Update on the threat to 53 King Street, Blackburn. Huw Thomas RIBA has kindly produced this image of what the building could look like if restored, and what its immediate surroundings (currently vacant and blighted after recent demolition) could look like with sensitive new infill development.
This is a watershed moment for Georgian Blackburn - do we opt for demolition and roadbuilding or, on the other hand, for restoration and the filling in of gaps with human-scale development?
Click on the image for a bigger version.
Here's an update for you on this beautiful building. The council are set to decide its fate in Feb & are still in the mind set of demolishing it. Do the council not realise that they are destroying our heritage for 300 mtrs of pointless road. But in saying that this council are failing in their civic duty. They have stated in their own policy documents that they will not demolish any listed building yet here we are looking at that happening. Obviously the council are two faced. The front page of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph last week heralded the announcement of council budget & job cuts, there in black & white(with quotes from the head of the council i might add) was the announcement that they were cutting 25% from the highways budget as part of the cost cutting. This all means that the potholes etc in the borough will not be repaired as often as necessary due to lack of finances, yet they still intend to build another section of road. If they dont have the finances to keep the roads that they already have in good order why the hell are they building a new road that in time will become another one that needs repairing and an extra finacial burden on future councils.Do this council not realise that there budget will never be increased only squeezed at every oppurtunity. Finances are tight for all of us so why burden the tax payers with even more of a burden than they already have. The council want to appear "Green" but in building yet another new road are only encouraging more people to use there cars so creating more environmental damage for the town & the globe as a whole. I thoought in this day n age councils were supposed to be promoting healthier & more eco friendly places to live. that seems to far from the case in Blackburn from what i can see. I live in Blackburn & its about time the council started listening to the people who put them in the postitions they hold instaed of just ignoring them, What sort of legacy would these people like to leave future generations by the looks of it one where the building may last 80 years instead of the rich proud heritage it already has which ahs lasted 100's. The coucil own the building dont forget & have a duty in law to ensure that listed buildings are cared for, well this building is in need of care so why havent the council done what they are bound in law to do which is care for it. If anybody else had treated a listed building in such a way the council would be hammering down their door to tell them to sort it out its about time they practised what they preach
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