“Matthew, Swansea: I agree with all your points you raise, but the article is about a new tree-lined boulevard leading into the city centre. That¿s all. If the council were proposing to build a nuclear power station at the end of Wind Street, then, yes, let¿s scream and shout, but it is new green space, for god¿s sake. And I, for one, fully support the scheme and look forward to that area becoming a focal point of the city centre.
As for jobs, I agree. There should be a greater effort to locate offices in the city centre and not disperse them throughout SA1 and the Enterprise Zone. According to stats (though a few years out of date, I think) only 4,510 office jobs are located in the city centre, compared to 13,910 in Cardiff ¿ meaning that almost 10,000 more people pour into Cardiff City centre at lunch time than do in Swansea ¿ now if only a few of those shop and/or take a meal or refreshment, then the retail industry obviously has a major boost. However, all this has no relevance to the new boulevard.
My point was basically that we should focus on the issue at hand. Because the council are failing to bring in new offices in the city centre, does not mean that boulevard is a failed concept. Personally, I think we need to remove our rosy coloured or dark coloured glasses and see the world in multi colour. A failure in one area does not imply a failure in all areas. Well targeted criticism is helpful, but moaning about every plan is just plain old whinging.

Anyway, Mathew, besides that, it was good to reminded of the important issues. I appreciate your response.”

“Matthew, I agree with you that the city centre needs more people working in it (and living in it, for that matter). But if you take a look at the City Centre Strategy it talks extensively about this. The St. David's / Quadrant area is highlighted as the key priority for a major mixed-use redevelopment. Obviously progress is slower than we might have hoped because of the recession and complications such as the expiry of leases at Parc Tawe. But this is a long game.

You talk about the need for better infrastructure - well, the Boulevard is a vital part of this. It will create a much more attractive environment and will open up opportunities for new frontage development around the current Tesco site, Paxton Street, perhaps even around Quay Parade long term. Traffic should flow better with reduced turning movements and a possible gyratory at the Tawe Bridges. I don't think the regeneration of Swansea will be holed below the waterline because you won't be able to turn into Wind St from Victoria Road anymore!

You may say that it's a vanity project but the reality is that places and spaces have to be 'attractive' in order to win investment. Hence the barrage at Cardiff Bay, the plan for a new marina at the Prince of Wales dock etc etc. I can't understand why anyone would prefer to retain Oystermouth Road as current semi-'bypass' which is ugly and a barrier between the city centre and waterfront. Frankly it's a negative space, gives a bad impression of Swansea and is likely to deter investors.

Of course none of this may 'work' in improving Swansea city centre's fortunes - I guess the market will ultimately decide - but for my money the current plans are the most wide-ranging and holistic I've ever seen. And there are some good things happening despite the difficult economic environment: the new bus station, High St station revamp, High St urban village, Swansea College plans etc etc. So let's be patient and see what happens as the growth picks up through 2011-12.”

“Matthew, I agree with you that the city centre needs more people working in it (and living in it, for that matter). But if you take a look at the City Centre Strategy it talks extensively about this. The St. David's / Quadrant area is highlighted as the key priority for a major mixed-use redevelopment. Obviously progress is slower than we might have hoped because of the recession and complications such as the expiry of leases at Parc Tawe. But this is a long game.

You talk about the need for better infrastructure - well, the Boulevard is a vital part of this. It will create a much more attractive environment and will open up opportunities for new frontage development around the current Tesco site, Paxton Street, perhaps even around Quay Parade long term. Traffic should flow better with reduced turning movements and a possible gyratory at the Tawe Bridges. I don't think the regeneration of Swansea will be holed below the waterline because you won't be able to turn into Wind St from Victoria Road anymore!

You may say that it's a vanity project but the reality is that places and spaces have to be 'attractive' in order to win investment. Hence the barrage at Cardiff Bay, the plan for a new marina at the Prince of Wales dock etc etc. I can't understand why anyone would prefer to retain Oystermouth Road as current semi-'bypass' which is ugly and a barrier between the city centre and waterfront. Frankly it's a negative space, gives a bad impression of Swansea and is likely to deter investors.

Of course none of this may 'work' in improving Swansea city centre's fortunes - I guess the market will ultimately decide - but for my money the current plans are the most wide-ranging and holistic I've ever seen. And there are some good things happening despite the difficult economic environment: the new bus station, High St station revamp, High St urban village, Swansea College plans etc etc. So let's be patient and see what happens as the growth picks up through 2011-12.”

“Jon and Steve ¿ wake up and smell the reality. All this talk about ¿jobs and investment¿ is meaningless unless all the infrastructure and accommodation is in place.

In other words, the city centre needs places for a great deal more people to work than we presently and a means for them to get there. This is exactly the kind of investment that has been going on in Cardiff for the last decade and it is why firms are based in their city centre. It also means that staff become retail customers during the day, whereas in Swansea the working population is actually declining.

The city centre regeneration strategy which you pin your hopes upon talks mostly about retail and residential development ¿ that is why Hammersons, who build shopping centres, are the project managers. Even the local newspaper is headed out of town.

In case you both haven¿t noticed, the largest chunk of recently built office accommodation is in SA1 Waterfront to the east of the city ¿ and which is arguably the city¿s gateway. This trend will continue and the planned university campus at Jersey Marine will draw investment in office and business accommodation further eastwards away from the city centre.

The boulevard concept is little more than a vanity project but any possibility of it being a catalyst for future investment will be cancelled out by traffic constraints. Depriving visitors of easy access simple makes the city less attractive. Leafy quadrangles sound fine but they only have a place in the overall scheme of things if global warming transforms Swansea¿s climate into one suitable for outdoor working. Some hope!

The problem with Swansea Council is not a lack of ambition but an inability to grasp the reality that creating spaces doesn¿t mean that you get anything of value to fill them. It is as if the lessons of the derelict St David¿s Centre have never been learned or even understood by our planners.”

“Picture the headline on July 30th 2015 - 'Boulevard approved and work to start soon '

I think much of the constructive criticism comes from the continuous spin we hear from the council on this subject.

No landmark city centre regeneration has taken place. The council chief Paul Smith and his head of estates and regeneration should be interviewed (or perhaps a live stream ) by SWEP.

If a significant road modification led to a timely , landmark transformation of the city centre then great!

We also hear that mission statement cheaply repeated by senior personnel at County hall - Swansea will be a destination city by 2020.

No disrespect to Skegness or Rhyl but at the current rate of decline that's where our city centre is heading.Swansea city centre punches seriously below it's weight

Demolishing the decaying , empty and forgotten St Davids centre could pave the way for an ambitious 3 storey retail/cafe development extension of the Quadrant.

High Street and Lower Oxford St need a redevelopment involving mass compulsory purchase and integrated, sustainable planning not just pockets of affordable housing at random corners.

In addition , there are waterside locations (sA1) which offer such great potential for indoor ice rinks, a concert venue, aquarium etc.

Swansea is Wales' second city with a population in excess of 220,000. All we fast tracked are Tesco express shops or housing .

A new road layout would have to be a stepping stone to a more modern city centre.

Let's hope the city,assembly and private partners can trigger some landmark regeneration soon.

After all ambition is critical or was it Skegness wasn't built in a day.”

“I have one thing to say: HAHAHAHAHAHA we'll see !”

“Jon, Morriston: I agree. If the council wants to develop one area, people will immediately complain, and identify another area that needs redevelopment. If the council plant trees in one part of the city, people will think of other parts where trees were chopped down. Then, of course, there is always the old moan about impending traffic congestion and drunks on the streets. This attitude reminds me of an old joke: ¿How do you know when a plane from the UK has arrived?¿ ¿The whining continues even after the engines are switched off¿ ¿ sad, but unfortunately often true.”

“It's disappointing to see the usual EP comment forum cynicism and negativity... sigh. Look, the city centre strategy published a couple of years ago set the scene for this plan. It identified Oystermouth Road as an ugly traffic route that acts as a barrier between the city centre and the waterfront. The council are trying to turn it into an attractive urban avenue that will attract new investment. Yes there will be some short-term disruption but when the scheme is finished around 2015 we will have a better quality environment, attracting new development and new jobs. What's not to like.”

“Before they start disrupting the city centre with their grandiose schemes the council need to address the far more urgent problems at another GATEWAY to the city i.e. High Street Station and the vicinity.

They talk about improving facilities etc. and enhancing the city and yet they can't deal effectively with the problem of the intimidating drunks that congregate in and around our station gateway.”

“I¿m afraid that this is another instance of spin triumphing over commonsense in Swansea. I wonder if the cabinet members quoted have actually read or understood the implications of the report in front of them. Far from improving things, the effect of these changes will cause massive congestion as confused motorists wander the city centre trying to find a way into Wind Street. Why don¿t they just erect barricades; it would have the same effect.”