Watch out for Roger Hunneman Lib Dem Councillor for the Victoria Ward. He has been interviewed by BBC South Today expressing concern over the proposal to erect 2 blocks of high rise flats on the existing Sterling cables site in King's Road, Newbury.
The interview is scheduled to be broadcast this evening (15th August) 17.50 BBC1
One of the most ridiculous things about this development is that the developers don't actually own the whole site. They are having to leave one of the existing industrial units in situ and build around it. This is the long building shown centre right on the image below:
One of the most ridiculous things about this development is that the developers don't actually own the whole site. They are having to leave one of the existing industrial units in situ and build around it. This is the long building shown centre right on the image below:
Maybe that will appease the people who believe that the site should be available for employment.
Regardless of the architectural integrity of the buildings, I quite like the 'I'm nearly home' feeling I get when after a long journey, I see the Stirling Cable tower, the BT tower, or indeed, the water tower in Wash Common.
It goes as follows...."Just because 'A' is better than 'B' doesn't mean 'A' is any damn good."
Put another way.....having one broken arm is preferable to having two broken arms.... but you don't really want any broken arms at all, do you?
So, yes, the existing eyesore may look ruddy awful, but that shouldn't mean we have to put up with any more towering infernals, does it?
It is a malaise shared by nearly everyone on the Council, and by many of their acolytes, catamites and apologists that 'Change' automatically equals 'Progress'. ....and that aint necessarily so.
Anyone see any resemblance between any of the following?
Getting allocated the top floor flat in a 60's tower block was a bummer.... It meant you either had to spend a longer time in a lift which stank of pesh, or (for when the lift was knackered - most days) it was a long trudge up and down those damn stairs... It did mean that you became fairly disciplined/organised though.... for instance, you only made the mistake of going out to the car without your keys (leaving them on the kitchen table) ONCE.
These days the top floor is the dream apartment for the new age yuppies.. but frankly... there's not much of a vista I'd want to look out over in Newbury that would be worth climbing all those bleedin' stairs again........ (I get cold seats just thinking
Watch out for Roger Hunneman Lib Dem Councillor for the Victoria Ward. He has been interviewed by BBC South Today expressing concern over the proposal to erect 2 blocks of high rise flats on the existing Sterling cables site in King's Road, Newbury.
I am more than a little confused. Nothing on South Today yesterday, but this morning instead of Roger Hunneman "expressing his concern" we have Patrick Griffin saying how wonderful his scheme is.
I am more than a little confused. Nothing on South Today yesterday, but this morning instead of Roger Hunneman "expressing his concern" we have Patrick Griffin saying how wonderful his scheme is.
Cllr Hunneman was on TV this morning, as well as a neighbour and a bloke from Griffin.
This man seems intent on redesigning the whole of Newbury. He also seems able to get anything past the planners at West Berks.
If it is allowed to go ahead, you will be the first person to complain about the extra traffic on the Sainsbury's Roundabout. Vehicle wise it will be the equivalent to building 190 houses between Boundary Road and Sainsbury's Supermarket.
It would seem then that we're at a dead·lock. Without the number of dwellings, developers aren't interested in doing anything with the area. At this rate the tower will eventually qualify for listed status!
If it is allowed to go ahead, you will be the first person to complain about the extra traffic on the Sainsbury's Roundabout. Vehicle wise it will be the equivalent to building 190 houses between Boundary Road and Sainsbury's Supermarket.
You have failed to notice that there is in the design a relief road running from SCATS, through the estate to a new junction at Boundary Road which means that traffic from Sainsbury's or the estate itself going east, doesn't need to traverse the A339. Kings Road becomes a dead end as traffic will now be going down through the estate to and from SCATS, all the residents including those from the existing new estate off Kings Road will no longer need to go west and we will all benefit from this. A339 traffic will be reduced. This through road is in line with the much revised WBC traffic plan for the area. The building height could be reduced if the amount of potential building footprint didn't need to cater for a through road.
Why not use the site for the Arts Centre? They could put all sorts of buildings, workshops, studios, installation areas, and galleries, along with food and retail outlets for local artisans and craftsmen (and women) to display and sell their wares.
They've even got a bit of space for a sculpture park.
Greenham Common Trust is awash with money, so they could indeed do this, but do you reckon they will?
Threep.
They could even keep the Counting House, fill it full of 'Bygones', and turn it into a 'how we used to live' area to be visited by local schools etc...
You have failed to notice that there is in the design a relief road running from SCATS, through the estate to a new junction at Boundary Road which means that traffic from Sainsbury's or the estate itself going east, doesn't need to traverse the A339. Kings Road becomes a dead end as traffic will now be going down through the estate to and from SCATS, all the residents including those from the existing new estate off Kings Road will no longer need to go west and we will all benefit from this. A339 traffic will be reduced. This through road is in line with the much revised WBC traffic plan for the area. The building height could be reduced if the amount of potential building footprint didn't need to cater for a through road.
I think you have failed to notice that the new road is one-way, going west. All it will do is add to the HGV traffic on the A339 as drivers use it to get out of the industrial area avoiding the clagged A4 junction. The only beneficiaries are the residents of the hundred yards or so of Kings Road that it will bypass. There was once a plan for a proper relief road from Scats to the racecourse station - sigh.
I think you have failed to notice that the new road is one-way, going west. All it will do is add to the HGV traffic on the A339 as drivers use it to get out of the industrial area avoiding the clagged A4 junction. The only beneficiaries are the residents of the hundred yards or so of Kings Road that it will bypass. There was once a plan for a proper relief road from Scats to the racecourse station - sigh.
The new road will as I understand it be a two way road continuing the existing 2 way part of Kings Road, round Hectors Way, through the new development and joining Hambridge Road at the junction with Boundary Road.
Kings Road is a one way street that carries significant traffic and is congested a lot of the time, particularly during peak hours. The redevelopment of the Sterling Cable site provides the opportunity to secure the proposed Link Road from Hector’s Way to Kings Road which will provide an important benefit for the area as a whole by providing a high quality link replacing the narrow and poor quality western section of King’s Road and by so doing reducing noise, fumes and disturbance currently suffered by local residents. The Link Road will also provide a higher quality alternative route to the existing eastbound route along Mill Lane providing benefits to the wider road network."
Why not use the site for the Arts Centre? They could put all sorts of buildings, workshops, studios, installation areas, and galleries, along with food and retail outlets for local artisans and craftsmen (and women) to display and sell their wares.
They've even got a bit of space for a sculpture park.
Greenham Common Trust is awash with money, so they could indeed do this, but do you reckon they will?
Threep.
They could even keep the Counting House, fill it full of 'Bygones', and turn it into a 'how we used to live' area to be visited by local schools etc...
Subsidise artists so that can stay in bed all day & knock out 'art' as & when it suits?
Subsidise artists so that can stay in bed all day & knock out 'art' as & when it suits?
Where did I say that then? (ignoring the mistake)
Recording studios would be rented, shop space would be rented, galleries would charge admission. What do Greenham Arts do at the moment? What will they do at the Ark in the Park?
Of course it wouldn't make as much money as the flats will, and that's why it won't get done. After all, thats not what these people learned the handshake and bought the leather apron for is it?
You didn't say it in so few words, but with commercial rents being what they are in Newbury, only an established artist with a proven track record & able to command good prices for their work would be able to afford a studio, workshop etc in Newbury. Therefore, for a relatively unknown, local artist to be able to rent space to make & sell & perhaps live in such a development would imply a subsidy.
Recording studios would be rented, shop space would be rented, galleries would charge admission. What do Greenham Arts do at the moment? What will they do at the Ark in the Park?
Of course it wouldn't make as much money as the flats will, and that's why it won't get done. After all, thats not what these people learned the handshake and bought the leather apron for is it?
Threep.
Lovely idea but who will pay for the clean up of industrial waste and heavy metals in the sub soil and secondly what would the new landlord (Greenham Trust I believe you suggested) need to charge the users to use the facilities and break even. Showstopper I'm afraid. Now, it would have made a good location for the cinema, a bowling alley and suchlike with ample parking. Too late though I'm afraid.
Have no idea of cost to clean up, but it's gotta be done as a legal requirement anyway, so it should be offsetable against tax, whoever does it.
As for economic rents? well that depends on how quickly they want a return.
Not EXACTLY the same thing, but a start on the right lines http://www.viablescraftcentre.co.uk/ add recording studios, various spaces, maybe even an outdoor theatre into the mix, and you've gotta proper place for people to visit. E.g. ..for the film "Shakespeare in Love" they built an exact replica of The Globe, after filming, the producers gave it to Judy Dench. As far as I know, it's still stored away in flatpack form, because she can't find a home for it. There are all sorts of imaginative things that the site could be used for, rather than the high rise rabbit hutches built by the lowest tender that we're likely to get.
Have no idea of cost to clean up, but it's gotta be done as a legal requirement anyway, so it should be offsetable against tax, whoever does it.
Threep.
Nice thought but to offset against tax then the person/company taking the offset has to be in a profit situation so to do, otherwise Threep, you could pop down the tax office and ask for a couple of million quid and do it yourself. Could be a nice little earner. Which company would you believe would buy the site, clean it up and then build stuff so that a few arty/luvvies can take space to show their unmade bed art design all at low rentals giving possibly a fifty year or longer payback even if the tax man was that generous.
The same mob company that have and will subvert local democracy to get their pavillion built elsewhere.
Threep,
They will want sumffing for nuffing so I doubt that they would lay out that sort of cash. Remember they were only going to pay some of the pavilion costs and I don't recall any statement that they would continue to support it once it was up and running.
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