attitudes towards it. People seem to think that Leeds is a "better town" than Bradford. Opinions are fine, I have nothing against those people but let me just give you an example. The worst part of Bradford is arguably Ravenscliffe and the worst part of Leeds is probably Chapeltown (no offense to anyone living in these areas). I know which I would rather live in, and that happens to be in Bradford.
Thanks for listening to my babblings on. Its OK to say you hate a place, as long as you give reasons for it. Thats why I have thought about it and I do hate Leeds. I thought about it before I wrote it down instead of just saying I hate the place. At least I give reasons.
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I was born in Leeds and lived there for more years than I care to remember. As a city it suffers badly from its industrial heritage and urban decline. This began a long time ago and despite the efforts of successive local authorities, none of the changes made have regenerated the city in the way cities such as Birmingham have done. Much is made of the fact that Leeds has one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, the truth is most of that money is going elsewhere and is not being reinvested in the infastructure of the city that generates it. Shopping centres packed with chain stores do not make a city wealthy, take a look at Wakefield the whole place is one big shopping centre, what is needed is a lot more local business to help keep the money from heading south. As for your comments on the people of Leeds, I feel it is unfair to label them as snobbish and arrogant, Leeds is a big place with a very diverse population, most of whom are just ordinary decent folks trying to get on with life in the concrete jungle. Bradford has always had to sit in the shadow of its larger cousin, yet I cannot ever remember any of my relatives or friends refer to its inhabitants with such disdain as you have demonstrated. We Yorkshire folk should stick together, whichever town or city we live in, we have enough problems dealing with the rape of our heritage by this Southern-centric goverment without sniping at each other over minor issues like attitude.
killip 11.07.2001 16:52
sorry mamsgonetoiceland i thought you was a girl I apologise. Sorry, I like Bradford. the Abbey National (N&P if you're from Bradford)'s not that bad - not as bad as the St Johns Centre in Leeds! Bradford Rules, end of story. Just open your sodding eyes in Bradford and you'll find 10x as many things as in Leeds. Oh, and there IS reason to swear on ciao.
andyev 08.07.2001 23:45
Well I never did! What a daft opinion. Firstly, there's no real place for swearing on Ciao, so keep it to a f*****g minimum. Second, coming from Bradford, you can hardly crow! Anyone who has pulled into the glorious Bradford Interchange with it's lovely Abbey National building (possibly the ugliest building in Yorkshire?). Leeds was a city on the up, but owing to the terrible Leeds City Council things have slowed. I agree Granary Wharf is a little dank, but it's a development with merit, turning railway tunnels that were a haven for junkies into a reasonable shopping environment. There is more development in the way down there so watch this space - and the Tepinyaki resturant in Granary Wharf is fabulous. You were right incidentally about Merrion's multi story - it was actually the first in Britain, too.
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Jun 20th, 2001
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