Architects of our historic city were giants of their profession
LETTER-writer Julian Hill in his letter: ‘The question of course is the nature of the development’ (April 14) questioned my rationale (Letter, March 7) for claiming that the proposed redevelopment of the Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle would be yet another nail in the coffin of Bristol’s historic past.
Despite Mr Hill’s assertion that this ugly ‘high rise’ project will be a commercial venture, it will inevitably be the planning architectural undertakers of Bristol City Council who will make the final funereal decisions for yet another relatively young building!
He also thought fit to criticise my views that public libraries are literally as dead as the dodo. It might be of interest to him and others that after 35 years in the fire service I spent 10 years working in public libraries. This left me understanding that print had been superseded by Kindles/modern megabyte media etc, and that the main function of libraries was now to provide public computers courtesy of the taxpayer!
However, the main tenor of his letter read: “Mr Smith was very vocal [in print!] about what he doesn’t like but gave no constructive suggestions about what to do with the ageing shopping centre...”
Mr Hill might like to explain why it is that the Broadwalk shopping centre, which was presumably constructed using the best building processes in 1972 has become so decrepit it needs demolishing! It does not auger very well for any new building does it? Moreover, it suggests that the architects of what little remains of the historic City of Bristol were giants of their profession, rather than the planning pygmies of the high rise flats destined for the hilariously named Redcatch Quarter!
Mr Hill concluded his letter by suggesting that those opposed to our brave new world of a Bristol plagued with high rise buildings were nimbys. Well he might like to note that if being opposed to the continuing decimation of the once proud city I can recall from my youth means being a nimby then I am proud to accept that appellation with pride! sorry to see the Wills memorial Building go though. I’ve always liked the look of that. But it was finished about 1925, so time’s up. The Council House dates back to the war so that will have to go. Perhaps we can get George Ferguson to design an American-style City Hall, since he renamed it.
Somehow I feel there might be something wrong with our planning and building systems. What’s the point of declaring a climate emergency if buildings are replaced after only 50 years? It took an awful lot of fossil fuel to build Avon House. It will take a lot more to replace it