Philistine of the week...

[Gareth Hughes]

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp2...=xDefault&itemid=NOED23 Jun 2009 08:49:55:497

Steve Morphew, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “We absolutely agree that Mile Cross is a very important area. It has got excellent examples of early council buildings.

“However, English Heritage do not seem to have grasped that fact that this is a place where real people have to live and we have to draw a balance between the lives they lead, where they want their homes to be warm and their windows to be watertight and they need somewhere to park their cars near their houses.

“We are working, and we are happy to work with English Heritage, trying to achieve a solution. But this is expensive and will need additional money. The bottom line is that if the people there want PVC windows, then we will provide them.”

 

[JoceAndChris]

:evil:

 

[Moo]

I wonder why the EDP chose to illustrate the article with a couple of post-war tower blocks? They are totally untypical of Mile Cross which was, until the Great Plastic Plague, a lovely example of early council planning. Saint John Betjeman would have loved it. Perhaps Gareth can post a picture, to give them as lives abroad some idea of what we're talking about?

Of course, the council has covered itself against accusations of Philistinism:

"From a conservation point of view, we would like to maintain the look of the original windows on the estate.

“Part of a programme of measures being introduced across the city to reduce fuel poverty includes the installation of double-glazing. Our planning and housing officers have discussed whether the programme can be varied for Mile Cross to provide double glazing that closely matches the style of the original windows, however these would require additional funding from other sources." (my italics)

If they're really strapped for cash, they could put some of the other aesthetic issues on hold, surely.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I haven't got a photo, but I do have the conservation area appraisal:

http://www.norwich.gov.uk/internet_docs/docs/Conservation/Mile Cross/Mile_Cross_Appraisal.pdf

 

[JoceAndChris]

Like this?

Reminds me of Hampstead Gdn Suburb. Absolutely terrible to let the plastic in.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Sorry couldn't get your link to work at first- see our pics are duplicated, never mind.