Hey up, Pendle Borough Council Prats seem to jollying along nicely with Nelson residents - here's a letter below from a week or so back!
We want more information on housing plans for Nelson, we also want to know how much these consultants they've got in are being paid. I suspect that the agenda has already been formulated and that the odd superficial 'information giving' rather than 'feedback taking' style public meetings will be organised by PBC soon. We should be in no doubt that they have already decided what they are going to do in Nelson, and consultants will be thinking hard how to work around local residents. They'll be a few grunts from Councillors, and Tony Greaves and the Liberals will swarm in last minute to attempt to save the day top down - bless their cotton.
I'd suggest that local residents associations in Nelson need to get together and learn from residents associations over in Burnley like Trinity. Only local residents taking control of their own campaign can effectively stop this.
Watch out, watch out there's a few SWerps about - hopping on bandwagons much like the Liberals and Labour, we'll save your houses, oh and here's a newspaper - wanna join Respect - yawn.
Week ending - 17/09/04 in Nelson Leader
www.pendletoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=365&ArticleID=857267Dont flatten our homes!
DID you ever hear the saying Possession is nine points of the law or the old
adageAn Englishmans home is his castle?
Well, dont you believe them. The residents of Ripon Street and the Walverden
area of Nelson, have all but been presented with a fait accompli in that
moves are apparently under way (to quote the euphemistic jargon) for the
regeneration of this area.
In plain English, this means that, within the next 10 to 15 years (but who
can say precisely when...?) our homes are scheduled to be redeveloped in
other words knocked down!
This would seem to be the case, according to both the moderate and the major
scenarios. Even in the face of unanimous opposition, the bulldozers could
soon be making nifty work of the homes of all in this street.
There are those who have spent a considerable amount, both in terms of time
and money, enhancing and taking great pride in their homes perhaps even with
the assistance of second mortgages. Some have their houses up for sale.
There are others, less fortunate, who have yet to make the most of their
homes; they may even have to clear some of their original loan.
It has been a struggle for some and a triumph for others, but what we all
have in common is the desire or need for some degree of autonomy over our
lives.
Never mind the European directives, concerning the quality of family life
the council certainly seems not to do so. The wishes of individual citizens
should not be dismissed so lightly.
We have witnessed the shambles that, supposedly, stands for the centre of
Nelson: who was consulted concerning that great monstrosity which blocks out
the daylight and denying access to pedestrians? I refer to the construction
of Wilkinson store. I certainly did not cast my vote for that.
Then there is the fiasco of Every Street. Okay, I could just about
understand the need to demolish vacated, dilapidated and totally
uninhabitable dwellings (although conservationists would prefer to see them
renovated and utilised). But when I am informed of a supposed surplus of
two-bedroomed terraced houses, I reach for my pen.
We live in these houses by choice, therefore, a demand and need for them
surely exists. It really is as simple as that. By all means requisition
those mentioned above. Just do not send officials to our doors, on the
pretext of offering improvement grants in the not too distant future. This
happened to myself I was taken in by the ploy.
It is no consolation to be told that all still hangs in the air, that
nothing, as yet, has been processed. Attempting to lead a normal life under
this Sword of Damocles would be enough to put a terrible strain on anybody.
Talk of compensation and the offer of social housing are, likewise, not what
these residents need to allay their very real fears.
Some Ripon Street and Walverden residents, like myself, have only just
learned of these plans as no official, personal notifications were sent in
the post.
I apologise for the use, in this letter, of so many well-worn cliches. The
greatest cliche of all, however, is the continual talk by those who wield
power of so-called level playing fields for all.
Perhaps it is in order to create one of these virtual fields that the future
of this street has come under threat.
Those who can, please join me in condemning this projected act of corporate
vandalism.
Let us hope that the wretched Government funding fails to materialise.
And, in the meantime, let us know exactly what is going on. We deserve to be
told the truth it is everyones right.
D. MOORE