"Middle-class idiots"

[Moo]

From today's Telegraph"

Conservationists fighting to save a row of Victorian villas have been dismissed as "middle-class idiots".
English Heritage, the Victorian Society and others are living in the past, according to a senior councillor.
The campaigners wanted to protect at least the frontages of the now-derelict properties, arguing that they added great character to the area around Hagley Road,Birmingham, and were an integral party of the local heritage.
But planners have agreed to bulldoze them all to make way for a £40million retirement village.
The decision ended a long battle to protect the buildings. One was built in 1895 and is the last surviving house designed by Ernest Barnsley, an architect in the Arts and Crafts movement and a member of the family from which the local conservation area takes its name.
TimBridges, of the Victorian Society, said: "Much of the original fabric of the house appears to survive, making, we believe, a significant and positive contribution to both the character of this conservation area and the heritage of the city as a whole"

There is more, but I think you get the general idea from this extract.

Now, off to Google Earth to see what the villas look like...

 

[Moo]

I suspect that the houses are in the area of 397 Hagley Road (near the Barnsley Road junction).

 

[Nigel Watts]

My favourite Dostoevsky novel - actually the only one I ever managed to finish - is The Idiot. Its eponymous hero was more aristocratic than middle class perhaps, but is one of the most sympathetic characters in 19th C literature.

 

[Baron de Gynes]

These houses, if they are the ones of which I am thinking, have long been derelict and Birmingham City Council should have done something about them long ago; far before it got to this stage. They should not be demolished because they are part of the intrinsic history of the Hagley Road area (a history which is fast being erased, rather than sympathetically developed).

For many years a number of these large houses were run as hotels and guest houses (which are simply not required in today's Birmingham) and have been left to disintegrate. Travelling along the Hagley Road is a very sad occasion since one is surrounded by these physical reminders of apathy and dereliction. They must be saved, even if just the facades. Far better would be for the house to be bought, sympathetically restored and allowed to live again in the 21st Century.

I am so cross that BCC could consider demolishing these.

 

[middi]

I can understand the need for more efficient housing

Demolishing to rebuild simply because we wish not to upgrade,adapt, conserve and use existing buildings is the hallmark of throwaway society.

We are evolving ( nobody will be able to tell us into what and for what purpose ) .

Middi

 

[Penners]

Conservationists fighting to save a row of Victorian villas have been dismissed as "middle-class idiots".

That's an accusation to which I'd be proud to plead guilty.

 

[Feltwell]

Sadly, Birmingham has got lots of fine Victorian buildings in a poor state. Many of the areas that are now run down and poor - Handsworth, Constitution Hill etc - were in their day very prosperous.

As a student I lived in some very grotty and run down Victorian houses that would in Victorian times have been upper middle-class villas - often with 8 or more bedrooms. Popular for student housing as they are now in cheap, run down areas and students like large houses so they can live together in a large group.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Trash 'em. What's the point? No one cares anymore. I have seen them - they have been burnt and plundered. We can only fight to preserve what we own. The time for peace, love and understanding is gone. It's each man and woman for himself. Sorry but let's face up to it. All we can do is care for our own. Am I feeling bleak? Yes, I am. Please, encourage me to keep fighting. V

 

[jocelyn plummer]

A bit bleak Vicki, but understandable. Did anybody see the Kirstie and Phil programme tonight where they viewed a house in the freshly developed Victorian backstreets. I actually thought that they were OK---- better than destroying the entire area anyway.

Of Manchester---- I meant to say

 

[Penners]

Did anybody see the Kirstie and Phil programme tonight

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[Feltwell]

I bet FamilyWiggs is sorry he missed out on seeing his beloved Kirsty...........

 

[Penners]

Oh I'm sure he's not. He's probably enjoying his eighth scintillating game of draughts today....

 

[biffvernon]

the Victorian Society and others are living in the past,

That's kinda the idea isn't it? The clue's in the name.

 

[Moo]

the Victorian Society and others are living in the past,

That's kinda the idea isn't it? The clue's in the name.

Just to put the record straight - It wasn't me wot said it, guv. I was only quoting!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I bet FamilyWiggs is sorry he missed out on seeing his beloved Kirsty...........

Ah, but she's permanently on UKTVPropertyGold+1 or something similar 24/7.

 

[robgil]

Jees , not with a 10 foot barge pole, if we are going to fantasize surely you could do better than squeaky kirsty Allsop?

 

[LadyArowana]

Quite agree, she isn't my type at all :lol:

 

[AMc]

Recent Tweet from the account of Viz 'Top Tips'.

@TwopTwips: PHIL & KIRSTY. Why not use your accumulated years of property sales and development experience to 'get a room'

 

[Penners]

Rob's photo is unkindly chosen. Kirsty is actually even better looking than I am, so here's a better one for Robin to spend the day leering at:

 

[robgil]

Its amazing what controlled lighting and air brushing can do for ones complexion.
In fairness though i think my photo was just after or not long after she gave birth so probably not a good choice.