Buy to let – Guardian
December 10th, 2016
This isn’t an article it’s a brief reaction to the Guardian article.
“There’s a housing shortage, and landlords help this by providing accommodation …”
No you don’t. You exploit properties that would otherwise be owned by singles, young couples and families.
The only people who ought to own properties for rent are the state. It used to be called council housing. We need it back restored and expanded. Anything else is exploitation by rentiers.
Broadwater Farm and City Country Suburb? – audio
December 9th, 2016
While “housekeeping” the server space I pay for I found three audio files that don’t link to the blog. They are the result of years of being on and off Twitter. However, the stats show that people still download them, but I can’t leave them at the same link so I’m posting the new links here.
FEAR OF NON-STREET HOUSING
October 23, 2014, 19:00 20:15
The edited version free of extended pauses.
Why not build directly if you own the land?
November 30th, 2016
Click for full image
There was a time when the [London] borough or shire would employ their own architects, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, clerk of works and direct labour force and just get on with it. In London of course it would have been the LCC and later [from 1965] the GLC. Those days may have gone in most cases but we need them back.
Paul Watt at the RA – September 26th 2016
November 24th, 2016
He was one of four speakers and a chair, and his talk was such a good summary of what has happened to council housing under New Labour and since that I have transcribed it, with the help of YouTube (upload, wait, download captions), below:-
Okay I’m going to start somewhat differently I’m not really going to talk about the architecture I’m not going to talk about the estates, in a way the concept of a council estate is epiphenomenal to really the fundamental key aspect of what we’re dealing with. The key aspect for council housing for me is that it’s a part of the welfare state.
Blackburn terraces – now you see them . . .
November 22nd, 2016
“Slum clearances without the Socialism” – Owen Hatherley
I was reading the Guardian online today. This to be specific. Building affordable homes for rent is more vital than new roads then in the comments I found this . . .
. . . and opened Google Earth. I found nothing in Burnley but then in Blackburn, this.
Southwark – Peter John – the full ABC interview
November 17th, 2016
UPDATE: Read Heygate profits north of a hundred million by 35%.org
HT @adjournist retweet
This interview has triggered thoughts I’d tried to bury about the entitlement of leaseholders to be treated as fairly as secure tenants on a council estate, complicated by the fact I detest right to buy but count two leaseholders (second generation) among my friends. I will attempt to unravel the interwoven threads of the conflict with reference to the comments of Peter John in the interview linked above.
Glasgow – shipbuilding and architecture on film
November 12th, 2016
Films
All Our Working Lives – The Shipbuilders.mp4 (download and play)
Original 1984 documentary of one hour then a half hour update programme
British Connection Clydebank – Kelso.mp4
BBC Alba – subtitles in English – Clydebank forms the first half hour
Dreaming the impossible: Unbuilt Britain – A revolution in the City
BBC Four 58m59s
The Secret History of our Streets – Duke_Street.mp4
BBC Four – subtitles – 59m22s
“Presstheredbutton” speaks out on Corbyn
July 12th, 2016
I keep an eye on various commentators to the Guardian. Presstheredbutton is one of them. I don’t agree with everything they write but when I do I think it’s worth repeating here:-
As the results of the local elections and mayoral elections were being announced, Polly’s colleague, Anne Perkins, identified the Bristol mayoral election as the real test of Corbyn’s leadership. Marvin Rees, the Labour candidate, won handsomely. Perkins’ response? Silence.
When the mass resignation of Labour’s front bench happened, the aim was to cripple Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.
John Harris – Progressive Alliance London 5th July 2016
July 6th, 2016
“The problem isn’t that half the country are racists, it’s that the racists now think that half the country agrees with them.” – Anon
Thank you. I am a journalist I also write a column for The Guardian once every two weeks I haven’t really got enough to say to write one once a week.
But I’m not a columnist I think we’ve probably got too many columnists in this country and we’ve not got enough journalists.
[Applause]
We certainly haven’t got enough reporters. [pause] That’s what I do.
Another look at migration
July 4th, 2016
I found this the other day while browsing some Facebook pages I link to. While one hears from time to time about the New Labour Polish influx in 2004 it’s easy to forget about the effect that had on the country unless you go to buy a coffee of course. When’s the last time you were served by somebody British born?
I’m certainly not a racist and I spent half my working life traveling the world so I’m not going accept lessons on foreign cultures and their problems. But I think the text below by Simon Elmer is a well written and timely reminder of how immigration has altered our country.