Expansion homes fit for a bulldozer
Just over 30 years ago, the face of Northampton began to change dramatically with the first of the estates, which would form part of the eastern expansion area, under construction.
The design of the new houses met with a mixed reception, with the late Alderman John Poole describing them as ghastly and sticking out like a sore thumb, and some residents wondering what type of persons would live in them.
Admittedly, unlike the Third Reich, they were not intended to last 1,000 years, but certainly they would have a reasonable life span.
So, it was with a good deal of amazement that I read last week that the council is seeking 170m from the Government to improve run-down properties in three of the eastern estates, built by the development corporation, and parts of Eastfield developed by the local authority in the 1950s.
More significantly, 500 houses may have to be pulled down because of their state.
It is a situation akin to suggesting that, like electrical appliances, public housing projects have a planned obsolescence tag to them.
The need for such a comprehensive and expensive repair programme contrasts sharply with the condition of thousands of privately-built Northampton houses, which are still as solid as when they first put up more than a century ago and probably still good for a similar length of time.
Speed and modern techniques were obvious priorities when the new estates were built and taxpayers look like footing the bill for the shortcomings.
Incidentally, I have just been re-reading Hugh Barty-King's book, Expanding Northampton, published in l985, which details the background and work of the development corporation.
It contains the reaction of a Londoner after moving into one of the new properties.
The revealing comments of Douglas Door include the following:
"Northampton people are nice and friendly, although as workers I find the young ones a bit slow.
It is not their fault, they are just not working as fast as London folk."
He adds: "And as for that football team, I've been to see them once and if I go again it will only be to ask for a refund.
We play better football during our dinner hour . . . and we don't get paid for it."
Ouch! I wonder whether Mr Door, if he has not moved, still holds these views.
Another comparatively new town building which is heading for the knacker's yard is the unloved Greyfriars bus station and few tears will be shed when it is reduced to rubble.
Ten thousand pounds has just gone on cleaning it up; even if thousands more were spent on it, it would still remain an eyesore.
It's a pity that those responsible for its design and construction did not get inspiration from the nearby churches of St Seps, St Peter's and All Saints, whose appearances still thrill, hundreds of years after they were first built.
THE controller of BBC'S Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, has quit in the wake of the disgraceful behaviour of two of its stars, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.
I don't know whether she was aware of the contents of the infamous programme before it went on air, but has taken responsibility for it.
It was the honourable thing to do.
It's a pity her example has not been followed by Government ministers, who stick it out when things go wrong in their departments.
That's politics, of course.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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