For whom the bell tolls
As you wander in the city crowded as it is this time of year,and you listen to the luvies twitering on,as they grace us with their presence,pause for a moment possibly have a cup of something in one of the overpriced eating and drinking establisments,and consider your lot.
Is it one of contentment at the thought of visitors enjoying this wonderful city,or even trying to think over the noise of the open topped bus which cruises the city pointing out the sights and delights of the capital. Or does your mind turn to more mundane matters,of which no one seems interested in,how to find somewhere affordable to live in this city.
We in Greater Pilton are experienced in being sold a line about affordable housing,in fact it has become a sad joke. Every so often someone will be dragged out to tell us of how they got an affordable place to live,we are never told about the suffering of the homeless about the cronic shortage of reasonably priced housing to buy or rent. Why,because awkward questions would have to be answeredÂ
It is all about profit.Build those awful rabbit hutches we are getting here,forget about architecture or design,fling them up and charge the earth for them. But wait a minute,we have a planning department in this city,we still have city architects somewhere dont we. Do we have a good taste department obviously not judgeing by the overpriced crap they are buliding here in Greater Pilton.
So what are our great and good local councillors doing about all this. On the face of it-it looks like very little except point the finger away from themselves and blame private enterprise.The very private enterprise that they are only to happy to get into bed with and allow them to run wild and bulid were they like regardless of any objection.
Now that our very own Royston Wardieburn community centre is to be replaced,what happens to the land.Green space perhaps,no wrong,houses of course,affordable ones you ask,no dont be so silly.
The city councils policy of sell it if it moves is damageing the fabric of existing communties. No thought has gone into inclusuve housing just greed and bugger the rest. This is not only a stupid policy it is a dangerous one. Stupid because it will make communities eventually become strangers to each other,and dangerous,because many of these overpriced conurbations will be the slums of tomorrow,long after our dead beat rulers are gone and someone else is left to pick up the tab.
So when or if they come looking for your vote and promise you the earth,or glorify in what they have done-incidently thats what they were elected for,ask one simple question.
WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON AROUND ABOUT US?  Â