Renovation not demolition

Published on 11th January 2007 in Letters

Sir - Cllr Beryl Beck-Taylor (Goole Times, January 4) calls for the ERYC to act now, and issue Compulsory Purchase Orders on houses in Richard Cooper and Phoenix Street, presumably so that the homes can be quickly demolished.

Is Cllr Beck-Taylor speaking as a Goole Town councillor or as an East Riding one? Cllr Taylor's current enthusiasm for demolition, presumably with her ERYC hat on, (she has sold her home in Phoenix Street to ERYC) is noticeable, while she as a member of Goole Town Council voted, as a body, to look at "sensible" renovation options.

Surprisingly, when Cllr Beck-Taylor lived in Phoenix Street she was always reluctant to speak up for renovation, claiming "conflict of interest", but having sold her house to ERYC she seemingly can't wait for the two streets to be demolished and now speaks avidly on behalf of ERYC in support of their demolition plan.

If Cllr Beck-Taylor was acting in the best interests of the people and stakeholders of Shuffleton she should know that if ERYC are allowed to proceed to demolition the only alternative housing at present being offered to residents of the two threatened streets is Eastgate flats. Having taken ERYC's monies I wonder whether Cllr Beck-Taylor is the best person to speak on this matter.

She should be aware that recent correspondence suggests that ERYC has no intention of issuing CPOs at the moment, and even if CPOs were to be issued tomorrow, there is very little chance of any progress towards demolition within the foreseeable future because of the inevitable public enquiry, potential appeals etc. Any new housing on this site - supposing ERYC win the public inquiry - would not happen in the next two to three years.

Perhaps rather than looking to demolish the streets Cllr Beck-Taylor should be campaigning for renovation, which would put at least 100 affordable homes very quickly back into the Goole housing market. The fact that there is a very creditable alternative option to demolition, available now, seems to have escaped her.

Alan Wilson

Boothferry Road, Goole