Bridgewater wind vortex

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Mon 16 Dec, 2013 1:24 pm

buffaloskinner wrote: I would imagine its a lot less pay and worse conditions than Arriva though, that's usually the case Buffaloskinner - thats exactly the opinion I had of the company before moving there, even after talking to ex work mates who had moved there previously. However, my eyes have been opened in quite a pleasant way, yes the wages are lower, but not significantly, but the routes are far more pleasant, the timings are far more realistic and manageable, turn round times are driver friendly and the travelling public are far more friendly as we know many of them as a small company with regular user's.The other, most important, difference is, as a small operation, the company actually respects and appreciates its employee's unlike larger operators who only seem to see its drivers as an un-important, expendable tool within the operation.Blakey - Indeed I know exactly where your coming from, the industry is, and always has been, one where staff turn over is quite high, but the said staff tend to stay within the industry moving from one company to another.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 31 Dec, 2013 5:20 pm

All the trouble and debate about Bridgewater Place makes me think of another narrowly averted disaster caused, mercifully, by financial difficulties and which hopefully will never be revived. I'm talking about the two blocks of apartments on Wellington Street for which the enormous (50 metres deep ??)foundations were virtually completed I believe before a halt was called. These structures, between the former Wellesley Hotel and the old Royal Mail building, were to be thirty plus and fifty plus storeys high and "almost touching" as well as being hideously close to the older ones. Presumably the small matters of daylight, fresh air etc had escaped consideration. I imagine that the wind trouble at BP would have paled into a moderate breeze compared with what could have happened on Wellington Street - I have no civil engineering knowledge at all, but the thought of those two proposed structures filled me with trepidation from Day One.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Tue 31 Dec, 2013 5:51 pm

BLAKEY wrote: All the trouble and debate about Bridgewater Place makes me think of another narrowly averted disaster caused, mercifully, by financial difficulties and which hopefully will never be revived. I'm talking about the two blocks of apartments on Wellington Street for which the enormous (50 metres deep ??)foundations were virtually completed I believe before a halt was called. These structures, between the former Wellesley Hotel and the old Royal Mail building, were to be thirty plus and fifty plus storeys high and "almost touching" as well as being hideously close to the older ones. Presumably the small matters of daylight, fresh air etc had escaped consideration. I imagine that the wind trouble at BP would have paled into a moderate breeze compared with what could have happened on Wellington Street - I have no civil engineering knowledge at all, but the thought of those two proposed structures filled me with trepidation from Day One. Blakey in the 70's I used to walk from the station to the YEP along Wellington Street and on windy days when I got to the RM the wind could stop you in your tracks just from the one tower.

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 01 Jan, 2014 1:28 pm

I note that there was no mention of closing the roads over Yule with the gales then.Leeds council must think that doing it once is enough!

anthonydna · Post by **anthonydna** » Wed 01 Jan, 2014 1:51 pm

They were closed last week.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 01 Jan, 2014 1:57 pm

Steve Jones wrote: I note that there was no mention of closing the roads over Yule with the gales then.Leeds council must think that doing it once is enough! The YEP website was reporting that 'Bridgewater Place' had been closed by the council due to the forecast winds yesterday. I presume they meant the roads adjacent to it, rather than the building itself. Of course the councilor charged with resolving the ongoing débâcle is none other than our old friend Mr Lewis...

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 02 Jan, 2014 1:48 pm

raveydavey wrote: The YEP website was reporting that 'Bridgewater Place' had been closed by the council due to the forecast winds yesterday. I presume they meant the roads adjacent to it, rather than the building itself. It annoys the he!! out of me too. I have attempted to correct wymetro and realradio twitter accounts by pointing out its Victoria Road and Water Lane that are closed and Metro have got it correct once or twice since. Of course with the limitation on tweet lenths it is more diffcicult but for all other media its just lazy reporting (but then there is a massive thread on the YEP and that observation)

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Fri 03 Jan, 2014 12:11 pm

BLAKEY wrote: All the trouble and debate about Bridgewater Place makes me think of another narrowly averted disaster caused, mercifully, by financial difficulties and which hopefully will never be revived. I'm talking about the two blocks of apartments on Wellington Street for which the enormous (50 metres deep ??)foundations were virtually completed I believe before a halt was called. These structures, between the former Wellesley Hotel and the old Royal Mail building, were to be thirty plus and fifty plus storeys high and "almost touching" as well as being hideously close to the older ones. Presumably the small matters of daylight, fresh air etc had escaped consideration. I imagine that the wind trouble at BP would have paled into a moderate breeze compared with what could have happened on Wellington Street - I have no civil engineering knowledge at all, but the thought of those two proposed structures filled me with trepidation from Day One. Indeed Blakey, and it would have only added to a problem that has already been created in that area. The new buildings on the left hand side of Aire street as you pass the area you refer to have a gap between them with a flight of stairs up into the car park area, on more than one occasion while passing this opening with a bus I have literally been blown off course towards oncoming traffic and on one occasion witnessed a pedestrian blown by a strong gust off their feet and into the road.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 04 Jan, 2014 10:30 am

BIG N wrote: Indeed Blakey, and it would have only added to a problem that has already been created in that area. The new buildings on the left hand side of Aire street as you pass the area you refer to have a gap between them with a flight of stairs up into the car park area, on more than one occasion while passing this opening with a bus I have literally been blown off course towards oncoming traffic and on one occasion witnessed a pedestrian blown by a strong gust off their feet and into the road. Yes BIG N I can imagine it clearly. I'm afraid that I dwell happily and unashamedly in the long distant past and yearn for what I call "My Leeds." In the days of the Central Station and the massive railway goods and office premises the only environmental issue was the steam and smoke from glorious engines, and perhaps annoying (and yes unhealthy) smog from industry - but there were no "man made typhoons" to lift you off the face of the Earth. I suppose I'm a dreamer with rose tinted glasses, but who cares ??

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sat 04 Jan, 2014 8:46 pm

I have on the same rose tinted glasses has Blakey and I don't care either