Thursday, 30 April 2009
Renewable Heritage: Microgeneration in Historic Homes
So a rapid blog without visuals to draw attention to the conference in Edinburgh, World Heritage Site, at the Hub, May 15th.
Last year's was hugely informative, and all will be welcome, professional or householder, interested in traditional and historic homes, energy conservation and renewable energy.
Renewable Heritage Conference Microgeneration in Traditional and Historic Homes The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh Friday 15 May 2009
http://www.ewht.org.uk/Forthcoming-Events.aspx
...Read more
The cost is minimal!
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/uploads/RH_2009_Booking_Form.doc
To reserve a place contact Changeworks on 0131 538 7957 heritage@changeworks.org.uk.
The day will include presentations covering a range of areas including:• Renewable energy – Microgeneration systems in historic homes • Building conservation – Historic homes in a changing climate • Technical Issues – Old buildings & microgeneration technologies • Planning – Requirements & consents • Environment – Climate change, sustainability and historic buildings • Case studies – microgeneration installations in traditional and historic homes, including Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site
Following on from the success of last year’s Energy Heritage conference, the day will cover the key issues surrounding microgeneration in historic homes, and demonstrate how they can benefit from free, clean, renewable energy while retaining their historic integrity. A series of case studies will be presented, including a detailed presentation of a groundbreaking solar installation in listed tenements in Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site. These case studies will provide practical examples of how to install microgeneration systems in older and historic homes.
Who should attend? This conference is relevant to professionals involved in historic buildings, conservation, planning, architecture, housing, the environment, sustainable development, local or national government, renewable energy, building maintenance and fuel poverty, as well as householders and community groups.
This is a Changeworks event, funded by eaga Charitable Trust and Edinburgh World Heritage
Programme of the conference here:
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/uploads/Renewable_Heritage_Programme.pdf
see also:
http://www.ewht.org.uk/Renewable-Heritage-Project.aspx
http://www.ewht.org.uk/Energy-Heritage-Project.aspx
Nem
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
The Milk Train 1930
As opposed to the developers' gravy train, 2009.
A short piece of nostalgia!
See also http://conservationofficer.blogspot.com/2009/04/slice-of-unmitigated-nostalgia.html
This is the Manifold Valley, Derbyshire, and this is a journey of the milk train. Note the complete absence of refrigeration.
A Pathe Pictorial (for those who recall the glory days of cinema...) silent, so make your own chuffing noises.
The Republic computer is off to be fixed today (hopefully); back soon as possible.
Nem
Heritage Forum:
http://www.savedreamland.co.uk/
Monday, 27 April 2009
Too Lidl too late?
http://www.prestoungrange.org/arts-festival/html/news/show_news.asp?newsid=2546
Who enjoyed the English Heritage programme on Friday?
Apethorpe was portrayed as a Dr T vanity project; the reality is that we have laws and planning policies in this country which are too often not put into operation, and here was a long-standing problem, a house of exceptional quality left neglected and seriously at risk. Repair orders were ignored, and the inexorable march of the long arm of the law meant that in the end the DCMS had no option other than to step in and take it into state ownership.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/fowlers-briefing-oct-08.pdf
And:
http://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/heritagetrust/html/news/show_news.asp?newsid=2525
All the excitement is about the double-cross proposed from Lidl and Taylor Wimpey's G2 way back in 2007. They applied then for Planning Consent to East Lothian Council to knock down the Auld Fowler's HQ and build 50+ low cost flats. That's the same Auld Fowler's Building as they successfully argued was an integral design element when they applied for permission to build their new glass supermarket next door - which is incidentally a very fine store inside.
Their proposal to demolish led to:
1. An application by the Arts Festival for Listing which Historic Scotland [HS] rejected on very unsafe grounds indeed, point blank refusing to consider historical significance despite the requirements of the Act;
2. That rejection led to a Petition at Holyrood to reform the way Historic Scotland works, which is still ongoing;
3. Requests to the Scottish Information Commissioner [one upheld and the second ongoing] on how Historic Scotland works when it advises Ministers;
4. An application by 800 signatories [10% of the town's population] for Community Right to Buy the property.N.B. The full story so far is documented @ the Arts Festival website linked here
Nem
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Heritage Counts?
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/hc/
Two former RIBA presidents are among those expressing sadness over the demise of the Civic Trust, which went into administration today after more than 50 years of campaigning to improve the quality of the built environment.
George Ferguson and Paul Hyett both spoke of their regret after the trust folded due to lack of funds, with Hyett calling it a “great tragedy”...
is a sad symptom of the current collapse of financial security. It's difficult to know what the ramifications of that will be for the regional civic trusts. I wrote and posted a web album too of Gayle Mill on Monday, one of the buildings featured in this evening's Restoration Revisited, presented by Griff Rhys Jones.
Over three series, the Restoration team became the architectural equivalent of The Campaign For Real Ale, celebrating the old way of doing things... shouting from the rooftops about how great some British buildings are and how we should give them a cuddle and a spit-wash.
Through the television and phone votes (pre-scandal), Griff Rhys Jones helped us all decide which buildings got restored to former glories, which knackered old gems should be revived and breathed back to life. Everyone cheered as the fireworks went off at the close of each series... however... what happened next?
Well, this show will tell us that loads has happened, with a staggering £100 million being raised for 72 buildings. As swell as that is, it's the transformations that we'll be shown which will be the real pay-off. Should be very nice and pleasant viewing.
http://www.tvscoop.tv/2009/04/set_the_video_r_35.html
Gayle Mill was one of those, which benefited from the cash and the publicity, and I urge all to visit - an unsanitised and tea shoppe free zone, aspiring to be a working sawmill using some rather wonderful old machinery, and with a room for community use thrown in (although it's only a very short walk from Hawes and indeed only a short stroll from the Wensleydale cheese factory and visitor centre,
with a decent caff for those in need of a cuppa after all that culcha oop at t'mill).
Gayle Mill's 'restoration' (or repair if you are a SPABie) was masterminded by Graham Bell and team at the North of England Civic Trust, which owns the building. From the NECT website it sounds as though that organisation at least is safe for now:
Indeed, here it is again - Heritage Counts 2006, with a picture giving a flavour of the fine interior to be enjoyed, and no gifte shoppe flogging Yorkshire pot pourri in sight either (although some suspiciously clean overalls):
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/hc/upload/pdf/YORKSHIRE_20061110144551.pdf?1238405029
So the failure to thrive of the Civic Trust (President: Griff Rhys Jones) may not immediately bring national shock waves, but the withdrawal of its valuable work (such as the annual Civic Trust Awards and National Heritage Open Days) and expertise will be a sad loss to all who value the built environment.
The Civic Trust is the independent nationwide charity dedicated to helping communities make better places in which to live, work and play. The Civic Trust has campaigned for better places for people since 1957, and continues to be a powerful, definitive and distinctive voice which helps communities to imagine, shape and deliver inspiring places and an enduring future. The Civic Trust is the umbrella organisation for 700 Civic Societies across the country, representing a quarter of a million people, who care passionately about their environment. Each year it organises Heritage Open Days where over a million people celebrate and explore their cultural and architectural heritage during a long weekend in September.
Through its activities, the Civic Trust raises the standard of our parks, towns and cities. The Civic Trust’s Award schemes reward the best in our environment, and develop and define best practice. Education, consultancy and coaching programmes help others to understand and achieve excellence in designing, creating and campaigning for better places.
The 2009 Civic Trust Award winners can be found here:
http://www.civictrustawards.org.uk/
Heritage Open Days 2009:
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
The picture at the top of today's blog is of another bit of Britain's heritage, indeed it's part of Edinburgh's Royal Mile in the Old and New Town World Heritage Site.
The Director of Edinburgh World Heritage seems to have managed to leave behind the current woes of Caltongate and the Haymarket Tower and hotfooted it to Penang and the World Heritage Site of Georgetown earlier this month.
When Secretary of SAVE Britain's Heritage, Adam was hardly shy of publicity for the cause. Indeed he made a guest appearance in SALON again this week (along with a certain Conservation Officer and blog, which I thankfully note has resumed in fine style):
http://www.sal.org.uk/salon/#section13
and mention of Paddington Span Four brings me to a previous blog in which he features:
http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/overhead-paddington-station-span-four.html
Here he is again then, meeja tarting for Britain halfway around the world, in a newspaper interview published for World Heritage Day (last Friday, in case it had passed you by) with useful things to say about his aspirations for Edinburgh (inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995 http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/728) and giving sound advice to those experiencing teething troubles with managing Georgetown WHS (inscribed 2008 http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1223):
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/4/19/lifeliving/3703375&sec=lifeliving
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/4/19/lifeliving/3703356&sec=lifeliving
Penang Heritage Trust:
For those not lucky enough to be invited to see the World Heritage Sites of Melaka and Georgetown for themselves, these two videos give a flavour of what you are missing:
http://www.tourmalaysia.com/2009/03/27/videos-melaka-georgetown-world-heritage-part-1/
http://www.tourmalaysia.com/2009/03/28/videos-melaka-georgetown-world-heritage-part-2/
Meanwhile back home, sad news from the Save Dreamland Campaign that what remained of the historic River Caves at Pleasureland, Southport went up in flames last night:
http://www.joylandbooks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1817
As one of those heavily involved in the attempt to save Pleasureland from the bulldozer it's particularly poignant; a listing attempt was thwarted by what can only be described as cock ups by those supposedly in charge of our heritage. Heritage counts indeed.
River Caves, with their fantastical voyages through tableaux of scenes round the world, were a form of education and entertainment for the masses, in the days when flying halfway round the world to visit in person would only ever be a dream. Thankfully, some of the parts from Pleasureland were rescued by Nick Laister and the Save Dreamland team, and hopefully and, yes, we are back to that ever diminishing pot of lottery funding again, a new/old River Caves will arise again at Dreamland, Margate. For more of those plans, and news updated yesterday evening, and the proposed Heritage Amusement Park:
http://www.savedreamland.co.uk/
There's even a Youtube video, featuring amongs other joys the River Caves and the Waterchute rescued from Rhyl, another mad last minute escapade, funded by those for whom heritage really does count - ie members of the Save Dreamland Campaign (donations always welcome!).
For more heritage news, including posts on the worrying threat to the Leas Lift at Folkestone, as first reported on the Victorian Society website, do join and join in on the Heritage Forum:
http://www.joylandbooks.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
Nem
PS Fame or notoriety?
http://www.bajr.org/BAJRforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2264
(Water Mill: http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/chilterns-water-mill-grand-designs_07.html)
Monday, 20 April 2009
Conservation Officer, where art thou?
Of course, if English Heritage staff want to know more about life at the coal face of conservation area work, they could do worse than read the ‘Confessions of a Conservation Officer’ blog. This blogger’s trenchant reflections on the life of a Conservation Officer at a small English local council have been flowing through at weekly intervals since the beginning of 2009 and have gathered a loyal readership for their poignancy. But the blog has dried up recently — perhaps because doing the day job and writing a blog is proving too much; but if the anonymous blogger happens to be reading this, please do keep up the good work!
Civic Trust folds!
Shock as Civic Trust folds
20 April, 2009 By Richard Waite
The Civic Trust has become the latest victim of the credit crunch after plunging into administration
The 52-year-old charity, which acted as the umbrella group for more than 750 Civic Societies across England, was best known for its annual Civic Trust Awards, its campaigning to ‘create better, people-friendly places’ and supporting the preservation of local heritage sites.
It is understood the ‘squeeze on local authority spending’ finally spelled the end for the Trust which, sources claim, had been in difficulties ‘for some time’.
Heritage Link, which represents 78 voluntary heritage organisations across the country, said the Trust’s demise had sent shockwaves through the sector.
A spokeswoman said: ‘The Trust captured the mood of the nation when quality of life [when it was founded in 1957], improving and caring for places where people live and work [and] won political and popular support.
‘[It] made a significant contribution to policy work and in sharing best practice on planning and heritage matters including heritage protection reform.
‘That special perspective will be sorely missed.’
Will Palin from SAVE Britain’s Heritage agreed that the ‘news was a real shock’.
The collapse of the Trust, which boasts Griff Rhys Jones as its president, emerged on Friday (17 April).
Talking to the BBC, Civic Trust chairman Philip Kolvin blamed the lack of local authority funding and added: ‘I still passionately believe in the civic movement, but it now needs grassroots members of vision and energy to start afresh with a new organisation, working within its means and building gradually from the bottom.’
This year’s Civic Trust Awards - which could now be the last – heaped accolades on more than a 100 buildings which it regarded as making an ‘outstanding contribution’ to the built environment.
These included Rogers Stirk Harbour’s Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith and Gareth Hoskins’ Culloden battlefield visitor centre in Inverness.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/shock-as-civic-trust-folds/5200612.article
Griff Rees Jones will be presenting a programme on Wednesday evening TV Restoration Revisited:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k2f87
Restoration had a huge impact on how the nation thought about its deteriorating historic buildings. Over three series, Griff Rhys Jones introduced 72 architectural treasures. From crumbling castles to jewels of the industrial age, all with compelling cases, all in danger of being lost and all needing help. Viewers were invited to vote for the buildings they wanted to save.
In this one-hour special, Griff revisits some of the buildings and the campaigners who captured the nation's heart, discovering what has happened since. What will the future hold?
What indeed, when organisations like the Civic Trust go under, and Heritage Lottery funding has been slashed in order to pay for the Olympics.
I have a number of photos I took of Gayle Mill, Yorkshire, in 2008, pictured on the BBC site link with Griff Rhys Jones in front. A fascinating place, a worthy past Restoration contender, and lottery cash made its rescue possible. Here's a web album of shots:
Gayle Mill 2008 |
Here's the official website, with a great deal of info:
Friends of Gayle Mill, with more photos:
http://www.friendsofgaylemill.org.uk/
Nem
Heritage Forum: http://www.joylandbooks.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
All are welcome to post any news, views, questions, have a natter about related issues, etc. Registration quick and simple.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Spurred on
From Building Design http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3138130&channel=426&c=1
Heritage outcry over Make’s Spurs stadium
Heritage groups have slammed plans to demolish a set of historic buildings on the site of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s new north London stadium, following the unveiling of designs by Make Architects, KSS Group and Martha Schwartz Partners last week.
Save Britain’s Heritage — which this week revealed its own vision for the site by Huw Thomas Architects — described the removal of up to 15 historic buildings, including two grade II listed properties, as “pretty grim”.
Secretary William Palin said: “It is an insult to Tottenham that [Tottenham Hotspur FC] hasn’t bothered to produce anything that relates to the surrounding area.”
The Victorian Society warned that the club had yet to justify the demolition under planning guidance. Conservation adviser Heloise Brown said: “The club’s aim to build a new stadium… and create open spaces can be achieved without knocking down these buildings.”
The scheme includes a 58,000-seat stadium, hotel and 450 homes.
For more see:
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/
Previous post on this:
http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/game-of-two-halves.html
A 'good news' report this week on the listings front is that the Minister has listed a school and a railway station, both twentieth century, which is unusual and hopefully signals a more sensible listing regime for post-1900 buildings:
Architecture minister Follett lists two 20th Century buildings
Barbara Follett lists school and railway station at Grade II.
Pics and report: http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3138299&channel=426&c=2
It seems English Heritage is at last starting to wake up to the need to protect World Heritage Sites from unsuitable development (too late for Liverpool):
English Heritage (EH) has publicly attacked Allies and Morrison’s proposed high-rise Elizabeth House scheme in central London
EH claims the three-tower development next to Waterloo Station would cause ‘significant harm’ to the Westminster World Heritage site.
A public inquiry into the £1 billion development for P&O on London’s South Bank, which features two office blocks and a residential skyscraper (22, 27 and 39 storeys respectively), kicks off later today (15 April 2009).
According to a statement released to the AJ, EH is expected to tell the planning inspector the proposals, known as the Three Sisters scheme, could ruin the setting of the Palace of Westminster as well as harming views of some of London’s most architecturally and historically significant buildings.
The landmarks threatened, claims EH, include the recently refurbished Grade I-listed Royal Festival Hall the Grade-II* listed County Hall and the Royal National Theatre.
An EH spokesperson said: ‘There is no reason why regeneration need come at the expense of the historic environment of London.
‘English Heritage supports the redevelopment of this site and is not opposed to the inclusion of tall buildings as part of that redevelopment, as long as those buildings do not unacceptably harm the setting of key heritage assets.’
More:http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/5200444.article
Nice comment under that that:
"The planned development is a giant cuckoo in an already overcrowded and unappealing nest. But why make it worse? English Heritage is right. Graham Morrison - you should be ashamed of yourself. You used to care - now you're just taking the money. Richard Lucraft"
Sadly, in Edinburgh, moves are afoot (!) to move important modern sculptures by Paolozzi from the heart of the WHS, according to the Scotsman today:
Giant sculpture could hotfoot it to new home in city
By BRIAN FERGUSON
THE giant foot created by celebrated Scots sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi has had pride of place outside a cathedral in Edinburgh for almost 20 years. But now it is at the centre of a wrangle over whether it should become a new landmark in Paolozzi's native Leith.
Supporters want to see it moved to become the start of a new sculpture trail through the port, which would also feature the other two works of art which sit alongside the "Big Foot" outside St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, in Picardy Place.
The fate of the sculptures are uncertain as their current home is earmarked for a major new hotel development once the area has been overhauled to accommodate the city's trams.The Greener Leith campaign wants the city council, which is responsible for their upkeep, to hand the sculptures over, but the move is being resisted by the authority.
Actually the sculptures aren't at much risk where they are as there will still be public space. So why not commission something new for the start of the sculpture trail?
There are pictures on the Edinphoto website here:
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_street_l/0_street_views_-_leith_walk_001867_paolozzi_foot.htm
And thanks to a friend in Embra I have today been pointed in the direction of another excellent photo website:
News that it's going to be Pass the Sickbag time on Friday evenings it seems:
Starting next Friday (24 April), BBC2 9pm. English Heritage.
Documentary series taking a look behind the scenes of the organisation that preserves historic architecture, as Chief Executive Simon Thurley oversees the task of looking after the country's listed buildings.
Well, sometimes it preserves historic architecture. Will we have a right of reply, showing its many failures also?
It sounds worth watching though:
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6078470.ece
Nem
Heritage Forum:
Sunday, 12 April 2009
If you have come to this blog via PPUKE... Happy Easter anyhow
Pic: Silly cow
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Two heroines against Pathfinder
UPDATED FEB 1st 2010
Elizabeth's eviction (for that's what it is) from her home:
http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2010/02/elizabeth-pascoe-is-finally-evicted.html
As I said when I briefly wrote in the blog at the end of March of the sad end of Elizabeth Pascoe's heroic legal struggle against the breakup of her community, and the Compulsory Purchase Order for her home in Edge Lane, Liverpool, there would be more. Today's blog is that more.
"As I see it the battle is like housework. We don't ever `get anywhere' but my goodness it is so much worse if we don't try. I gave it my best shot." Elizabeth Pascoe
Yesterday Elizabeth Pascoe, who has been fighting to save her home in Edge Lane, Liverpool, for four years, finally lost her case in court after initially staving off demolition. Here we print two e-mails. The first is from Sylvia Wilson of Homes Under Threat (HUT) and the second is a reaction from Elizabeth herself.
More: http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=68
Later, when the initial shock was over, Sylvia nd Elizabeth sent out another e-mail to all Hutties, and they have both kindly given me permission to repeat the messages here.
A message from Sylvia:
Fellow Hutties,
After the founding of HUT almost 6 years ago and of being attached (it seems at times, by umbilical cord) to my computer and phone to help all Hutties the best way I know how, I have to send my thanks to you all for sticking with it for so long, and continuing your battles and refusing to give in... as in the case of Elizabeth Pascoe.
We have spent many years together fighting "almost" the same cause, whilst the principle is the same, each case is different, you are all battling a cause, whether to save your homes, your livelihoods, the environment, your history and heritage even a village green, that are targeted to be re-built on, a few of you have sat quietly in the background supporting us, offering practical help and cheering us on! To you all, Thank You!
In the beginning, we seemed to be on a winning streak, until the Councils and Government realised what was happening and took a different tack to using CPO's, their idea was to wait us out and "Voluntarily Acquire" our property, but even that didn't work well or fast enough for them, so trying to box us in, they have now altered the Planning Laws that were set in place to protect us... they may think they have us all by the short hairs... but I have such faith in you all, that we will find a way around this pathetic maneuver together!In this recent Economic Crisis, we now have the chance to put extra pressure on the Councils and Government to stop Demolition and New Build, and go for the Refurbishment of homes and properties, (that Ms Beckett publicised the other week) this needs to be reinforced by you in your areas to your Councils! Letters to them with the emphasis on the Economic Crisis, cease further demolition, building only on the areas that have already been cleared (of which there are many and lying fallow) global warming, and the inert energy in extant buildings, which only need refurbishment to get them back on the market and free-up dwellings for the hundreds of thousands of folk without a home!
As for your own battles, keep going, don't give up and don't give in!!!
Sylvia
http://www.officianet.com/directory/Profileview.cfm?profileitem=57
Elizabeth has said she is happy for me to make this statement from her public on the Republic blog. She cannot afford to battle on any longer, financially and emotionally it has all been a terrible strain.
Dearest Hutties,
I have so very much needed your support this last 4 years, in that without knowing of the hundreds of others, and probably tens of thousands, I would have succumbed to the view that it was selfish / insane for me to fight for my home and community.
Thanks for leaving me in peace to grieve this last few days. Sylvia has passed on the messages just to let me know people are thinking of me, and understand.
Over this period of time I have "grown up" a great deal, in that it has become painfully apparent that government is clueless, even before this financial melt down. So, I have learned to trust my own judgement, have respect for my own gut reactions, stop doing as I used to do about various problems "intellectualise" them. This really hurts, besides being very wrong.
I am extremely frightened about the future, least of all in financial terms, far more in social and environmental terms, as all these accumulated "mistakes" coalesce. All this hype about "increased aspirations" and the people of the planet (or at least in the "developed" world) sold into commercialism and consumerism, of which housing market renewal is a typical manifestation. I hope it isn't irrevocable, as we see younger generations have such a different mind-set to ours.
Most of you are my age, and we have the vestiges of the make-do-and-mend capability and the "old-fashioned" idea of living within one's means, which had its own rewards. Times are going to get extremely tough, and as we are all aware that government not only doesn't know what it is doing, it is digging a pit of debt for future generations to come. It is needlessly uprooting citizens it is supposed to serve, in the name of wider public interest! They are tearing to shreds the lives of well integrated naturally occurring peoples that have survived the tough times and created our communities in the first place. This appetite for "throw away" and replace with new-build is detrimental to the very life-support systems of the planet!
I think it is up to us, as a moral obligation to the future, to let them know in no uncertain terms what fools they are, about a great deal more than HMR. I have tried "ladylike" and "the proper channels". It didn't work, despite the insight and sympathy of the judge.
I don't know what I am going to do next. I am completely certain that the judge who had to decide against me fully grasped what was going on, but there was no remedy in law once the CABE view of the proponent scheme took a 180 degree turn-around at a date too late for me to put in other grounds (and we weren't granted an adjournment to be able to do that).
The law isn't infallible, even though in the good old days its creation was as a device to protect us. "Unfortunately" this current government has created even more draconian legislation, just last December to be even more destructive in the name of "progress", which gives citizens even less chance or even the opportunity to voice never mind challenge their "big ideas" (that the nation can't financially afford and the planet can't afford in essential terms).
We have come together under Hutties for a reason which is now apparently just the tip of the iceberg. I think we need as a nation that has been lucky enough to have been subject to fairly reasonable governance in the past to now "wake up" and start being less passive, for the desperate sake of future generations. As the saying goes "The price of freedom is constant vigilance". And of course "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing".
I have established beyond all reasonable doubt that the systems developed to support us are now being used against us, and that even the judiciary, whose sympathy I have, are unable to rectify the situation.
As I said, I don't know what to do next. I do begin to have sympathy with the idea of drastic measures and possibly a "civilised" version of that will be to attend the demonstrations in London April 1st. I have been too busy for 4 years to be involved in anything much at all. We certainly need to stand up and be counted, and not "merely" rely on the systems created by government through which we are supposed to be heard. As far as I can see it, no matter how well one manages to present oneself, allowing that we didn't have a legal team, the effort may seem futile, maybe direct action would work better, risky as that is (because of all the nutters that jump on the bandwagon, AND that government is creating laws to prevent us from doing that).
Of course we all have problems and can't all find the time and other resources to fight as I (who doesn't have a job or family around me) did. But we, who know what harm is being done, as it is to us, are obliged to fight back some how or other, to make sure that we get heard. We can't allow all these "mistakes" to keep on rolling out.
Maybe so far we have been "too nice". Maybe I will cease to be nice, I just don't know. Some say I have been "dignified". Maybe I'll change. Having taken my home and half my income and taken up 4 years of my life, and totally scuppered my chances of a doctorate in the greening aspects of urban regeneration I had worked towards for years before that, what have I to lose?
It is early days for me, free of this particular battle. I can't advise or even think yet how to make evident my feelings. Yes I am very sad, and yes I am very afraid, not just for my future (how I will now end my days / where I will live after generations of owner occupier mentality) but for the whole world if this sort of governance is the best there is. Mainly and overwhelmingly I am angry and wonder whether I will stay sane, or, maybe I'll decide to try "insane" for a change. I am not yet ready to give in to despair.
So "Carry on fighting" is all I can say, in your own way with your own particular battle. Most of you are not up against such an intricate mesh of quangos as I was, for such a series of supposed "benefits" (road widening to take more faster traffic into the city centre, and such like, not just housing). In the end 15 acronyms had their logos across the bottom of proponent documents.
It will add greatly to the burden on my back if any of you "fold". I didn't, and even now in defeat I haven't given in. Again I thank you for that, knowing that I am right, as not just me thinks as I do, it was 70 witnesses, some of them representing 13 different universities, and in essence representing all of you. But for now I am too close to this week's events to decide "What next".
The very best of luck, everyone, and hold in your hearts "WE ARE RIGHT!". Have no self doubts, our case is proven by events. I very much wish I believed in hell so that they might all be punished for creating hell on earth. Unless we try our utmost, the worst is yet to come!
Elizabeth
For more on Pathfinder, still available is former Secretary Adam Wilkinson's damning study for SAVE, see publications:
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/publications/publications_in_print.php?startswith=P
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmodpm/295/5020801.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmodpm/295/295.pdf
I'm not often lost for words Elizabeth, but I really can't find the right ones to express my sorrow and anger at what this country has descended to, with the wickedness of 'Housing Market Renewal'. Keep the faith.
More news:
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/article.php?id=54
Nem
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Pooo...
Planning for Domestic Pets
Conservation Areas - too little, too late?
First National Survey of Conservation Areas at Risk
England has some 9,300 Conservation Areas, historic parts of cities, towns, suburbs and villages designated by local authorities to protect their special character. But what condition are they in? Are they cherished through a close partnership of council and residents? Or are they at risk from neglect, decay and inappropriate development?
They also want to hear about major successes and might feature your local amenity society in their campaign booklet and on their website. To receive information and get involved in the campaign, please visit
English Heritage’s new campaign will reveal how many of England’s 9,300 Conservation Areas are at risk and from what. We have asked every Local Authority in the country to fill in a questionnaire on the condition of their Conservation Areas and will be publishing the results in our Heritage at Risk Register on 23rd June.
Register Now
Are there local success stories or challenges you would like to tell us about?Unfortunately, we cannot get involved in every local issue but the information you provide will give us a better picture of how things really are across the country and help us raise the profile of Conservation Areas on local and national government agenda.
http://caiusplinius.blogspot.com/2009/01/secret-of-comedy.html
Here's my previous post, Trash the Plastic:
http://nemesisrepublic.blogspot.com/2009/02/breathing-deeply-trash-plastic.html
And how about this one, Dr T? Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital. Major historic building in a Conservation Area, it's on the SAVE Britain's Heritage Buildings at Risk Register:
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/
as Northumbria NHS Trust is ignoring national planning policy and pushing ahead with plans to demolish it, it can't be retained and re-used as, apparently, the windows are draughty.
Well, no problem - just uPVC them like everyone else does!
Nem
Discuss this and anything else at the
HERITAGE FORUM:
http://www.joylandbooks.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
Do join up (easy to do) and join in - news, views, general natter.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Shame on you, Bolton Council!
SAVE Legal Challenge Secures Reprieve For Victorian School