Memorandum by T Appleyard (HIS 27)
Does disabled access apply? We are told that
it should. Do we dismember the building to add this? How can you
with old buildings. Two different sets of law apply to the same.
How does transport work? You knock everything
down and build new to become old after a short time to pull it
down again. In it you fit transport but not as the present case
has been. It is the problem. Roads closed, limited access. Those
that can't walk are told to walk, use a bicycle. We have obstructions
such as road humps too high too angular so you need an off road
vehicle. We restrict roads so the traffic crawls and pollutes
more. It goes through and not round with by-passes.
How much does it cost to keep an old building
going? Is it not politics to replace it with that all new to last
10 years and pull it down again. We could have another dome, music
centre or building you close after renovation. Old buildings should
have funds. You let it decay then you can pull it down. it works.
It is current practice. The council is always responsible and
the funds seen to side-track the buildings.
We have the 10 year plan. It goes wrong, it
stays wrong but it continues to be built. If it fails we build
it to fail.
Is the building old? Bring it up to modern standard
but how with an old building it stays old. That is what an old
building is.
Has it another use? No it becomes a shop or
offices like every other project with no other ideas. The modern
vogue is nothing to do with us but the planner. They know all
until it all goes wrong.
Is it just a paper exercise? Pull it down put
in our grand new idea like we did last time. We have done it four
times in the same area in 40 years. It works no one can stop us.
Is an old building old or is it the last modern building to become
old next time?
Is it a new fascia to an old building or a new
building with an old fascia? Are we keeping it old or modernising
it?
No one has bothered with old railway buildings,
canals and the like. They have all gone.
Planning is a limited view in a limited way
by limited people who often know nothing about buildings. Is it
not time they did just like they should about roads but do not?
The planner and the architect is always right
they can never be wrong. But they can. Consultation, expertise,
experience and intelligence seem to fail in the end.
Why deal with buildings when you can spend it
on the town centre four times round every 10 years? It happens.
Fancy paving, fancy road schemes you change every few years to
make things worse. The old building has no chance.
Ten years later when it is done you say what
a problem another millennium dome.
If you make a law you have not so why make more
with no meaning to be told second hand by a judge and not parliament
we are told happens at the present by Parliament.
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