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‘Goebbels’ jibe over council HQ
6:05pm Monday 19th May 2008
AN ARCHITECT has blasted the public consultation exercise by City of York Council over its revised headquarters project - claiming it was worthy of Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels.
Matthew Laverack, of Laverack Associate Architects, claimed the consultation process was biased in favour of the massive complex in Hungate.
"Their first exhibition of drawings' was a joke - tucked under the gloomy stairs at the Guildhall offices behind barriers where it was not possible to properly see the images," Mr Laverack said.
"And the consultation cards could have been written by Josef Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister."
However, City of York Council leader Steve Galloway hit back, stating the Hungate plans were subject to public scrutiny in an identical fashion to every other major developer.
Mr Laverack said: "They asked for three things you liked most' but did not ask for three things you hated most'. The cards asked what three things would you change' but did not ask do you think the whole thing is wrong and should be scrapped or relocated to another site.' "There was no named officer to whom objection cards could be sent or a dialogue opened up. The cards simply went to York Council, Freepost YO376. The whole thing is a sham."
He also claimed the authority had refused to release full details of the buildings so people could make a proper evaluation.
"They have merely given out three perspectives and a biased statement," he told The Press. "They have not released any plans, sections or elevations which are essential for their revised scheme to be properly evaluated.
"They have been specifically asked for them by me and have refused point-blank to let us see them."
He said he believed this was because they had not really changed their scheme to any fundamental degree and did not want to give critics like him an early opportunity to criticise their latest proposals.
"If their revised scheme is so marvellous and overcomes all the objections, why are they not releasing all the drawings now for public comment? The plans and sections and elevations must have been worked out by the architects in order for the perspectives to be produced. There is no excuse for holding this information back.
"It is public information."
When the council recently unveiled changes to the proposed building, following strong criticisms of the original proposals, it said it would be "less boxy, softer and more in keeping with other buildings in the area," with the sharp, unbroken corners and roof-lines replaced by a staggered and fluctuating line.
But Mr Laverack claimed all the council had done was "chop the shape of its box a little," and redressed it in a few different materials.
"None of this overcomes the fundamental objection that the building is far too big in any event and that it is damaging to the conservation area in general and the Black Swan in particular."
Coun Galloway said: "When a planning application has been submitted, then, of course, all drawings, elevations etc will be made available for public scrutiny.
"The application will be dealt with in the same way as all other planning applications.
"Mr Laverack, who is a well- know local developer himself, will have the same opportunity to make representations as other residents in the city.
"The master plan for the whole of the Hungate area was agreed following public consultation and the council headquarters respects the limitations and opportunities offered within that overall brief."
Your Say YourPress
mivvi, near York says...
11:05pm Wed 21 May 08
A View, Ozzo says...
6:10pm Wed 21 May 08
voiceoreason wrote:I'm No fan of a quitter like Galloway.
mivvi wrote: Is this thread about the proposed CoYC HQ or not? A qualified Architect voices his concerns and is pilloried for doing so. If you, as I do, object to the proposed HQ then we should welcome support from someone in the business and not descend into personal attacks. I sometimes wonder whether posters on this site are more interested in posturing their own imagined self-righteousness than the topic they post about.journalism is allegedly about discovering the truth. If that is the case then the truth that a shameless self interestred self publicist continues to use the Press to furter his own agenda, he should be exposed
Maybe instead of Laverack's self-righteous attacks & outrageous Gobbells comments - he would just make his point about he dislike of the design.
It is also a fact that his brother defrauded York tax payers of monies , which may or may not deprived someone in a needier position.
I can declare I have no direct interest in what is erected.
Can he ?
Brian, york says...
12:11pm Wed 21 May 08
voiceoreason, york says...
11:41am Wed 21 May 08
mivvi wrote:journalism is allegedly about discovering the truth. If that is the case then the truth that a shameless self interestred self publicist continues to use the Press to furter his own agenda, he should be exposed
Is this thread about the proposed CoYC HQ or not? A qualified Architect voices his concerns and is pilloried for doing so. If you, as I do, object to the proposed HQ then we should welcome support from someone in the business and not descend into personal attacks. I sometimes wonder whether posters on this site are more interested in posturing their own imagined self-righteousness than the topic they post about.
mivvi, near York says...
1:02am Wed 21 May 08
A View, Ozzo says...
8:07pm Tue 20 May 08
voiceoreason wrote:It wasn't me then. Thinking his persistent "sword of truth" rants against anything the council does, had anything to do with his brother being sent to jail.
A View wrote: Laverack is as bad as That David Quarrie with his tosh ! Is he any relation to the crook who conned our tax money in housing benefit ? Maybe he should stand for election and see how many people actually give a monkey's about his habitual rants.Geoff Laverack, yes I believe he is his brother.
Maybe if he was so 'socially minded' he wouldn't mind stumping up the cash his family has swindled from the York tax payers & the current advantageous financial position. As opposed to the vast majority who build their lives using legitimate ways.
The YP should stop giving him a soap box.
genie, York says...
7:30pm Tue 20 May 08
Guy Fawkes, Bootham says...
3:36pm Tue 20 May 08
Geobbels Galloway" ha ha ha
Gauleiter Galloway, surely?
And anyhow, this 'consultation' would have been far too cack-handed for Goebbels's liking. He would have produce architects' drawings that were more-or-less accurate, but with rather more shrubs around the buildings and rather less traffic on the surrounding roads than would actually be the case. He would then position spies in the council room to listen to what members of the public were complaining about, and with this information publish propaganda leaflets telling us that the alternative to this scheme would be something much worse than what we were objecting to: something along the lines of 'accept this plan or you risk having Europe's biggest gipsy camp and drug addicts' hostel built on the site instead'.
Oops - hope I haven't given Galloway too many ideas for the next edition of the Völkisher Beobachter , erm, sorry, council newsletter.
misskittie, York says...
2:19pm Tue 20 May 08
sayitasitis wrote:Even if it is sour grapes, they are sour grapes making a good point. Perhaps if all the designs were printed in the Press we could decide for ourselves. Instead the Galloway Cartel has decided what is happening in York and you lot can like it or move.
franky wrote:Franky, you dont know just how close you are to the truth in what you have said!voiceoreason wrote: Goeebbels reference wholly inappropriate insensitive and crass Mr Laverack is about the least independent voice in the city. Consistently trying to use the media to further his own financial ends and the press continues to pander to his non sensical whimsToo true, this Laverack has not stopped moaning since the whole Hungate building was unveiled. I sense his own design must have lost out, and hence his anger?
Fat Harry, says...
1:35pm Tue 20 May 08
This isn't news, it's not even a serious opinion, it's just self-advertisment.
Voice of Raisin, Too close for comfort says...
1:20pm Tue 20 May 08
thin libby, york says...
12:52pm Tue 20 May 08
root-two, York says...
12:06pm Tue 20 May 08
Do you really have to triple post to make your point?
Nope - it's the crappy implementation of this website.
root-two, York says...
12:06pm Tue 20 May 08
Do you really have to triple post to make your point?
Nope - it's the crappy implementation of this website.
root-two, York says...
12:06pm Tue 20 May 08
Do you really have to triple post to make your point?
Nope - it's the crappy implementation of this website.
meme, york says...
11:26am Tue 20 May 08
As a developer in York if we had submitted a scheme of this size and design on this site we would be laughed out of the planning office but YCC having sold Duncombe Place and committed to this site have to see a building in place when their leases run out which will function for them.I agree that the design is horrible and gives no ground to its setting and will be ridiculed in the future but given how much space YCC need to see on the site I cannot see the circle being squared as they have nowhere else to go unless they move out of town which appears to be something YCC will not contemplate although I suspect the public would so long as they had a presence in town.
I do believe YCC should listen to the people of York and come up with something that is appropriate even if that means making a smaller building and having a separate presence in York for Public uses
bobby_spray, york says...
11:17am Tue 20 May 08
root-two, York says...
11:08am Tue 20 May 08
AN ARCHITECT has blasted the public consultation exercise by City of York Council over its revised headquarters project
Can anyone else taste sour grapes?
root-two, York says...
11:08am Tue 20 May 08
AN ARCHITECT has blasted the public consultation exercise by City of York Council over its revised headquarters project
Can anyone else taste sour grapes?
root-two, York says...
11:08am Tue 20 May 08
AN ARCHITECT has blasted the public consultation exercise by City of York Council over its revised headquarters project
Can anyone else taste sour grapes?
voiceoreason, york says...
10:19am Tue 20 May 08
A View wrote:Geoff Laverack, yes I believe he is his brother.
Laverack is as bad as That David Quarrie with his tosh !
Is he any relation to the crook who conned our tax money in housing benefit ?
Maybe he should stand for election and see how many people actually give a monkey's about his habitual rants.
Tom2, York says...
8:53am Tue 20 May 08
I think that the Goebbels jibe is unfair, he did at least have a decent architect in Albert Speer!Hilarious
bobby_spray, york says...
8:49am Tue 20 May 08
Tom2, York says...
8:44am Tue 20 May 08
franky wrote:Ha ha ha. Franky accusing others of moaning (from the moral high ground as usual). Truly priceless, do please keep it up. Ha ha ha.
voiceoreason wrote: Goeebbels reference wholly inappropriate insensitive and crass Mr Laverack is about the least independent voice in the city. Consistently trying to use the media to further his own financial ends and the press continues to pander to his non sensical whimsToo true, this Laverack has not stopped moaning since the whole Hungate building was unveiled. I sense his own design must have lost out, and hence his anger?
sayitasitis, YORK says...
8:43am Tue 20 May 08
franky wrote:Franky, you dont know just how close you are to the truth in what you have said!
voiceoreason wrote: Goeebbels reference wholly inappropriate insensitive and crass Mr Laverack is about the least independent voice in the city. Consistently trying to use the media to further his own financial ends and the press continues to pander to his non sensical whimsToo true, this Laverack has not stopped moaning since the whole Hungate building was unveiled. I sense his own design must have lost out, and hence his anger?
franky, york says...
7:01am Tue 20 May 08
voiceoreason wrote:Too true, this Laverack has not stopped moaning since the whole Hungate building was unveiled. I sense his own design must have lost out, and hence his anger?
Goeebbels reference wholly inappropriate insensitive and crass
Mr Laverack is about the least independent voice in the city. Consistently trying to use the media to further his own financial ends and the press continues to pander to his non sensical whims
OldFart, York says...
11:40pm Mon 19 May 08
OldFart, York says...
11:38pm Mon 19 May 08
He's hoping of course that be then it will be too late to prevcent another carbuncle. But this is not just any ordinary planning application, and given the high profile of this build, should not YCC
share now their vision with those who are paying for it? Before it becomes a 'fait accompli'?
OldFart, York says...
11:38pm Mon 19 May 08
He's hoping of course that be then it will be too late to prevcent another carbuncle. But this is not just any ordinary planning application, and given the high profile of this build, should not YCC
share now their vision with those who are paying for it? Before it becomes a 'fait accompli'?
A View, Ozzo says...
10:25pm Mon 19 May 08
Is he any relation to the crook who conned our tax money in housing benefit ?
Maybe he should stand for election and see how many people actually give a monkey's about his habitual rants.
voiceoreason, york says...
8:51pm Mon 19 May 08
ouserower wrote:Please stop this tired nonsense. Paranoia is bad for your health
This entire project has a smell to it. Someone in the council is trying to cover something up here.No doubt it will all come out eventually. I just hope the people of York are not stuck with this horrendous carbuncle for the rest of their lives.
voiceoreason, york says...
8:50pm Mon 19 May 08
Mr Laverack is about the least independent voice in the city. Consistently trying to use the media to further his own financial ends and the press continues to pander to his non sensical whims
ouserower, york says...
6:35pm Mon 19 May 08
Sharkey, York says...
6:35pm Mon 19 May 08
larkin, leeds says...
6:21pm Mon 19 May 08
Tom2 wrote:When ever have the council got it right with building of any kind in York?
"Geobbels Galloway" ha ha ha - apt enough as this monstrosity has all the charm of Colditz. When independent professionals make such scathing comments over the council, is there any wonder such cynicism exists over planning and development in York?
Its a shambles!
Tom2, York says...
6:11pm Mon 19 May 08
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A View, Ozzo says...
12:49pm Fri 23 May 08
Thus growing the influence & strength.