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New council HQ a "monstrosity"
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| Brian Watson |
A VETERAN councillor has joined the attack on the design of York's proposed new council headquarters, branding it a "monstrosity".
Coun Brian Watson, who will become York's next Lord Mayor in May, spoke out in the wake of scathing criticism yesterday of the £40 million office block in Stonebow by York Civic Trust.
The Press reported how the conservation watchdog believed the building was a "box-like structure" bearing little relationship with its surroundings, and amounted to gross overdevelopment.
Coun Watson, who has been a Labour city councillor for more than 20 years, said people came to York to see the successes of the city's architectural past.
He said: "We must not burden the city with characterless office and apartment blocks that have no architectural merit whatsoever.
"Imposing such monstrosities on the city will have the opposite effect and only serve to turn people away from a city that doesn't care about its values or historic tradition."
He also claimed the design showed scant regard for the listed Black Swan pub next door.
He said the headquarters could probably not be entirely altered at this stage, but the frontage and most sensitive parts of the building should be changed.
He argued that Stonebow House, further along Stonebow, served as a reminder of what should not be replicated at the council office site.
Coun Watson also questioned a decision to build a headquarters too small to accommodate the council's current staff, saying this showed a lack of foresight.
"I know the thinking behind having fewer desks than people, due to holidays and sickness, but this does not take into account what could happen if the council has to increase its staff due to additional responsibilities that it may be handed in the future," he said.
Coun Watson's criticisms are in contrast with more supportive comments about the HQ from some other councillors.
Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, the Liberal Democrat executive member for corporate services has described it as "an impressive building" that the city could eventually be proud of, while Labour councillor Janet Looker has said that, bearing in mind constraints, "it has not done too badly as a modern building." She added: "I think it's got some very positive things going for it."
6:31am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: what???, york on 9:22am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, the Liberal Democrat executive member for corporate services has described it as "an impressive building" that the city could eventually be proud of[/quote]
of course he said that. He was probably the one person responsible in the Lib Dems for the project!!!
It looks like a horrible concrete monstrosity...
A majority of the council's back office staff could be moved out of the city centre to places like james st, and just have the sections dealing with the public in the city centre!
Most other companies do this but unfortunatley they stick the back office staff in India, but I think james st is far enough away and still be within walking distance for staff.
Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, the Liberal Democrat executive member for corporate services has described it as "an impressive building" that the city could eventually be proud of
of course he said that. He was probably the one person responsible in the Lib Dems for the project!!!
It looks like a horrible concrete monstrosity...
A majority of the council's back office staff could be moved out of the city centre to places like james st, and just have the sections dealing with the public in the city centre!
Most other companies do this but unfortunatley they stick the back office staff in India, but I think james st is far enough away and still be within walking distance for staff.
Posted by: Mullarkian, York on 9:30am Fri 28 Mar 08
What on earth is the point of building a new HQ which will be too small to accomodate the existing staff. I thought one of the arguments for moving from St Leonards was because the staff were scattered across various locations.
This whole scheme is highly suspicious.
What on earth is the point of building a new HQ which will be too small to accomodate the existing staff. I thought one of the arguments for moving from St Leonards was because the staff were scattered across various locations.
This whole scheme is highly suspicious.
Posted by: Stop The Moaning - Life Aint, York on 9:39am Fri 28 Mar 08
The idea is to promote modern ideas of flexible working. More efficient corporations in the private sector have acknowledged the fact that not every employee needs a permanent desk from 9 in the morning to 5 pm at night. The more work that can be done on site the better, with mobile working solutions. People always argue for example the police should spend more time out and about and less time in offices doing paper work. If this can be achieved in relevant positions across the council as well this can only be a good thing. It's no surprise that "veteran councillor" Brian Watson is struggling to understand this as he has probably never heard of Laptops or PDAs.
This answers your daft conspiracy theories as well Mularkian. There is room for all the staff, just some of the more mobile staff would be allowed to desk share
The idea is to promote modern ideas of flexible working. More efficient corporations in the private sector have acknowledged the fact that not every employee needs a permanent desk from 9 in the morning to 5 pm at night. The more work that can be done on site the better, with mobile working solutions. People always argue for example the police should spend more time out and about and less time in offices doing paper work. If this can be achieved in relevant positions across the council as well this can only be a good thing. It's no surprise that "veteran councillor" Brian Watson is struggling to understand this as he has probably never heard of Laptops or PDAs.
This answers your daft conspiracy theories as well Mularkian. There is room for all the staff, just some of the more mobile staff would be allowed to desk share
Posted by: Tonyone on 9:59am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]"I know the thinking behind having fewer desks than people, due to holidays and sickness, but this does not take into account what could happen if the council has to increase its staff due to additional responsibilities that it may be handed in the future," he said.[/quote]
Or perhaps there is finally going to be a rigorous re-assessment of what people actually do and a staff reduction is in the pipeline.
"I know the thinking behind having fewer desks than people, due to holidays and sickness, but this does not take into account what could happen if the council has to increase its staff due to additional responsibilities that it may be handed in the future," he said.
Or perhaps there is finally going to be a rigorous re-assessment of what people actually do and a staff reduction is in the pipeline.
Posted by: jollygreenp, York on 10:09am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Tonyone[/bold] wrote:
[quote]"I know the thinking behind having fewer desks than people, due to holidays and sickness, but this does not take into account what could happen if the council has to increase its staff due to additional responsibilities that it may be handed in the future," he said.[/quote] Or perhaps there is finally going to be a rigorous re-assessment of what people actually do and a staff reduction is in the pipeline. [/quote] Pigs fueled and ready to fly sir!
Tonyone wrote:
"I know the thinking behind having fewer desks than people, due to holidays and sickness, but this does not take into account what could happen if the council has to increase its staff due to additional responsibilities that it may be handed in the future," he said.
Or perhaps there is finally going to be a rigorous re-assessment of what people actually do and a staff reduction is in the pipeline.
Pigs fueled and ready to fly sir!
Posted by: misskittie, York on 1:19pm Fri 28 Mar 08
The only people who actually support this pile of sh*t is the Liberal Democrat section of the council. Here's a short newsflash for them....NOONE ELSE LIKES IT, NOONE! NOT EVEN THE ARCHITECTS WHO DESIGNED IT!!!! I smell brown envelopes being stuffed, anyone else?
The only people who actually support this pile of sh*t is the Liberal Democrat section of the council. Here's a short newsflash for them....NOONE ELSE LIKES IT, NOONE! NOT EVEN THE ARCHITECTS WHO DESIGNED IT!!!! I smell brown envelopes being stuffed, anyone else?
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