Phil Scal's observation about media coverage might hold true for other cities, but will, as usual, not apply to Sheffield. A nuclear strike on Attercliffe would barely make regional news due to the control of this area's news coverage held by national broadcasters based in Leeds.

Sheffield anyway, will never be viewed elsewhere as a viable candidate - the external perception of the place is still that of a declining industrial wasteland - a view that's been encouraged by years of insular, naive and backward looking local government. On top of that, the place is no longer viewed as a major city anywhere except S1, so it wouldn't qualify anyway.

And where is the culture in this city? It can't afford to run a full time professional orchestra, it's main theatre is kept alive by a fortnight of billiards, there's barely a museum or gallery of national repute in the city, and Jazz? That's a men's perfume, isn't it?

Sheffield is only capable of supporting popular events that circulate around the land looking for vacant venues - like a large gig or two at the Don Valley Stadium, or the odd populist performance in a park (as good as it was). It's real "culture" only exists within the boundaries set by the younger and more transient segment of it's population. Outside of youth and pop culture, as valid and worthy as they are, there is nothing.

Typical of Sheffield though, it hopes to be considered for something on a promise that it will "build it", rather than having it in the first place.

Save us the sneering. Produce a cultural heritage, build a "culture of culture" within the city and it's population, help us create events that build a reputation. Then bid for some ephemeral, temporary title that'll be forgotten immediately afterwards.

Why not? We certainly still have a little of our very own sort of culture left. Not quite Northern and not quite Midlands... as my old Geography teacher would say. We are a "border" community and used to have a very distinctive, "cussed" sort of culture which embodied the spirit of its citizenry.

Sadly, the rise of the mass media and "Estuary English" is diminishing this aspect of Sheffield...the land of the dee-dahs!

Phil Scal? I I think the person being referred to here is Phil Redmond.

"The centrepiece of any bid would include the Lyceum and the Arena........".
Wouldn't it be a bit hypocritical of the current Council leadership to bid on that basis, as they've spent the last 18 years saying how they voted against the £ to build the Arena and to renovate the Lyceum?

Sheffield will be a movie makers paradise soon with more empty steelworks and factories to use as film sets for new versions of The Full Monty. High Noon and Gunfight at the OK Corral could be remade at Spital Hill. Deliverance could be filmed on the Rivere Don staring Jarvis Cocker. He wanted to travel down the Don on a raft. Bridge over the River Kwai on location at T'Wicker Arches next time we have a flood. Monty Pythons Flying Circus at the Town Hall.The possibilities are of course endless and there are thousands of unemployed on the dole who could become paid extras. Tinsley could even become the new Bollywood with its bustling Indian population. Who needs a steel industry in Sheffield? Yes with all these possibilities we should be World City of Culture. The City Council will however have to Buy back Sheffield City Airport from Peel Holdings for a pound so that the City can fly in all the movie moguls and tourists.