It was a very strange affair last week’s Council meeting on the subject of the monstrous 16 storey development of Eden Walk, that is the area covering British Home Stores, Heals et cetera.
We were greeted at our Guildhall by railings blocking off three quarters of the front steps, funneling us into single file. There were affable security men outside in high visibility yellow, more in the entrance hall, lining the stairs and on the upper landing. What were the Council expecting? a riot. Are they worried that we will chase them with our walking sticks and beat them about with our agendas.
It is totally disrespectful for our Council to greet those they represent in this manner.
During the presentation by British Land the full overwhelming mass of the proposed buildings became evident, swamping that part of town with blocks up to sixteen storeys high of grim dark brickwork. A miserable Gormengast that would be seen from afar, a blot on the townscape. Maybe they have cause to fear a riot.
The developers and their team had employed an ‘expert’ on the integration of modern developments with historic buildings. She produced a series of specious arguments to promote the development, and misquoted Historic England, stating that they have no objection to the scheme, when they clearly say in their report: ‘We believe that the current proposals cause harm to the historic environment.. In that regard, the proposals.are contrary to Government objectives of delivery of sustainable development and we therefore cannot support them.’
And finally we hear that the residential units are to be sold off plan, and will be marketed abroad after a period of grace after marketing to local people. This has nothing to do with housing local people it is about foreign investors buying the housing units as empty investment shells. And of course making a mint for British Land and Deloitte by destroying our town. .However none of the 8000 people on the council waiting list ever had a chance of living here.
Come to Guildhall for 7.30 on the Wednesday 23rd March to tell our Councilors what you think, and try to stop this hideous development. Of course in the most polite manner. They will have the bouncers in yellow visibility waiting to greet us.
George Rome Innes.
Resident
NOTE: Guildhall meeting is now cancelled.
We were greeted at our Guildhall by railings blocking off three quarters of the front steps, funneling us into single file. There were affable security men outside in high visibility yellow, more in the entrance hall, lining the stairs and on the upper landing. What were the Council expecting? a riot. Are they worried that we will chase them with our walking sticks and beat them about with our agendas.
It is totally disrespectful for our Council to greet those they represent in this manner.
During the presentation by British Land the full overwhelming mass of the proposed buildings became evident, swamping that part of town with blocks up to sixteen storeys high of grim dark brickwork. A miserable Gormengast that would be seen from afar, a blot on the townscape. Maybe they have cause to fear a riot.
The developers and their team had employed an ‘expert’ on the integration of modern developments with historic buildings. She produced a series of specious arguments to promote the development, and misquoted Historic England, stating that they have no objection to the scheme, when they clearly say in their report: ‘We believe that the current proposals cause harm to the historic environment.. In that regard, the proposals.are contrary to Government objectives of delivery of sustainable development and we therefore cannot support them.’
And finally we hear that the residential units are to be sold off plan, and will be marketed abroad after a period of grace after marketing to local people. This has nothing to do with housing local people it is about foreign investors buying the housing units as empty investment shells. And of course making a mint for British Land and Deloitte by destroying our town. .However none of the 8000 people on the council waiting list ever had a chance of living here.
Come to Guildhall for 7.30 on the Wednesday 23rd March to tell our Councilors what you think, and try to stop this hideous development. Of course in the most polite manner. They will have the bouncers in yellow visibility waiting to greet us.
George Rome Innes.
Resident
NOTE: Guildhall meeting is now cancelled.