High Hopes

The stump

Towers are back in mode. For a short while the realities of putting families – almost anyone apart from Howard Hughes types – hundreds of feet up, fell out, so to speak, of favour. Huge social problems and prodigious amounts of tranquillisers* called for a re-think. Now land prices have shot up as quickly as the new 'apartment blocks' that are placed on tiny sites.

The image above is of a monumental scheme in London, aimed at investors no doubt. Note the utter cynicism of placing a quintessential English summer scene – a village cricket match! – in such a Bladerunner setting. Are there any people working in Public Relations who have a soul to lose?

A link here to an excellent overview of the current situation across the country.

Newcastle has mostly escaped the effects of bleak high rise; few really big schemes and one of the biggest, Cruddas Park, hideous as it was in so many ways, has been successfully re-generated with demolition and a full face lift. Judging by the placid aspect of the area today, I must assume the cladding is fully safe.

Au Revoir T. Dan Smith. Cruddas demolition in progress

More on this subject soon.

* 'Valium Towers' became a nick name for one scheme I was shown in Scotland last century.

Raison d'être

Ouseburn: Into the culvert ©2020

A walk on a grey day to search for the first signs of spring. As I walked I mused on the origins of my Battlefield, a.k.a. the City Stadium and the infilling of what must have been a grubby gorge running down to the Tyne; if only they had waited until the Industrial Revolution Mk. I had run its own course! What a fine little dene we would have had!

Recent heavy rain had swollen the Ouseburn and gushed over the weir into the dark culvert to carry its brown waters towards the Tyne and the sea.

The Council had also been busy tiding up. Almost a first. It won't last. Nature has a way of fighting back.

Photographic record of the walk – including a peek at some very discrete allotments – here (off site link)

Going Up

Newcastle on New Year's Day 2020. Image © Anton Deque 2020

The Guardian feels Newcastle is going up – link to full article here.

"Newcastle Creative and unpretentious, the city has a vibrant food, drink and arts scene. Boasting a completely regenerated shopping centre in Eldon Square and with loads of trendy craft ale spots, mini golf courses and axe-throwing bars springing up, Newcastle’s bustling city centre has become increasingly upmarket. The historic Bigg Market area, once known for disorderly behaviour, has had a multimillion pound makeover and now has modish bars, businesses and restaurants among the old heritage buildings."

Writer Lucy Campbell might actually have visited the city. Perhaps. I hope so. But this description of what this city has to offer is less than you might read on a plug to join one of our three 'uni's'. I have no idea what 'axe throwing' is. Surely not, er, axe throwing? Newcastle's favourite past time speciality from the 9th century makes a come back?

"Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne are experiencing the fastest rises among northern cities in the number of escapees arriving from the capital, according to separate data from the Office for National Statistics, which indicates a possible shift east of the London escape route from the well-worn path to Manchester, Sheffield had a 12% rise in Londoners moving to buy or rent in 2018, followed by Newcastle and Leeds, which both recorded 5% increases."

Your humble correspondent noticed a greater diversity of faces at events – or just more faces – seemed to suggest this trend; more ex-students staying in the city? That and visits down to London. Crazy life style and packed commutes, manageable for a day or two. An article carried in the same newspaper about eighteen months ago related how even well paid by my lowly standards people found that, after expenses, they had no cash left to enjoy the many cultural opportunities presented by London! One interviewee told her own story of getting out of this bind, earning decent money but living in one small room to do so. A conversation with an understanding boss, going part-time plus the occasional 90 minute commute, meant a re-location to the rapidly fashionable Margate a few years back resulted in both a flat and spare cash.

Ms Campbell was pushed for space or I am sure she would have made the point that the north east already has its own HS2 to London; new trains speed to King's Cross (imaginatively, brilliantly regenerated) in around three hours. In the 70s that journey took me over five.

Yes, Newcastle in on the up line alright.