Below are my comments objecting to the Bradford Odeon plans. I found it surprisingly hard to write, for starters you never know how seriously your letters are read.
The other thing was that now I’m a council candidate, and still really finding my feet in some respects, I worry about saying something that inadvertently candidates are not ‘supposed’ to say, or somehow putting my foot in it or getting something inadvertently wrong.
But I felt I had to object to the proposals, I can’t help but feel this is Bradfords chance to protect and restore some of its great architecture and not do what it did in the 1960s (along with Leeds and many other cities) and pull down it’s historic architecture in favour of a flavour of the month style that in future generations will leave people wondering why the hell you’d knock down something timeless in favour of something that ages horribly.
There is no doubt that the Odeon as it stands needs a lot of work, but the very fact that it’s condition is unknown – said by some to be too far gone, by others to be fine with some work – is typical of the whole situation surrounding the Odeon and its future. Too much confusion, smokescreens and precious little clarity.
Anyway, here goes, see what you think – and please correct me if I’ve said something incorrect:
Objection to the demolition of the Odeon.
Submission Type:
Customer objects to the Planning Application.
Comments:
I am writing to you to object to the demolition of the Odeon building in Bradford City Centre.
I believe there is no case for demolition of the full building and if there has been a case made the full report should be made available to the public to allow proper feedback and debate from experts rather than the current closed shop situation that exists currently.
The Odeon is a popular landmark in Bradford and the views of large numbers of people in Bradford have been ignored in the plans to demolish this building without investigating genuine alternatives.
At the very least, the landmark towers of the Odeon should be kept and built into a new structure as English Heritage suggested. However, given the amount of work that would require the full building may as well be kept.
I do not believe this project has the support of the people of Bradford, nor do I believe their voices are being listened to.
Sincerely,
Alex Ross
Shipley Labour candidate for the local elections in 2010.
Objection to the new complex (some repeated themes here, oops):
Submission Type:
Customer objects to the Planning Application.
Comments:
I am writing to you to object to the plans to build a new complex over the site of the current Odeon building.
I do not object in principal to the redevelopment of the area, in fact I’d agree that it needs regeneration. However I feel the current plans are not good enough, ignore the views of the public and are not in keeping with the surroundings or taking advantage of the current building, which matches the nearby Alhambra theatre perfectly, as well as having a heritage and history many buildings in other cities could only dream of.
The idea that the current proposals have incorporated the areas heritage because of a small feature on a part of the complex no one would recognise is insulting to the intelligence of the public, who do not want to see a repeat of the mistakes of the 1960s where much of Bradford architectural heritage was torn down to make way for buildings that were quick to fall out of fashion but still blight the town centre.
The current building is in a state of disrepair, in no small part due to its neglect from owners, but the fact is it could be repaired, and at the very least the iconic towers could be retained, as English Heritage have in fact argued.
The whole handling of the Odeon affair has left a bad taste in the mouths of many of Bradford’s public and I believe has damaged local democracy significantly. The first instance that comes to mind is saying it was still open for offers only to say that it had never been the case despite attributable quotes showing otherwise.
This sort of doublespeak has wider repercussions outside of a debate about whether or not the Odeon should be kept and furthers the disconnect between the public and the local executive.
The carrot of new jobs is also being abused to try manipulate the public into accepting the proposals. No one would object to the creation of jobs but it is in no way an either/or situation – jobs would equally be created with a sympathetic restoration of the Odeon, that could easily accommodate several of the features planned in the new complex.
I appreciate that the complex has been scaled down after fierce opposition from the public but in no way does this show that the designers have been ‘listening’ to the public, whose main complaints were based around the destruction of the Odeon building.
Ultimately, if the council is so confident of the necessity in destroying the building, it should release any and all reports on the building to the public, or commission a new independent one, to be made public for all to read and judge.
Until then no one will believe the council or the necessity of pulling down more of Bradford’s architectural heritage.
Sincerely,
Alex Ross
