8 replies to this topic

[Nigel]

OK, seaside piers are a bit off topic, but the issue raised isn’t.

Yesterday, a large portion of the jewel of English seaside piers, the only one which is Grade 1 listed, collapsed into the sea. It topped the English Heritage list of Buildings at Risk. It had been closed and derelict for 25 years, whilst renovation measures were considered.
http://www.ananova.c.../sm_734042.html

However, let no-one accuse the British of being careless with our heritage, or not having a proper attitude towards conservation funding. The BBC is spearheading a move to popularise such issues: first, stoneburning, then treasure hunting, and now this…
“A new TV show hopes to drum up interest in saving historic buildings by offering viewers a Pop Idol-style voting competition to choose which crumbling relic should be restored”.
http://news.bbc.co.u...dio/2120093.stm
What a fun way to allocate resources!

I suppose a big green lump in Wiltshire isn’t going to get many votes. Why should it?

[Arran and Emma]

I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry at all this. Honestly, the BBC have been going a bit mad of recent, but this ‘Heritage Idol’ is beyond belief.

Brighton Pier isn’t beyond restoration, but each day the price of renovation is rising.
We shouldn’t have to fight for the preservation of our history. The government set up organisations to look after them and that is what they should do. I appreciate it’s a difficult task, but why must it be done so badly? Relying on phone-poll profits is no way to fund anything and just another excuse for the proper money not getting to where is should go.

And what’s going to happen to the winner of this competition? It’ll be opened in a haze of publicity and will be the number one attraction for a few weeks, then people will loose interest in it and it’ll be forgotten about and end up returning to busking in the streets of Glasgow…

[IrishStones]

Well it apears that the pier is indeed beyond restoration, as a large portion is in the sea, for one' also, the article said that £1.5 million pounds had just been spent there, and that an additional restoration job was about to begin.

There's nothing for it now, in the interests of public safety, than to take it down. Perhaps the part still standing can be saved. This is our celebration monument. Very sad to see it gone. If it takes an "idol" type program to help raise interest, and I'm sure it will... after all this is the 21st century... why should we object? I think it is a brilliant idea.

[Nigel]

The talk is that they may still go ahead in some form. I hope so.

I don’t much like the Idol programme as I have to confess that, despite it being the twenty first century, I can’t help feeling it would be a bit undignified and trivial. It must be age. I’d hate the government to get the idea that they have no responsibilities in heritage funding. The Lottery has taken over quite a bit of it already, but that is raising far less money lately and there’s a shortfall. How is it done in other countries?

But my real objection is that I know I shall get sucked into being excited by the result and being infuriated that the winner will be a building in the shape of a fluffy bunny…

I’m a miserable old cynic, but happy new year everyone anyway!…
  

[IrishStones]

Happy New Year, Europe!

I see your point, Nigel. It is just that American Idol* was the most watched program in ages here (like The Osbournes), and even critics liked it (like The Osbournes)!!!  I figured a vote for preservation would raise awareness, which is more important than money in the long run.

* Although none of the "idols" deseved to be in the show, at least the best of the lot DID, in fact, win in the long run. I guess, for what it's worth, at least in this country the outcome is usually just, if not deserved.

We use public funds from taxes in this country for historical buildings that are government owned, but most are in private "foundation" hands. That means "landmarks" are preserved almost 100% by private donations. Even our educational TV (BBC- like, non-commercial quality programming) has been phased out of government funding, slowly, over the years.

That's why I thought an "idol" type program would raise vaults of money. One number to vote, another number to donate.

[Arran and Emma]

If we all joined English Heritage then wouldn't we all be contributing to their task of preserving the heritage of England? That is how it works isn't it?

I wonder what appears more favourable, becoming a member of the aforementioned and often damned organisation above or being overcharged to place a phone call to "vote"?

How far away are we from a scenario that involves voting to chose which site gets attacked by metal detectors - does gold get more viewers than stone and pottery?

[Arran and Emma]

Incidently, perhaps Stonehenge is not in as bad a state as first thought. Compare it to  this (Ok, so the road was smaller and there were less visiters, but look at the stones)

[Pete G]

Check out my gallery of old Stonehenge photos here
http://www.warband.o...nge/gallery.htm
PeteG

[Arran and Emma]

Disturbing, can't believe it survived to this day... well done Pete