NEWS CHANNELHeritage issue misunderstood
SIR - In connection with your coverage on the proposed demolition of Cofferidge Close in Stony Stratford, it is worth adding that both the developers and Milton Keynes Council have seriously misunderstood the heritage issue.
On their own admission the developers have only looked at Cofferidge Close from an archaeological standpoint and due to a general lack of Roman or medieval skeletons there are no ‘old’ heritage reasons for retaining the existing buildings. However, there is the issue of ‘new’ heritage to be explored.
The good news is that in its Local Development Framework (LDF) Para. 15.2, the council stresses the need to ‘identify MK’smodern high quality architecture’ and to ‘avoid the loss of these recent historical assets’. But the bad news is that the same council supports putting Cofferidge Close into landfill.
Together with its landscape setting, it is a building complex of quality and represents a ‘recent historical asset’ and if anyone is in doubt they could check up Pevsner’s Buckingham volume page 555 and read his flattering description.
Demolition arises because the council is ignoring Government Planning and Conservation Guidance (PPS5) plus its own Local Development Framework (LDF) conservation policy. This is a disgrace.
I am all in favour of improving Stony’s shopping facilities but knocking down Cofferidge Close represents a too heavy-handed approach.
It will gut the very heart of the town, blight it for easily the two years of the construction process and totally log-jam its streets with traffic upon completion.
I think that basically the existing buildings should be adjusted and reused. This would representamore clever, humane and sustainable solution that would also respect the ‘new heritage’ dimension. If the much-spoken-about new ‘localism’ is to mean anything then the council needs to wake up and listen to local people.
M O’Sullivan
Latimer, Stony Stratford
Concerns over parking plan
SIR -You reported on May 11 that ‘A review of the decision to scrap free city centre parking will be one of the top priorities for the Conservatives if they take over the running of the council’. This sounds highly ominous.
At a time when lollipop ladies are being sacked and libraries and day care centres closed over the UK, why should the MK Tories give this top priority?
We were promised the greenest government ever just a year ago and surely local Tories should be listening to this message from the centre and acting in a compatible way.
Frederick Toates
Marshworth, Milton Keynes
A casino would be wrong
SIR - It is disappointing to read of the applications that have been submitted for a casino in Milton Keynes, and the fact that Milton Keynes Council seems committed to awarding the licence for it by the end of the year.
It seems ludicrous that in the current climate of cost-saving, cut backs to social services and ever-shrinking council budgets, the aspiration to allow a casino in Milton Keynes remains on the agenda.
There is a massive amount of evidence that shows the lasting harm caused by casinos. Milton Keynes has had to withdraw funding for many support services within the region and yet by supporting the casino project it is actively encouraging further social decay.
It seeks to consider which application will offer ‘the greatest benefit to Milton Keynes’. I hope it will assess the applications on which will cause the least harm.The outcome from that adjudication is simple–Milton Keynes should not have a casino.
Jamie Chalmers
Sent by e-mail
Complain about OAP cuts
SIR - I amvery concerned over the way in which the latest cuts to the budgets of elderly people are being done by Milton Keynes Council as they are totally unacceptable.
The council removed free swimming for old people and it has decided to remove free concessionary bus travel for people over 60 during the peak hours meaning they have to pay full fare.
This is definitely going to affect vulnerable and low income old age pensioners.
The old people on the city estates who depend on the bus cannot afford the full fare required to travel before 9.30am. I know several people over 60 who work part-time to supplement their meagre pension to pay for household expenses such as gas, electricity and telephone bills.
There was no proper consultation with the people regarding the withdrawal of free bus travel before 9.30am and there are other ways of making savings instead of victimising vulnerable old people.
I urge pensioners to write to their local parish council and their local Milton Keynes councillors expressing their concern.
Arun Vaidyanathan
Sent by e-mail
Monorail economics
SIR - In answer to the question asked by Don Douglas in the May 11 edition of MK NEWS, this is from my sister in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
The Sydney monorail (nowmetrorail) is a circle 3.6km long around the main shopping area. It was opened in July 1988 at a cost of 70 million Australian dollars (approximately £28million as in 1988).
Inserted into a fully built-up area it would obviously cost a lot more than building an equivalent in Milton Keynes from the Coachway to the central railway station above the central strip of the grid road (H5 or H6) and Midsummer Boulevard.
To answer Mr Douglas’ other query about why the shopping centre is so remote from the railway station, the shopping centre site is almost level with Midsummer Boulevard. I think you will find that the railway station was almost an afterthought in the creation of the shopping area and business district. For many years the stations in Bletchley and Wolverton were considered to be adequate, serving the existing towns of Fenny Stratford and Stony Stratford, with Newport Pagnell also reasonably attainable from the latter.
Mr J Lean
Sokeman Close, Greenleys
A reminder to use your vote
SIR - I am obviously disappointed to have lost the election for Campbell Park by just two votes. But I am hopeful the closeness of the recent election could still inspire another positive outcome.
Among the commiserations and kind words I have received, several people have already spoken of their regret at not voting on May 5.
It is of course incredibly important for people to use their vote, whatever their political beliefs, and this result shows just how crucial your vote could be.
Of course Councillor Cec Tallack received the most votes and I would like to congratulate him on a deserved, albeit slim, victory.
However, just a handful of votes could potentially have sent a powerful message to a tired Liberal Democrat council.
I hope many of the people who did not vote will look at this close result and decide next time they will vote.We never know whether our vote will be the one vote that makes the difference.
Paul Williams
Sent by e-mail
Greens are given hope
SIR - I would like to use the columns of your newspaper to thank all those who voted for me in the local elections.
In Bletchley and Fenny Stratford, 545 residents voted Green – a record for the ward and more than double last year’s total (in fact we were the only party to increase our actual vote from last year).
We didn’t win, but our high share of the vote demonstrates that a significant number of people reject the three main parties’ support for cuts. It also demonstrates that, in local elections, people are willing to give weight to Green candidates who work hard all year round and lead the way on issues that local people care about – such as the landfill site, and opposition to nursery closures and the Salden Chase development.
I would like to express my gratitude to those residents I met on the doorsteps and in the streets for the warm reception they gave me. As someone who has lived in Bletchley all his life, I always knew that Bletchley and Fenny people were tolerant and kind-hearted, but it was a pleasure to have this confirmed in practice.
Paul Bowler
MK Green Party
Many thanks to electorate
SIR - May I, through your paper, thank all the 1,086 people who voted for me in the Bradwell Ward.
The sheer volume of people who took the time and trouble to vote for me has been very heartening.
I must also thank those people who helped deliver leaflets and letters. You know who you are and I am grateful for your help. I will remain ever helpful to those who need help and assistance in solving issues that youmay have.
Beaten but not out yet.
Pauline Wallis
Cleavers Avenue, Conniburrow
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