 Burnley's "knock it down - rebuild" philosophy
What is it with the current fad of wanting to knock down existing houses, shops, leisure centres, schools and swimming pools to build very expensive new ones?
Burnley needs affordable housing as well as luxury city centre flats and townhouses and detatched "legoland" estates.
The developers want to knock down the shops on Curzon St to make way for their shopping centre - will these independant businesses be able to afford the rates asked for a unit on one of these shopping centres? I doubt it. We have lots of empty shop buildings already in the town centre.
What's wrong with the Thompson centre? it's not that old - taking up prime retail space perhaps? Room for another supermarket/DIY store/fast food outlet more like.
Why do we have to wipe the slate clean, start from scratch and rebuild the whole education provision in the town? Do you think these new schools will be any more efficient or last longer than the existing ones? I don't think so, more like the EA has money burning a hole in it's pocket and needs to spend it fast in order to get more money in the future.
There was a programme on tv recently called Restoration, where people were encouraged to vote for buildings to be restored to their former glory before they got past the point of repair. The winner of this was a victorian swimming baths in Manchester, a bit grander than our own Gannow baths, but no more interesting or characterful. We need public buildings like this to keep the identity of our town IMO, it is not a new phenomenon - people still miss the old covered market, which I understand was a fantastic building with an enviable range of shops.
Sorry I've gone on a bit, but I am just a bit confused!!  |