TimAWells

Rotherham: The £100 Million Town Centre Disaster

Is Rotherham being "regenerated" or is it being abandoned? Join me for a 20-minute deep dive into the reality of Rotherham Town Centre. While the local council pours millions of taxpayer money into "vanity projects" like the Forge Island cinema hub and a market redevelopment that has seen costs spiral from £22m to a staggering £46m, the streets themselves tell a different story. We walk through the "rotting" heart of the town—from the redundant Howard Building and the shell of the old Woolworths to the once-thriving pubs like the Alma Tavern now closed and the Cutlers Arms. While £13 million is spent on cycle lanes to Magna, our historic landmarks and local businesses face a different reality. From the beautiful Minster, stained glass of the Old Town Hall to the controversial "Snail Park," this is an unfiltered look at where your money is actually going. 00:00 Introduction at Rotherham markets redevelopment. *Costs doubled from £22m to £46 MILLION currently.* 00:29 Rotherham Art College 00:42 Technical college Howard building - REDUNDANT 00:57 Technical college Clifton building operational 01:06 Indoor market entranceway 01:18 Staniforths Bakery 01:33 Halifax (once C&A) 01:38 Traditional English fruit and vegetable market 01:48 Massive Tesco Drummond St 02:05 Rotherham bus station 02:27 Hastings clock 02:38 Plough Pub 02:55 Old Town Hall shopping arcade and stained glass window 03:48 Rotherham town centre from the bus interchange 04:25 Main market in town centre 04:52 Woolworths - VACANT 05:15 Rotherham Minster 05:42 Chapel on the Bridge 06:15 Forge Island cinema, hotel and train station - *Cinema and hotel Cost taxpayers £47 MILLION* 07:02 Corporation St active travel and Regal/Odeon/Scala and Mecca Bingo Hall 08:29 Oriental street dancing demonstration 09:33 Redundant WHSmiths 09:48 Wellgate Mail Coach public house 10:24 High St 10:46 Snail Park and event 11:42 Food places 12:19 More road works 12:26 Empire, Essoldo, Cannon and Classic cinema 12:47 Moorgate Cross Keys, High House CLOSED, Rotherham Town Hall, Unitary Church 13:25 Blue Coat pub (was Feoffees) 13:47 Town Hall and Walker Cannon 15:01 Main St, RMBC Riverside offices, Police station 15:53 West Gate cycle lanes, Wellington Inn flats, CLOSED Alma Tavern and Cutlers Arms. *Note: Wellgate and Westgate cycle lanes to Magna cost £13.34 MILLION.* BIO Tim Wells born and bred Sheffield. Born at Nether Edge 1964. British Steel Rotherham 1980 to 1985 Process control Midland Bank HSBC 1985 to 2000 Telecoms Voice and Data. Self employed personal development 2001 to 2020 Volunteer with Dimnington regeneration trust 2000 to 2005. Qualifications HNC industrial measurement and control. NLP Master Practitioner. Hobbies: Dancing, outdoors, DIY, Vlogging. £££ You can assist me getting out and about by donating here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/timawells £££