Demolition of 'Boro Housing

[Leem]

The TS1 postcode is one of the poorest in Britain, with average incomes as low as £11,000 p.a. As you may or may not have heard, 1500 homes in the town centre, in the area behind Kwik Save are to be demolished.

A survey endorsed by the council revealed that 71% of smoggies back the 'regeneration' proposals. Public consultation was also conducted. However, this was conducted during the summer, when a large number of students vacate their terrace housing, and a large number of respondents weren't in the demolition zone. The survey seemed skewed to get the answer the council was looking for.

Middlesbrough council initially said that these 1500 homes would be replaced with 900 new homes. This has now been revised. 400 'apartments' are to be built, along with cafes, shops and University buildings.

The people currently residing in the homes to be demolished will be moved out of the town centre by compulsory puchase orders into part-owned Housing. Effectively taking away from them their status as full 'home-owners'.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think, as I do, that it's an attempt by the council to simply move the poor out of the town centre, shift the problem elsewhere?

In my opinion, this is a rather cynical ploy to improve the image of Middlesbrough rather than tackling the rooted socio-economic problems which cause the crime and misery in the town centre.

Your thoughts?

[mOuse]

moving people elsewhere will only move problems somewhere else, which is pathetic on the part of the council. However I thought you lived on the neutral planet, I believed you were not able to have strong feelings one way or the other!
BEIGE ALERT!

[Leem]

By that overwhelming response, I gather it doesn't really capture the imaginations of the membership. Oh well, back to non-campaigning it is.

[mOuse]

[unclesteve]

interesting post, liam. i totally agree that the way they appear to be going about "improving" middlesbrough is snobbish, lazy and downright shitty for those involved.

however, i'm not sure what campaigning there would be to do. particularly as students at the uni are likely not to give a shit about the details, or the people losing their homes.

[Leem]

Sadly, I think I agree. Doesn't seem as if anyone one beyond ourselves gives a shit.

[Paul]

I give a shit.

Shamefully, the students of Middlesbrough will only be here for a few years before moving to nice semi-detached houses in County Durham or the Home Counties. Which I guess is why anyone without a conscience gives not a damn.

[Paul]

P.S. What is Mallon's address? Or phone number?

[Leem]

Yes, we are transients. So I guess we don't really care about the places we stay at during our 3 year tenure. I've done a quick google, but couldn't find any contact details for the Mayor's office. Mallon isn't exactly the most compassionate man, he's a reactionary populist who is unlikely to listen to a group such as ourselves.

[Paul]

No harm in trying though. We can discuss it on Thursday.

[mOuse]

discuss it and watch it fizzle away without going anywhere, sounds like a plan batman.

[Leem]

Well, it's an important issue and one that is right on our doorstep, quite literally. My visit to Teesside House, with the unanswered questions, has made me despair at the 'regeneration' plans to be put in place.

I hope that this and the Chris Moyles debate will be the hot topics at the meeting.

[Paul]

There's no harm in discussing it. I'd like to concentrate on some issues closer to home, to be frank.

[Leem]

Civil liberties is another one for me. Blair is slowly eroding our right to a fair trial. You can now be convicted for not actually committing a crime.

[mOuse]

sounds fair if your name is chris weir, which is a crime in itself so I'm not sure weather that counts

ooh and btw

2-0 to Steaua Bucharest! woo and yay