Mike Ford: Bristol eyesore is a nightmare of concrete and broken economy
The old Royal Mail building which stands there looming on the horizon like a haunted house in Chernobyl, a nightmare of concrete and broken economy.
With this in mind, it was pleasing to hear that councillors were calling to knock it down last week, until we actually heard what they were saying.
Instead of setting into motion some action, the councillors were doing what they do best.
Procrastinating and talking of how it was "annoying" no one has taken the initiative to turn it "into something useful and attractive."
Initiative? Isn't it the job of the council to get things moving? Who are they relying on to do their job for them? It is a no-brainer for them to at least knock it down, thus attracting developers to the site.
As many people have stated, it's an area that benefits from great transport links, a central location, and, of course, is on the riverside. But as usual, our council needs an electric shock from a cattle prod to prompt them into action.
Perhaps they should look at the dramatic change one can see when travelling into Bristol by coach these days.
What a transformation from the previously dull mile of shame that was the bottom of the M32 to the bus station, the grey depression of the buildings making you feel as if the coach were taking you to the Gulag.
I don't understand how some parts of our city are so great, and others are left to rot due to council laziness and inaction.
Case in point: our local rail network. The council's arrogant and frankly berserk decision to constantly overlook the fact that we have a complete local rail infrastructure already in place to run cheap and regular local trains quite frankly astonishes me. These lines can service everywhere locally from Severn Beach to Keynsham, and are ready to be used tomorrow with a little station renovation.
If only the council would listen to great people like those of the Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) group, who are still pushing for local rail services to be restored to over 15 stations, as well as the increase of services to the existing, barely-used, crumbling stations that First "Great" Western put out as a token gesture. We have watched our council be pushed around by First while they destroyed our bus routes, and within a few years what little rail service we have will be gone too.
The council evidently needs its hands to be held at every stage. A cleaner, more efficient (and cooler) transport system is sitting on our doorstep begging to be used. Get behind FOSBR and berate the council into action. Either that, or buy a cattle prod. It's cathartic.
