Rotherham The Unofficial Website An unofficial website about the Town and Borough of Rotherham

Present Day Rotherham

Rotherham is still largely an industrial town. Although steel is still made here it not tempered or forged in the vast quantities of old. The Anglo-Dutch company Corus who ran the large concerns in Rotherham has been taken over by the Indian company Tata Steel. From the middle of 2009 redundancies and closures are taking place within the steel plants in Rotherham. It is obvious to many people in town that these actions, blamed on the credit crunch, are initial manoeuvres preparatory to moving the whole show to India. I understand that most of the trade is in special steels. Many of the firms that used to buy steel for their manufactories like chain making and stove grates have also gone, yet there are others that have taken their place. The scrap metal, sorry, recycling companies, have always done well around here and continue to do so. In January 2009 Corus have announced redundancies in Rotherham due to the downturn in global demands for steel.

The last colliery at Maltby is still open but it is predicted to close in 2015 when the seam runs out. In 2009 Hargreaves Services who own the pit are intending to make a major investment here which will extend the working life of Maltby Colliery until 2025.

Glass is still made here, as are nut confectioneries, but the flour milling operation has closed and the yard is used for distribution purposes. Many of the other old trades and industries are long gone.

Towards the end of the 20th Century, Rotherham became a major player in the call centre trade, as redeveloped light industrial sites attracted some high-tech industries. Many of the jobs offer nothing better than poor conditions, bad pay and no security, yet people stand for it because it is all there is. I have to say here that some folk are very happy working in such places - they are clean, warm and comfortable and much better than the chicken factory. For example in November 2006 advertised wages for Ventura Customer Service Advisors working late evenings are £12538pa plus Next benefits. This of course goes a long way to buying a house in Rotherham when a basic two-bedroom flat starts around £75,000. You would need to borrow 10 times this salary to afford a three-bedroom semi in a decent area.

There are innumerable firms on innumerable trading estates and in loads of workshops all over Rotherham sinking, swimming, struggling, surviving and succeeding across a broad range of industries.

Rotherham Civic Quarter 2010

Work on the new Civic Quarter on the old Guest and Chrimes Site off Don Street has commenced in 2010. The new Rotherham United Stadium is to be built here also.

Rotherham Railway Station 2010

A programme of rebuilding at Rotherham Railway Station has commenced in February 2010.

Rotherham Town Centre 2010

The new town centre initiative started in March 2009 and details can be found at Rotherham Town Centre Initiative. I have to say that in 2010 it has brought some new shops into the town centre, though many of the bigger units are still failing to attract new hopefuls. The relaxation of parking charges has gone some way to help Parking in Rotherham and the introduction of free parking on Saturdays from April 2010 has got to help. Tesco at least should be grateful that their car park will no longer be clogged up by those just popping town.

Waverley Development 2010

Following the end of the coal-washing operation at Orgreave the Waverley Development on the old tip site is up and running.

YES Yorkshire Entertainment Sensation 2010

Work on the YES Yorkshire Entertainment Sensation on the tip site at Pit house West near Rother Valley country Park has commenced.

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