14/2/07
Is it just me that feels that our Northgate Arena is actually a very handsome building and that it would be a scandal if it were done away with merely to make room for yet another blasted hotel?
Coming round the ring road on a sunny evening, I frequently find the sight of the Arena quite breathtaking and would ask that the Chronicle's readers look afresh at it the next time they pass by.
Surely, also, it is our duty to preserve the finest examples of architecture from all eras of the past? Chester may be blessed with magnificent medieval, Georgian and Victorian buildings that are carefully protected for the benefit of future generations but what about those from the 1960s and 70s? There were some that called for the preservation of the Manweb Building on Sealand Road and also of the recently-demolished Cheshire Police HQ. I was not among them, at least as far as the latter goes, but feel strongly that the Arena remains simply the finest structure we currently possess from that period of major redevelopment in Chester's history and think that it would be an outrage if it were destroyed.
And what's wrong with it anyway that it should so casually be cast aside so that Steel Tower (surely not a name that promises architecture sympathetic to the aesthetics of a unique city such as ours!) can erect a mere hotel on its site?
Doubtlessly it would benefit from enlargement, but this is surely not a problem now that West Cheshire College has finally abandoned its ludicrous plan to squeeze their new campus onto its car park?
Who wants to have to get in their cars to flog out to the windswept wastelands of the Greyhound Park when excellent, nay, award-winning, leisure facilities already exist here, right in the city centre?
And what is it with this current orgy of hotel building anyway? What benefits will they bring to Chester? Jobs, you say. Doubtlessly true- for chambermaids, cleaners, bar staff and lift attendants from eastern Europe. Who will be staying in all these new hotels? - and who would want to when everything of value in Chester has been done away with to make room for them?
According to the local press, a variation upon this nutty plot seems to have re-surfaced in November 2007. Watch this space...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
So farewell then Andy Farrell
1st May 2007
Rare as hen's teeth may have been the times when I have found myself agreeing with the views of columnist Bob Clough Parker, but this week I considered his analysis of the regime of Chester's Head of Planning, Andrew Farrall to be absolutely spot on- and very much closer to the truth than that of City Council Chief Executive Paul Durham, whose laughable comments in the same edition of the Chronicle pay tribute to such aspects of Farrall's "tremendous legacy" as,
• The Old Port (largely comprising yuppy flats of indifferent quality, loss of valued public open space, years-long battle to save at least a portion of the historic Electric Light Building)
• Canalside (many more 'luxury' apartments, soon to be added to when that inconvenient infant's school is got rid of)
• The Amphitheatre (international embarrassment and ongoing muddled mess: a court house/office block built, to the fury of many, over part of the ancient monument, Dee House continuing to rot away over much of the rest. Appeals for full excavation repeatedly rejected by Farrall and most councillors).
• The Culture Park (whatever that may be)
Also notable in Mr Clough Parker's article were mentions of the West Cheshire College farce, the 'get what you're given and like it' Northgate Development (including, naturally, even more yuppy flats), the disgraceful plot to destroy our valued and handsome Northgate Arena to make room for yet another hotel, the God-awful HQ megastructure where the police station used to be- and, of course, that infernal 'Glass Slug'...
This writer could also make mention of such as the needless destruction of the Royalty Theatre (its site then sitting empty for over five years), the Gateway Theatre, the imminent demise of the Odeon Cinema, the threatened removal of the Grosvenor Museum, the proliferation of facilities catering to late night drunks, and the years-long battle over the ludicrous CDTS 'Guided Busway'- how many millions of pounds of our money was squandered upon this latter alone?
Chester, as is well known, has existed as an important cultural, military and economic centre for all of two millennia, evolving and growing slowly to meet the needs of the times. During the last fifty years or so, however, a succession of smart young 'improvers' have emerged who, impatient with seemingly un-ego stroking concepts such as 'history' and 'heritage', and largely indifferent to their raw materials (Harlow New Town? Warrington? Chester? What's the difference?) - have seen fit, in harmonious partnership with landowners and profiteers who give not a jot for such foolishness together with an ever-compliant rash of clueless and easily-overawed councillors- to rush to mould the old city into modernist visions of their own fevered imaginings. They who smashed an ill-placed Inner Ring Road through her ancient circuit of defensive walls, who needlessly demolished her wonderful old Market Hall facade, who erected a mult-storey concrete car showroom in a medieval streetscape, who eliminated a vast and well-preserved Roman bath house complex- potentially as fine as Bath's- in order to build the Grosvenor Precinct, who built an office block on a Roman amphitheatre, who, by their greed, saw fit to outprice and see off centuries of family businesses in the city centre to be replaced by bland chain outlets, exactly like those elsewhere in Anytown UK- and now, an ever-growing collection of empty shops...
A recent example- not long since thankfully departed, but not easily forgotten- was 'Conservation Officer' Peter De Figueredo, whose wooden bollards and some, at least, of his equally-pointless flagpoles- not to mention his utterly crass and historically-irrelevant roof and graffitti-covered perspex window on Thimbleby's Tower- continue to plague our townscape today.
But all this was small fry compared to Head of Planning Farrall's contempt for all that makes our city unique, for the needs and opinions of its small businesses and the ordinary working people who make the place tick (in contrast to the orgy of 'luxury' apartments, where was the corresponding programme of building desperately-needed new homes for them?) side-by-side with his fawning admiration for, and ecouragement of, all things corporate.
That all of this destructive social engineering was carried out without, to the best of my knowledge, a single murmer of opposition from councillors speaks volumes for the quality of our elected representatives of all parties.
Yes, indeed. Mr Farrall's thirteen-year reign has been little less than a disaster for this most unique of English cities and Warrington is welcome to him- though, frankly, I can't imagine her sensible, plain-speaking folk putting up with his particular brand of elitist nonsense for very long...
Mr Clough Parker describes Farrall's departure as 'puzzling' and, indeed, the question must arise, did he jump or was he pushed- or, at the very least, nudged? Radical future changes in local government may have played a part in it, but could, perhaps, the ongoing scandal of Quinn Glass at Elton- where a vast industrial plant was erected without any form of planning permission or environmental certification- and in the full knowledge of our Head of Planning and Chief Executive- have some small bearing upon the matter?
And what for the future? We can only hope that, with the welcome end of the disastrous reign of A Farrall Esq, lessons have at last been learned and that those who are charged with choosing his successor take great care to appoint someone who actually understands and loves Chester, someone who can foster a new agenda of sensible and sensitive planning for the future in genuine consultation with the people who live here, as opposed to those who merely extract profit from it. Then, perhaps, an era of greater social equality and of true excellence in new architecture may be at last be permitted to dawn in our very special, but very much abused city.
Rare as hen's teeth may have been the times when I have found myself agreeing with the views of columnist Bob Clough Parker, but this week I considered his analysis of the regime of Chester's Head of Planning, Andrew Farrall to be absolutely spot on- and very much closer to the truth than that of City Council Chief Executive Paul Durham, whose laughable comments in the same edition of the Chronicle pay tribute to such aspects of Farrall's "tremendous legacy" as,
• The Old Port (largely comprising yuppy flats of indifferent quality, loss of valued public open space, years-long battle to save at least a portion of the historic Electric Light Building)
• Canalside (many more 'luxury' apartments, soon to be added to when that inconvenient infant's school is got rid of)
• The Amphitheatre (international embarrassment and ongoing muddled mess: a court house/office block built, to the fury of many, over part of the ancient monument, Dee House continuing to rot away over much of the rest. Appeals for full excavation repeatedly rejected by Farrall and most councillors).
• The Culture Park (whatever that may be)
Also notable in Mr Clough Parker's article were mentions of the West Cheshire College farce, the 'get what you're given and like it' Northgate Development (including, naturally, even more yuppy flats), the disgraceful plot to destroy our valued and handsome Northgate Arena to make room for yet another hotel, the God-awful HQ megastructure where the police station used to be- and, of course, that infernal 'Glass Slug'...
This writer could also make mention of such as the needless destruction of the Royalty Theatre (its site then sitting empty for over five years), the Gateway Theatre, the imminent demise of the Odeon Cinema, the threatened removal of the Grosvenor Museum, the proliferation of facilities catering to late night drunks, and the years-long battle over the ludicrous CDTS 'Guided Busway'- how many millions of pounds of our money was squandered upon this latter alone?
Chester, as is well known, has existed as an important cultural, military and economic centre for all of two millennia, evolving and growing slowly to meet the needs of the times. During the last fifty years or so, however, a succession of smart young 'improvers' have emerged who, impatient with seemingly un-ego stroking concepts such as 'history' and 'heritage', and largely indifferent to their raw materials (Harlow New Town? Warrington? Chester? What's the difference?) - have seen fit, in harmonious partnership with landowners and profiteers who give not a jot for such foolishness together with an ever-compliant rash of clueless and easily-overawed councillors- to rush to mould the old city into modernist visions of their own fevered imaginings. They who smashed an ill-placed Inner Ring Road through her ancient circuit of defensive walls, who needlessly demolished her wonderful old Market Hall facade, who erected a mult-storey concrete car showroom in a medieval streetscape, who eliminated a vast and well-preserved Roman bath house complex- potentially as fine as Bath's- in order to build the Grosvenor Precinct, who built an office block on a Roman amphitheatre, who, by their greed, saw fit to outprice and see off centuries of family businesses in the city centre to be replaced by bland chain outlets, exactly like those elsewhere in Anytown UK- and now, an ever-growing collection of empty shops...
A recent example- not long since thankfully departed, but not easily forgotten- was 'Conservation Officer' Peter De Figueredo, whose wooden bollards and some, at least, of his equally-pointless flagpoles- not to mention his utterly crass and historically-irrelevant roof and graffitti-covered perspex window on Thimbleby's Tower- continue to plague our townscape today.
But all this was small fry compared to Head of Planning Farrall's contempt for all that makes our city unique, for the needs and opinions of its small businesses and the ordinary working people who make the place tick (in contrast to the orgy of 'luxury' apartments, where was the corresponding programme of building desperately-needed new homes for them?) side-by-side with his fawning admiration for, and ecouragement of, all things corporate.
That all of this destructive social engineering was carried out without, to the best of my knowledge, a single murmer of opposition from councillors speaks volumes for the quality of our elected representatives of all parties.
Yes, indeed. Mr Farrall's thirteen-year reign has been little less than a disaster for this most unique of English cities and Warrington is welcome to him- though, frankly, I can't imagine her sensible, plain-speaking folk putting up with his particular brand of elitist nonsense for very long...
Mr Clough Parker describes Farrall's departure as 'puzzling' and, indeed, the question must arise, did he jump or was he pushed- or, at the very least, nudged? Radical future changes in local government may have played a part in it, but could, perhaps, the ongoing scandal of Quinn Glass at Elton- where a vast industrial plant was erected without any form of planning permission or environmental certification- and in the full knowledge of our Head of Planning and Chief Executive- have some small bearing upon the matter?
And what for the future? We can only hope that, with the welcome end of the disastrous reign of A Farrall Esq, lessons have at last been learned and that those who are charged with choosing his successor take great care to appoint someone who actually understands and loves Chester, someone who can foster a new agenda of sensible and sensitive planning for the future in genuine consultation with the people who live here, as opposed to those who merely extract profit from it. Then, perhaps, an era of greater social equality and of true excellence in new architecture may be at last be permitted to dawn in our very special, but very much abused city.
Hoole Bridge closure
It was announced in early Novemer 2007 that the busy bridge crossing the railway on Hoole Road is to be closed for at least three months in February 2008 for strengthening work. This is a copy of a letter to the local press about the community's call for lasting improvements to be made...
Lots and lots of money is being spent doing up the Railway Station surroundings and soon lots more for strengthening the bridge so 44-tonne juggernauts will be able to thunder across it.
But not a single penny to make the thing safer and more pleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists! The three-month closure (and probably longer, judging by the St. Martin's Way performance) will doubtlessly create all manner of problems for the community but it would be nice if at least we came out of it with some genuine benefits. The closure surely presents the golden opportunity to install outriggers to each side of the bridge for non-motorised users. The old pavements could then be removed, making it safer for drivers too.
Many readers will remember the old pedestrian access to the station. This should surely be opened up again too. This was closed some decades ago for 'safety' reasons and its entrance bricked up. You can still see it on the left as you approach from Hoole. It formerly gave access to a bridge that gave direct access to the platforms.
Hoole Road Bridge is without doubt the most dangerous and unpleasant place in Chester for those on two wheels or two legs and seemingly they've yet again been failed by planners, councillors and transport companies.
For example, that longterm supporter of the ill-fated CDTS Guided Busway, County Councillor Peter Byrne- Labour Chief Whip and spokesman on transport matters- is quoted in the Standard as saying, "I did enquire about the possibility of doing other work on the bridge to have it widened and having better access for pedestrians. Unfortunately it's expensive to do and not financially possible".
Is that it then, Cllr Byrne, you're content to accept what you're told and not try to do something about it? In Chester, it seems, a price has been set on people's safety. When a cyclist or pedestrian is killed on Hoole Bridge, and they surely will be- the familiar sight of demolished walls, fences and the like where drivers have lost control assures us of that- who will be take the blame?
I, for one, will be there to remind you all of your pathetic failure to get your collective fingers out and apply some joined-up planning, just for once.
Lest we forget- Cllr Byrne's thoughts on cyclist and pedestrian safety when enthusing in the Chester press about the 'guided busway':
• "Cyclists will have their own dedicated track, as will walkers, and they will not be constantly fighting with other vehicles for their road space".
• "an opportunity to create a city that is not choked with fumes and threatening to pedestrians, especially child pedestrians".
• "Bus lanes, traffic priorities at lights, encouragement of walking and cycling, traffic calming, safe routes to school, all these will in a short time be transforming the way we look at our traffic problems".
• "It would help us do more for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce congestion. It would offer a swift, clean and pleasant route into the city, not only for residents, commuters and visitors but cyclists and walkers too."
So if it was good for CDTS, why not for Hoole Bridge?
No plans are apparently in place, either, to restore the appearance of the bridge- cleaning and repairing the stone, replacing the lamps and the like.
Remember the fuss a few months ago when the building supplies company on the bridge wanted to have a yellow sign? The councill objected because it would "detract from the appearance of the Conservation Area".
Also upon the subject of the station restoration, have you noticed that all of the area's splendid Victorian lamp standards- former gas lights- have now been ripped out and replaced by mundane 'modern' designs, totally unsuited to their 'heritage' surroundings?
Was a good buyer found for them?
Lots and lots of money is being spent doing up the Railway Station surroundings and soon lots more for strengthening the bridge so 44-tonne juggernauts will be able to thunder across it.
But not a single penny to make the thing safer and more pleasant for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists! The three-month closure (and probably longer, judging by the St. Martin's Way performance) will doubtlessly create all manner of problems for the community but it would be nice if at least we came out of it with some genuine benefits. The closure surely presents the golden opportunity to install outriggers to each side of the bridge for non-motorised users. The old pavements could then be removed, making it safer for drivers too.
Many readers will remember the old pedestrian access to the station. This should surely be opened up again too. This was closed some decades ago for 'safety' reasons and its entrance bricked up. You can still see it on the left as you approach from Hoole. It formerly gave access to a bridge that gave direct access to the platforms.
Hoole Road Bridge is without doubt the most dangerous and unpleasant place in Chester for those on two wheels or two legs and seemingly they've yet again been failed by planners, councillors and transport companies.
For example, that longterm supporter of the ill-fated CDTS Guided Busway, County Councillor Peter Byrne- Labour Chief Whip and spokesman on transport matters- is quoted in the Standard as saying, "I did enquire about the possibility of doing other work on the bridge to have it widened and having better access for pedestrians. Unfortunately it's expensive to do and not financially possible".
Is that it then, Cllr Byrne, you're content to accept what you're told and not try to do something about it? In Chester, it seems, a price has been set on people's safety. When a cyclist or pedestrian is killed on Hoole Bridge, and they surely will be- the familiar sight of demolished walls, fences and the like where drivers have lost control assures us of that- who will be take the blame?
I, for one, will be there to remind you all of your pathetic failure to get your collective fingers out and apply some joined-up planning, just for once.
Lest we forget- Cllr Byrne's thoughts on cyclist and pedestrian safety when enthusing in the Chester press about the 'guided busway':
• "Cyclists will have their own dedicated track, as will walkers, and they will not be constantly fighting with other vehicles for their road space".
• "an opportunity to create a city that is not choked with fumes and threatening to pedestrians, especially child pedestrians".
• "Bus lanes, traffic priorities at lights, encouragement of walking and cycling, traffic calming, safe routes to school, all these will in a short time be transforming the way we look at our traffic problems".
• "It would help us do more for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce congestion. It would offer a swift, clean and pleasant route into the city, not only for residents, commuters and visitors but cyclists and walkers too."
So if it was good for CDTS, why not for Hoole Bridge?
No plans are apparently in place, either, to restore the appearance of the bridge- cleaning and repairing the stone, replacing the lamps and the like.
Remember the fuss a few months ago when the building supplies company on the bridge wanted to have a yellow sign? The councill objected because it would "detract from the appearance of the Conservation Area".
Also upon the subject of the station restoration, have you noticed that all of the area's splendid Victorian lamp standards- former gas lights- have now been ripped out and replaced by mundane 'modern' designs, totally unsuited to their 'heritage' surroundings?
Was a good buyer found for them?
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Welcome dear reader to this, our new work, The Chester Sheaf.
We would at this time refer the interested visitor to our existing history and guide to this unique city, 'Chester: a Virtual Stroll Around the Walls'- http://www.bwpics.co.uk/chester.html- which has been online for over ten years now and has new material added on an almost daily basis.
Your contributions, comments and questions both to the Chester Sheaf and the Chester Virtual Stroll are always appreciated!
We would at this time refer the interested visitor to our existing history and guide to this unique city, 'Chester: a Virtual Stroll Around the Walls'- http://www.bwpics.co.uk/chester.html- which has been online for over ten years now and has new material added on an almost daily basis.
Your contributions, comments and questions both to the Chester Sheaf and the Chester Virtual Stroll are always appreciated!
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