This is a blog of ideas for improving the city space which I inhabit in London. It's a commentary inevitably on things as they stand, on how they might be. Some of it is really frail, I know. There's always weakness if one's contribution is unsolicited.
Who's this for ? Anyone who'll be moderately lifted by a thought shared about improving this city and the less central parts where I am found, those parts subject to po-faced administration rather than any inspiration.
Our city invites us to think and speak.
2 comments:
Well done, Marmot.
This great city needs as many commentators and carpers and critics as it can get. All of us have examples of crimes being committed against the urban environment in London.
Here is one thought. This is not news but I have really started to notice the rate at which pubs are shutting down and being converted into flats.
Now that's a tough one. We desperately need new housing and perhaps, givem the street violence and obesity problem, we don't ned places to pour gallons of beer down our throats.
However the pub acts as a community centre, across race and class. When a pub goes it is the death of another place for people to meet. Peope will always be able to get cheap booze so the end of the London boozer is not going to make much difference.
In North London we have seen a great example of community action. The Pineapple Pub in Kentish Town after local residents made it clear they would rather thave a oub than a few expensive, allegedly badly-designed, flats.
But it's a in a rich corner of a rich part of the world. Sadly that has helped the 10 small pubs in the same postcode that I have seen shut in the last year.
O course the answer is unclear. We can;t nationalise failing pubs. But we can insit tat councils take notice of campaigns to stop pubs shutting. Blocking a application for luxury simply pulls the rug under that market and makes it competitive for other players - landlords, restaurateurs &c - to take an interest.
If there is no challenge to this trend then in a decade there will be precious few pubs in London's inner suburbs
Clarity Economics
This great city needs as many commentators and carpers and critics as it can get. All of us have examples of crimes being committed against the urban environment in London.
Here is one thought. This is not news but I have really started to notice the rate at which pubs are shutting down and being converted into flats.
Now that's a tough one. We desperately need new housing and perhaps, given the street violence and obesity problem, we don't need places to pour gallons of beer down our throats.
However the pub acts as a community centre, across race and class. When a pub goes it is the death of another place for people to meet. People will always be able to get cheap booze so the end of the London boozer is not going to make much difference.
In North London we have seen a great example of community action. The Pineapple Pub in Kentish Town survived after local residents made it clear they would rather thave a pub than a few expensive, allegedly badly-designed, flats.
But it's in a rich corner of a rich part of the world. Sadly that has not helped the 10 small pubs in the same postcode that I have seen shut in the last year.
O course the answer is unclear. We can;t nationalise failing pubs. But we can insit tat councils take notice of campaigns to stop pubs shutting. Blocking a application for luxury flats simply pulls the rug under that market and makes it competitive for other players - landlords, restaurateurs &c - to take an interest.
If there is no challenge to this trend then in a decade there will be precious few pubs in London's inner suburbs
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