THERE has never been much love lost between Sheffield and Leeds. And the animosity is about to become far worse.
Our northern neighbours are planning a rival arena which may well poach business from Sheffield Arena.
To add insult, it has also been learned that taxpayers' money will be used to support the project. And rubbing further salt into this festering
wound is the fact that this money comes from an organisation which is supposed to help the whole region's economy, Yorkshire Forward.
There is also an annoying element of pretence in the air, suggesting that the Leeds arena will have a 'unique super theatre format', concentrating on entertainment rather than sport, according to Yorkshire Forward.
That kind of bunkum simply does not carry any merit in this part of the world where we know only too well that facilities of this nature have to be hugely adaptable to cash in on the extensive range of events which need this kind of building. Otherwise they simply don't pay their way.
An arena in Leeds would be a rival to ours, with competition can only be damaging. It is not Yorkshire Forward's role to stick the knife into one Yorkshire city on behalf of another.
Make sure new boys deliver promisesSHEFFIELD City Council is eager to point out that it has not sacked Liberata, the private company which has been managing much of its financial work for the last 10 years.
But as bosses from that organisation begin to pack their bags and leave in favour of rival firm Capita Group Plc, we are sure they will feel they have been given their marching orders.
Liberata's relationship with Sheffield council has been troubled at best with failures leading to people going without housing benefits.
Today the city council embarks on a new relationship with a new contractor. But we hope they have learned some old lessons and can ensure that their next partner will deliver the services they have promised during the bidding process.
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FeaturesMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionLatest sport. The full article contains 390 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
