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Unhappily under the guidance of Ken Livingstone and the current government, London is going through a period of rapid destruction. Many historical areas are being scarred, ruined and destroyed at the request of big business. After the war there were a spate of hideous decisions that are now much regretted such as the destruction of Euston Arch. We are in that situation again as attractive older buildings are carelessly torn to the ground to allow the construction of just another tedious steel and glass box. Also London's most famous views of St Paul's and Westminster are being blocked and torn through. This is tragic. It has to stop.
Here are a list of worrying developments, some of which are all but underway. Do all you can to fight them.
Protected London Views to be reduced (if Ken gets his way)
Ever reliable Ken wishes to reduce London's protected views, narrowing them so that more of his monstrous phallus's can rip through the skyline. Red Ken's eyes seem to be turning green and rolling with pound signs.
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Smithfield Market
Having demolished half of Spitalfields market the destruction has moved westward to Smithfield. Smithfeild is "probably the finest group of market buildings in the country" but The City of London Corporation in its wisdom thinks that actually some lovely new steel and glass office blocks would be far preferable.
SAVE Britain's Heritage say:
"These buildings are high quality buildings by a pre-eminent Victorian architect. They are key buildings in the Smithfield conservation area and should be listed. They form a part of enclave of historic buildings unlike any other in the City, retaining a powerful historic and architectural sense of place. They are capable of reuse with minimal intervention, and are potentially a huge asset to this part of the City, yet they lie purposely disused and without maintenance."
Borough Market Area
This world famous market, Southwark Cathedral and the entire area is under threat from the planned Thames Link expansion. Yes London need improved transport, but not at the expense of the city itself. Insane.
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Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
It is an almost unbelievable disgrace how this country treats its heritage, even its World Heritage Sites. In recent years The Tower of London has been faced with an increasing barrage of modern developments, and it is about to get worse. There is an ugly and totally inappropriate proposal to build a number of lazy towers opposite The Tower and beside Tower Bridge on Potters Fields. This has the potential to diminish the value of both sites, so in one fell swoop it can attack both A World Heritage Site and a Grade 1 Listed icon. Amazing. The towers would look naff anywhere, but here they ought to be unthinkable. Not though to corporate Ken and our beloved deputy Prime Minister (who in her early days seems more of a concern than Mr Prescott was).
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If you have any information on these or other imminent disasters please get in touch. If anybody has renderings of how the Vauxhall tower will affect Westminster I would be unhappy to see them.