The great wall of Hilsea is an eyesore and needs attention
Letter of the day
Towards the end of 2009, a sign appeared on the wall that divides Gatcombe Park and London Road, Hilsea, in which stated that certain renovation work concerning the poor condition of this Great Wall of Hilsea, would commence March 2010.
Renovations to selected sections were undertaken but abruptly abandoned without any further progress.
My repeated inquiries for possible progress since then have drawn a blank. It would appear that with the current city council's financial situation, the likelihood of any early advancement will be out of the question, for I am sure there will be more justifiable claims on the pressing list of civic priorities.
Nevertheless, I have noticed that a considerable amount of the brickwork is flaking away and the question must be asked that; if this work was most necessary in the first place, its condition must have seriously deteriorated after eleven years?
The suggestion to demolishing it will surely be opposed by some of the residences of Gatcombe Park, probably because it provides some form of seclusion and privacy.
Conversely, in some distant future, perhaps the planting of trees and bushes could serve a similar purpose by accompanying the large grassed area behind the wall which would appear all the more appealing to the eye.
In reality, it currently serves as a ghastly architectural eyesore, that transforms it into a giant reflector that amplifies the blaring sirens from emergency vehicles, and traffic noise, that penetrates the tranquility of the surrounding area from dawn to dusk.
Ron Terry Beechwood Road, Hilsea