Most stores basically moved out of the Ridings though and has left others areas of the town looking awful because of it. Like I said it is a decent place but as has had a serious knock on effect to the rest of the town. Similar to what Xscape has done to Cas town in a way. Personally never went to white Rose anyway, Leeds City is where most people I know go shopping.

Was remarking to my wife today how the area around Unity Wall had improved and tonight in the dark looked quite inviting .

Glad you said this. If we didn't have TW we would lose even more life from the City. The trick for me is how best to integrate it. My plan would be to knock down Westmorland House and put the market back there (not that I remember it there). This would create the perfect link to both TW and the Ridings IMO and WH is ugly as.

I would also challenge WMDC to buy Clayton Hospital and help the College achieve University status by turning that into its landmark HQ. It can be done and would save a wonderful building and give it real value to our City once again!

Oh, and I'd build a chuffing Community Stadium! Sigh.

Completely agree with that. If the City could get University status it would do absolute wonders for the City.

Also on Trinity Walk, I think not enough thought was put into how it would effect the rest of the City . I just believe more thought could have been put into the whole thing, including like I said previously how they handled the market.

I think Trinity Walk has been a great addition to the City centre. Probably rescued Wakefield from becoming another Castleford. Can't remember the last time I went to White Rose.
Ridings is hanging on by a thread thanks to Primark, M&S, TKMaxx, Boots etc. Nice run of stores along the full length of Ings Road too.
On the negative side Kirkgate from the old ABC cinema up to the Cathedral is awful. Dregs of humanity loitering outside multiple vacant buildings.

I was under the impression that Clayton hospital was to be bought jointly by QEGS & the girls school over the road - no inside info, just what I overheard a few weeks back.

Plans have been submitted, but it involves knocking it down apart from a small section and it has received some strong objections, including from the Victorian Society.

They're now looking at putting housing in the middle of Thornes Park too on the old college site, not like that would suit a stadium putting on it insead to match up with the running track... God forbid Wakefield had a true multi-sports village close to the town centre

It is really frustrating regarding the ground for all concerned, fans, staff and directors.

It isnt as if we want or need a stadium of football capacity 12-13 thousand would suit.

A smallish, compact stadium close to the centre would be ideal. We only have to look at the LSV model to prove it works.

Agree it is beyond frustrating and lets be honest if the Council had made the Agreement more like Castleford's new Stadium, or not let them build till at least the proposed amount of square foot had been already sold, we wouldn't probably talking about this now. They screwed up and Yorkcourt walked all over them and the rest of us who got sucked into the whole scheme.

Also just read your post on the Hull KR forum but did won't to go of topic on their site.

I agree with a lot of what you say about the Leader of the Council & Stadium etc but when looking it from Castleford's perspective, apart from The Xscape there hasn't been any proper money put into it the Town in decades.
In those times we've had The Ridings, Ings Road retail park, Trinity Walk, Westgate station redeveloped and the surrounding area, plus Kirkgate station getting finally improved & a new Bus station. Whether people like the look of it or not, the Hepworth Museum has attracted plenty of visitors to the City. I like a moan about the stadium and parts of Wakefield as well but imo the only really place that seriously wants attention is the Kirkgate side.

What about "The Bridge"? Money well spent there.

A sporting village would be great at the Pugneys / Durkar.
Wakefield produces very little in the form of sports people entertainers because it doesn't provide facilities.
The city of Wakefield went for years without a swimming pool thanks to the council.only when enough or a substantial amount was raised from the car park on the site was a new one built.
Our council like many others look to take the easy way out .
If the council does not realise the benefits of providing a sporting facilitie for the public then stuff em.

Add it to the list.

Going back to the swimming pool, both me and my wife have been going to a gym throughout 2016 to keep the pounds off which is working.

Recently my wife has been suffering with knee problems which is restricting what she can do. She looked at the options of swimming in the city and the cheaper option turned out to be changing gyms and going to Total Fitness.

I don't often post much on other teams forums Shifty, but as my wife supports Hull KR, I do have a soft spot for them.

It was mainly a word of congratulations, as they have passed 5000 memberships, which I think for a club that got relegated, is quite outstanding. If only we could manage that. I follow both Michael Carter and Neil Hudgell on Twitter, and they appear to get on really well.

I mentioned the state of our ground, and the lack of effort by the council, as I dont think clubs see the full picture of other clubs plights sometimes. I know there are some cynical lot out there that think we have a poor ground and a poor fan base.