Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 1566

You're being sarcastic, cj, right? The new building is an atrocity - this is supposed to be a conservation area. The contractors employed oafish lowlife f**kwit labourers who knocked over residents' fences, destroyed private gardens' trees and shrubs, shouted and swore constantly, urinated when and where they felt like it (including off the scaffolding!), chucked their rubbish into neighbouring gardens and generally made the summer a misery for anyone living close to the site. I would like to thank the poor locals who put up with this and have had thousands knocked off the value of their homes as a result, a sacrifice they presumably felt was worthwhile in order that they and other residents can enjoy a modern health facility (with no in-patient beds or A&E) in our county town.

Reply ID 1582

Who's responsible for this dreadful concrete monolith? The windows are tiny! It looks like prison. Edited by - Steve on 30 Sep 2004 12:04:13 Edited by - Steve on 30 Sep 2004 12:04:31

Reply ID 1587

Probably the same one responsible for that cardboard box of so called "luxury apartments" opposite the Jet Garage in North Road/St Andrews street.. obviously went to the Stevie Wonder school of designing!

Reply ID 1632

also any reason for the attractive blue lights on top normally used to deter drug addicts from Mcdonalds toilets?

Reply ID 1636

LOL They must be working, Matthew, cos I've definitely not seen anyone 'chasing the dragon' on the roof of the new hospital. I have left a message at the health trust's HQ and asked that someone with responsibility for Hertford County site please visit this forum and reply to some of the points about the new building. Maybe they can do it in their spare time because you know how effective and efficient NHS managers are, I'm sure they are too busy to log on here during the day while they are implementing lifesaving improvements to the way our local clinical services are run.

Reply ID 1637

absolutely.. im sure the best is yet to come when they decide what to do with the area earmarked for residential development. You are right what you said about the conservation area, it was also very nice of the council to send out newsletters in the summer to remind people of their obligations towards tree preservation in these areas. Before paving an orchard for a car park.

Reply ID 1641

There was no hidden motive in my comments. I was stating my pleasure at the facility remaining in Hertford rather than being reduced to a glorified Medical Centre requiring the majority who use it to have to travel to QE2, or further afield, for OP appointments. I wonder how many of you had to use the present facility on a regular basis, or work in it? As for the strength of comments I am surprised these have not been aired in the Mercury,especially Rachel. I feel that even EHDC would have taken her points seriously. As for conservation area if you think that what the University did with the Mill was sensitive then I feel you destroy your own case.

Reply ID 1647

CJ, point taken but without wanting to be accused of nimbyism you obviously dont live on the border of this development. If you venture down to the Council offices you will be able to read hundreds of letters that make Rachels points seem rather tame. There was serious concerns raised at the time but these were all brushed aside. You can certainly allow the people that have seen significant property devaluation and have to suffer the awful blot on their environment a chance to vent a little steam.

Reply ID 1655

To be fair to the Trust, I have never raised any complaints or concerns with them. I sort of felt it was my civic duty to put up with the problems so we could have this important facility in Hertford. But on seeing cj's post actively praising the new building and the contractors' management of the site, I'm afraid the red mist descended and, as Matthew says, I vented a bit of steam on this forum. Which is kinda what it's for, innit. The Trust rang me straight back about the exterior lighting on the hospital. Obviously it's not appropriate for any individual to formally respond on this forum but they seem keen to listen to residents' concerns and be seen to be a good neighbour if they can. The blue lighting on the hospital building is not, as I thought, to kill insects (hey, it's a hospital, hygiene's important...) but is apparently aesthetic - you know , it's a distinctive landmark, people need to see where it is, it's supposed to look good. No-one has raised any concerns about it but if any residents (either locals or passers by who don't like the look of it) want to let the Trust know about their concerns, they'll certainly look into it and change it if necessary. So, fair play to them, whilst we can have a laff poking fun at the building on this forum, any serious concerns should be raised directly with the Trust.

Reply ID 1666

Now would this be the strange strip of neon looking blue I can suddenly see from my bedroom window? I have been wondering what it could be?

Reply ID 1727

Thrillingly, Wednesday's Hertford Times (which is basically the Welwyn Hatfield Times with a four-page wrap-around aimed at Hertford readers) has quoted my, Matthew's and Steve's comments from this forum, in an article headlined, "Hospital design slammed as 'dreadful' and 'atrocious' " !! The Trust responded by urging residents to reserve judgement until November when 'the beautiful new interior' will be available for all to see. I note that on Wednesday night, the blue lights were switched off... The Hertford Times invited readers to 'join the debate' online but displaying the standard of journalistic excellence we have come from to expect from our local hacks, gave a completely erroneous website address.

Reply ID 1729

Has this forum ever been advertised in the local press? I'm sure that would be a great way of getting more people talking on here. As Rachel has pointed out, it would appear that comments made on these pages do get noticed.

Reply ID 1740

well the blue light was back last night. and it seems to have got brighter... its beginning to resemble sleeping in a tanning salon at night. I am not sure that any amount of 'mature landscaping' is going to help a thousand feet of blue neon blend effortlessly into the environment. For a lot of the hospitals neighbours the rear of their homes is(was) their only refuge from the noise and pollution of the busy A414 running past the front of their homes. A situation which I can only assume will worsen when a pointless road crossing is added just further along the road. The hospital, I accept, is here to stay but a little consideration for the local residents who now cannot escape this intrusion both day and night would be welcome.

Reply ID 1742

HAHAHA - Sorry, but laugh is all I can do when I see the blue lights on the hospital. Is this Hertford or Las Vegas?

Reply ID 1796

~Rachel, would you know the correct person at the trust to contact regarding the hospital? Im going around the houses a bit..

Reply ID 1799

Matthew you might find this link useful as the poeple to write to: http://www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/trust_board.htm

Reply ID 1801

I was wondering what everyone was going on about until this evening I drove past the new building after dark. What drugs was the person who designed it on?

Reply ID 1804

thanks cj. I have indeed been told that the Chief Executive is the man to write to. Johnsmith, shocking isnt it? The whole area is now tinged with blue. I would urge anyone else who agrees that this is wholly unacceptable to make their opinions known.

Reply ID 1874

This is the second consecutive night that the blue light has not been on... dare we hope that the Trust has acted on the concerns of Matthew and others? Or is it just that a bulb's blown and like a set of cheap old fairy lights, the whole lot have gone out?! There was a letter in the Mercury a couple of weeks ago from a lady in North Road expressing concern about the light pollution and general urbanisation of a residential conservation area caused by the bright and intrusive blue light on the new hospital building. For the long-suffering locals, who have by and large good-naturedly put up with the construction of an ugly edifice yards away from their homes, the blue light represented the last straw, an arrogant two fingers from a Trust that has blighted their homes with an intrusive eyesore of a building. Maybe the Trust have listened to residents' concerns and turned off the blue light for good. If so, hats off to them. If not - well, I hadn't got round to using the formal complaints procedure, the public Board meetings and the local press to raise my concerns, but if you see the blue light back on, watch this space! [}:)] Something that makes me realise things could be even worse is that I often walk along Water Lane (I think it's called) which is the row of little old cottages behind St Andrews Church, near the White Horse in Castle Street and Hertford Castle. Virtually everyone reading this will have passed these nice old homes with their old-fashioned gardens as you drive eastbound along Gascoyne Way. Every time I walk past their front gates, with the traffic whizzing past inches away, the tyres at about eye level, I imagine what it must have been like for the residents when Gascoyne Way was built and how that desecration of their environment came about and who took responsibility for deciding the new duel carriageway should go there... So, yeah, things could be worse but unless we make an effort to make our views known like Matthew, they ain't gonna get any better. OK, I'm going. And yes, I probably shouldn't have finished that bottle of Rioja with me dinner [:)]

Reply ID 1882

Rachel........finishing it with your dinner is fine.............but did you start it with your dinner? And then follow it with a night cap?

Reply ID 1887

I'm a big supporter of new design, and I didn't see the fuss.....then I saw the lights one night. And I laughed my head off! HOW did that get planning permission!?

Reply ID 1914

Via the same committe who allowed 'The Ebe'? Or via the same government inspector who overturned the council and residents objections to building Maple Lodge on a flood plain even though the week before meeting the area was under a foot of flood water.

Reply ID 1915

Thanks for the comments Rachel, I would gladly by a bottle of Rioja for everyone if they displayed such passion! Anyway we have some progress. Some credit is due to East and North Herts trust, they have been both helpful and cooperative in response to the issues raised. Whether this is ultimately productive only time will tell. As the previous postings remind us, helpfullness and cooperation do not necessarily lead to thoughtful and logical planning decisions... What we do have though is an Open evening on Wednesday the 3rd November to discuss any issues that have arisen from the new building. This is to be held on site in one of the existing buildings between 6.30 and 8.30. Now this is addressed to the neighbouring properties, but being community minded people Im sure any local resident that is confronted with this development would be welcome to express constructive comments. alternatively post here and I will be sure to pass any views on. With immediate effect the blue lights on top of the building are to remain off this week and the proposed hours of operation will be outlined on Wednesday. Lets hope some common sense prevails. I will keep you posted.

Reply ID 1921

why only this week? wouldn't the money spent on a purely cosmetic exercise have been better spent INSIDE the building?

Reply ID 1931

Open evening..........I live a golf shot away from the hospital and can see the lights from my window (not right now of course as they are off). Has this open evening been adequately advertised? Perhaps a neon sign proclaiming the date and venue would work!

Reply ID 1938

Not one of my golf shots or we'd be neighbours! This open evening appears to be for neighbouring residents only, not sure if they appreciate my declaring it to the town but unfortunately the way the building has been completed makes it an issue for everyone. Ewoowar can you not take those lights out with a good 5 iron?

Reply ID 1951

Since the eerie blue first appeared on the hospital, I have wondered why we have to endure the constant glow. Is it there to help easyjet flights on their final approach to Stansted? Does it enable users to find it in the dark if they become disorientated in Hertford?Does it deter the bats which like to circle in this area. I can think of no sensible reason to bathe everything in a 100 metre radius with a blue wash. I can see it in Riversmeet , it just looks surreal.

Reply ID 1952

These days people pay a fortune for garden lighting as evening barbeques and garden parties are becoming more and more popular. It must be really good having your backgarden swathed in blue light all night long, courtesy of the health authority. A good idea might be to change the colour of the lights however, possibly on a weekly basis to give more variety and to create different moods. I also think an electronic notice board, with relevant health authority statistics might also be another useful addition. It is about time Hertford became more modern and high tec.

Reply ID 1953

I think the light looks great. However it is completely unsuitable for the hospital overlooking residential properties.

Reply ID 1963

The blue light had been turned off for a while, but I notice coming home from work today that it is back on..... There is meant to be a meeting on Wednesday 3rd October.... does anybody know where it is being held and at what time?

Reply ID 1965

Re. Open meeting on 3rd. Not very open if it's meant just for the neighbouring properties. And yes, the light is back on. Perhaps they had a whip round for 50 pence pieces for the meter over the weekend.

Reply ID 1966

well it certainly should be a lot more open. its 6.30-8.30 at the post graduate building on the hospital site ( to the right of the existing hospital building). Although its an absolute nightmare for us neighbours this issue has serious repercussions for the town as a whole so I have no reservations in urging anyone with a view to come along. I thought we had some sort of a compromise and the lights were going to stay off at least until some sort of explanation was given but it would seem that was too much to ask for. I may have to take back my 'helpful' and 'cooperative' assessment.

Reply ID 1967

I believe the hospital issue is serious enough to warrant a section on the Discover Hertford home page. Perhaps a photograph of the hospital by night might give those who are yet to experience it a better understanding of the problem. It would also be a good place to advertise the open meeting but would leave little time.

Reply ID 1971

I feel very, very sorry for the people with properties backing onto this atrocity, the fact that the Health Trust can get away with this beggars belief. I fully intend to attend that meeting, it doesn't only affect the people with properties backing onto the hospital, but it affects everyone in the area. The view from the Hertingfordbury Road is no longer a line of rooves, but a line of rooves with a hideous blue light stretching over the top of them, it can even be seen from West Street. This has the same visual impact as the Gascoigne Way car park and Sovereign House, which are other structures that curiously got their planning permission. I would also be interested to know how much it costs to run those lights, whatever it is, I am certain the money could be used more effectively. The civil servants in the planning department need to be taken to task over this, they cannot be allowed to permit this to be done to our town.[:(!]

Reply ID 1973

I am sure I read in The Mercury recently of Mayor Ruffles disapproval of several planning applications for the old council depot. Is he on a planning committee and, if so, would he not have been interested in the hospital plans as I believe it overlooks his house.

Reply ID 1975

I believe he's on the Planning Development Control Committee but I don't think he was a member when the hospital plans were approved.

Reply ID 1976

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ewoowar
would he not have been interested in the hospital plans as I believe it overlooks his house.

---

Reply ID 1978

Kate is correct, I know this from a previous issue we had problems with, concerning V&S Scaffolding, Councillor Ruffles couldn't formally say anything at the planning meeting because he could see it from his house. I have no doubt that if he could have done something, he would have.

Reply ID 1981

Hey, Wizkid.........do you mean V&S of Warehams Lane?

Reply ID 1982

Yes I do. We had a lot of problems with them.

Reply ID 1985

Nowt to do with their planning permission for a car park that turned into a a storage area for scaffolding or their green shipping containers or the way they moved their fence into the Maple Lodge garden by several yards or the way they removed the trees by the river.........per chance?

Reply ID 1987

Yep, that's it. Finally they have done something about it, and hopefully when the trees have grown it will be screened off.

Reply ID 1988

Do I know you?

Reply ID 1995

Ewoowar. I'm 99% certain you do..... is it CS with a cat called Daisy. [:)]

Reply ID 1996

Is anyone going to the meeting this evening and if so I'd be grateful if they could report back

Reply ID 1997

Yes, Steve, we're going and I will report back here on the issues that affect the wider community.

Reply ID 1998

Wizkid...........might be. Suffice to say I have a new password now though!

Reply ID 1999

I was at the meeting. There were about 12 people there. The representatives of the Hospital Trust were Mr. Harman and I didn't get the name of the other representative. The reason the blue light is there, is because there is a requirement that 1% of the budget for public projects has to be spent on aesthetic, architectural embelishments. Unfortunately, the embelishment that was chosen in this case was the blue light. The Hosptital Trust representatives were trying to get us to compromise in our views over this issue, but as we were informed that the light was either on or off in its entirety. Thus compromise was a little bit difficult. Although, it was suggested that it could be turned on in daylight hours and off at dusk (if it was absolutely necessary to have it on at all). The Trust representatives said they would listen to us, and that they wanted to be good neighbours, they did not however, undertake to turn the light off, they equally didn't say they would leave it on.... so I don't really know what the result of all this is. Apparently, there are people in Hertford who think the blue light looks good (I suspect none of them live in the immediate vicinity of the hospital). The people at the meeting, that they will inform us of all future meetings regarding the site, and I will happily put details of any future meetings onto this forum. If they are not convinced of the strength of feeling about this matter, I don't think they will take us too seriously. [:(]

Reply ID 2000

That's a great picture Ewoowar.... are you who I think you are?

Reply ID 2003

Well, the blue light was off again yesterday night (as you can normally see it from Port Vale!) Thanks for the report.

Reply ID 2004

Re. "1% of the budget for public projects has to be spent on aesthetic, architectural embelishments", I believe that makes it an £85,000 light bulb. And did they factor in the running costs?

Reply ID 2007

welcome to democracy, the trust can completely ignore what residents say but still claim that they consulted the local community. The light does not affect me but i find it quite shocking that so much money was wasted on this.

Reply ID 2033

I am not at all surprised, that blasted £89,000 blue light is back on again. Clearly the views of everyone at last night's meeting have not been taken into consideration at all, we should resort to plan B..... has anyone got any ideas for a plan B?????[:(!]

Reply ID 2034

Sorry, this is going to be a long post, even by my windbag standards. Wizkid has summed up last night's meeting well. There were issues about landscaping, fences, tree cover, car-park lighting and lit-up windows that mainly affect very local residents so I won't elaborate on them but there were two main issues that might interest the readers of this forum and the wider community. One was the fence on Cross Road and the fact that it has blocked an all-too-rare view of open land. The Trust said they’d look into that. No pun intended. The other main topic of discussion was the ‘aesthetic’ blue light round the top of the building. This will be on when the hospital opens later this month, from dusk until 11PM. The reason given for the 11PM cut-off (rather than any earlier) was that the local GP out-of-hours service HEMS (Hertford Emergency Medical Service) will use the building until then. I am seeking clarification from the Primary Care Trust of the use HEMS intend to make of the building. Currently, HEMS doctors and drivers change shift at 11pm, but they don’t change the service, it runs right through the night until 8AM so I can’t see why the Trust invoked HEMS as a reason to turn the lights off at an arbitrary time of 11PM and not before. Just to emphasise one of the points Wizkid made about the light being all or nothing, it is sobering to note that although it is over three decades since the human race put a man on the moon, apparently it is beyond the wit of this building’s designers to enable the lights to be dimmed or turned off only in some areas where they are particularly intrusive. Hertford is not Harlow or Stevenage, thank Christ, and the fact that even passers-by with no axe to grind about light pollution in their properties are appalled to see the neon blue dominating the skyline of their county town speaks for itself. The Trust emphasised they didn’t want to take a vote or encourage a petition to illustrate that there are more people against the light than for it but in the next breath they would say that some people like it and it is designed to be striking and bold. Which no-one would argue with – but it is so clearly not suitable for a residential area in an old market town, I am amazed that it was given planning permission (which apparently it was) or even mooted in the first place. The architect must be p*ssing himself laughing that his outré embellishment unexpectedly sailed past our dullard planners. The Trust representatives cannot have relished the prospect of a meeting with indignant local residents so it was good that they organised the meeting. They said they read this forum so I'd like to say thank you to them for demonstrating an open, neighbourly approach, holding the open evening and giving me the chance to meet other people who feel the same way that I do - they have not heard the last from us.

Reply ID 2036

We really cannot let them get away with this..... there really needs to be a plan B. I get the feeling that they will not turn the lights off because it would be an admission of an £89,000 blunder... they have to say it has its admirers. The answer to the problem was given by Mr. Harman, he made it clear he didn't want a petition, so I think that is exactly what must be done. If a petition could be drawn up and taken to various roads around the hospital, and the original sent to the Hospital Trust and copies sent to Mark Prisk, The Mercury and the Planning Department, it would be hard to ignore. I also am not sure how many Hertfordians regularly use this web site, so it would probably be a good idea for everyone to write in to the Mercury. One thing I am interested in, and again wasn't clear about last night. I presume the local residents were consulted throughout the planning process, and were given the opportunity to see the plans, but I got the impression that nothing was said of the blue light in the planning process. If this was not discussed, nor their intentions made clear, then how valid is the planning permission for these? I would certainly be happy to petition the people in Riversmeet to get the ball rolling on this. [:(!]

Reply ID 2037

Sorry, it's me again. I have just noticed they have now gone off.... I presume at 6.30... maybe that is their compromise.

Reply ID 2039

First of all re tonights brief showing of the lights, my neighbour informs me he was contacted by telephone to warn him that the contractors had planned an hour of testing again tonight and didnt want to create the impression that it was a defiant gesture. They should now be remaining off, i hope, until the hospital opens in a couple of weeks time, during which time a compromise is ideally achieved. My take on the meeting is that it was predominantly a PR exercise. Those that were there will acknowledge a 'two tone' approach from the representatives and I dont think I have to spell out who was who in this good cop bad cop routine. As Rachel points out there were a number of what I can only politely describe as 'contradictions' in what was reported to us and what we know to be true. As for plan B, I hope they are in no doubt that there will be one. I can see plan C and plan D also. There are numerous routes this can take and none of them will do the trust any favours at all. This can be solved amicably. Someone has to admit they made a mistake with this inappropriate feature. The money is gone, no amount of making the local residents miserable and destroying the look and feel of people entering our town will bring it back. Theyve got the opportunity to do the right thing. Lets see if they take it.

Reply ID 2040

just a quick follow up, i did in fact also receive a considerate call from the trust to warn me of the lights coming on. It was in fact to enable the planning department to review the situation. Their comments will be keenly awaited..

Reply ID 2044

Page three of today’s Mercury covers the blue light debate, quoting extensively from this forum (some weeks after their rivals The Hertford Times did the same thing) and also quoting some people who like the light, including someone who thought that having her garden flooded with blue light added to the security of her home, which is an interesting point of view that I had not considered. A Trust spokesman whom the Mercury spoke to indicates that they are looking into a compromise, i.e. the possibility of switching the light off before 11PM. So taking that with the information from Matthew that planners were looking at the light last night, I think we should wait and see what, if any, changes the Trust make to their initially proposed hours of operation of the blue light before we start Plan B. Therefore, Wizkid, I suggest we hang fire on the petition for now. Having worked in management in the public sector for most of my career, I can say with some authority that I know the most effective way for members of the public to get a good response to concerns and that is to simply write to your MP with a copy to the relevant Secretary of State and any newspaper you think might bite, preferably national. Trust me; nothing gets us ‘grey suits’ moving faster than a phone call from Whitehall or Fleet Street. So my suggestion for Plan B, should we need a Plan B, is a letter to Mark Prisk MP, who is well acquainted with our Mayor, Councillor Peter Ruffles. As you know, Cllr Ruffles home’s proximity to the hospital precludes him from expressing any formal opinion about the hospital development and he has been scrupulous about behaving properly in this matter but I would guess that his fellow Tories and friends know as well as his neighbours what his personal view is. And finally on the blue light: would Hertford Civic Society have a view on the aesthetic appropriateness of the blue light? Do any members read this?

Reply ID 2075

Sorry to grind the axe - I love the new lights, OK, I dont live within visible distance of the Hospital and only see them on my way home but I think the new building and lights look really modern and dare i say, funky??? I understand for those of you who live near enough to see them they could be a bit of an eyesore if thats not your thing. I would MUCH MUCH rather live near that then the old crumbly buildings of the - is it about to collapse - QE2 or the hideous "Hospital" that is Lister!

Reply ID 2099

Well done for expressing another view, Emma. I think your words 'modern' and 'funky' describe the hospital lights well but my point is this: how appropriate are modern, funky and very visible lights for a residential area in a centuries-old market town like Hertford?

Reply ID 2102

The thing is, Hertford has to move on................. How appropriate does the Swiss Re gherkin look sitting behind the Tower of London??? Okay, no blue light but the same type of issue - it is nice to have the old buildings but this surely wont be the last "modern" building round here and is something we are just going to have to get used to.

Reply ID 2103

No Emma I'm afraid I don't agree either. For a historic town like Hertford and it's residents, this doesn't suit at all - the council have many times made shops/bars/restaurants in the town take down 'inappropriate' lighting like this - and in an area where you would perhaps expect to find this type of thing. Having this light in a residential area where people have spent a lot of money on their properties, I can only sympathise with them and the effect it will have on anyone trying to sell!

Reply ID 2106

Do you work for the Planning Department Emma?

Reply ID 2118

Its understandably a contentious issue. If the blue light was never fitted and the money been spent on further hospital equipment, would people be a little more welcoming to such a facilty ?

Reply ID 2119

Exactly my point all along Frenchie, the money should have gone inside the building. I can see your point Emma, but the Gherkin is in the middle of a business and financial district, not surrounded by houses. If plan B is writing to our MP, how about Plan C. We all line up with catapults and stones and volley fire on command.

Reply ID 2124

Plan C sounds good fun..... it could be the replacement for Medieval night. It could be quite a sociable event excellent idea carlos fandango.

Reply ID 2133

Thinking about Plan B for a sec. One would assume that our glorious MP actually shows his face round town once in a while (when he's not claiming expenses naturally) or even checks out the forum once in a blue moon. So why no comment from him already?

Reply ID 2135

I guess he is waiting to be contacted.

Reply ID 2138

quote:

---

Originally posted by carlos fandango
Thinking about Plan B for a sec. One would assume that our glorious MP actually shows his face round town once in a while (when he's not claiming expenses naturally) or even checks out the forum once in a blue moon. So why no comment from him already?

---

Reply ID 2155

Okay I think I will shut up on this one now - obviously you are only allowed an opinion if you live within viewing distance.

Reply ID 2156

Don't be like that Emma. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. It would be boring on here if everyone agreed all the time.

Reply ID 2163

Emma - of course you're entitled to your opinion, but you shouldn't assume everyone will agree with you - or more to the point get in a strop when they do disagree with you. The varied opinions are what keeps the topics interesting and worth reading - please don't stop posting! For the record, I hadn't really thought of the lights as modern and funky until your post, because I couldn't see any further than the "it shouldn't be there" argument. I now see it in a different, er, light, as it were - even though I still don't think it should be there.

Reply ID 2167

indeed. the first time i drove past them i thought "cool". only when i saw the discussion here i realised the problem...and cost which is my big beef with them.

Reply ID 2171

A strip of blue neon is not cool and funky. Its what boy racers put on their stereos and the bottom of their gti's. I have a strong interest and enthusiasm for both architecture and design and this feature is the work of a lazy and uninspired architect who paid no regard to context and space within which he was working. My turn of the century victorian house is full of contemporary design but I would not expect my tastes to impose upon the local community.

Reply ID 2173

as someone who works for the nhs, i spend my life deciding how to cut costs left right and centre. it really pi**es me off that thousands of pounds can be spend on a light that there is no need for, when every other area of the nhs is strapped for cash. what's happening to this world???

Reply ID 2174

Maybe the architect is a boy racer [;)]

Reply ID 2177

I didn't mean it to sound as stroppy, I realise it reads that way. I will not stop posting and of course I think everyone should have their own opinion. ..................still think it looks funky...............!

Reply ID 2185

I quite like the building - although it does seem to be slightly remeniscent of the 1960s concrete block type architecture.

Reply ID 2273

I have received a letter today from Mr. Harman subsequent to the meeting that was held a couple of Wednesdays ago. The part of the letter that will be of interest to people on the forum is:- After a site visit at the end of last week, when the lights were turned on for a brief period for inpsection, the planning office has declared that the roofline lighting systems in its current state is not suitable for a building situated in an area with significant numbes of residential dwellings. The Trust has agreed, therefore, not to turn the lights ononce the hospitral opens to patients fromt he afternoon of 16 November 2004. The planning office has suggested, however, that if the Trust's contracgtors can find a way to baffle the lights so that the level of lighting emitted is reduced signficantly fromthe current levels, then the whole issue may be revisited at a future date. While our contractors have been asked to look into this issue, we do not know whether such a solution will be possible. Even if it were, clearly the Trust would not expect to bear the cost of such an intervention. Whatever the outcome of these discussions, however, I am happy to make a commitment to you that we will bring any proposal to the attention of our neighbouring residents before making a final decision on the atter. This all sounds very hopeful, but we do need to keep an eye on things though.

Reply ID 2274

sorry about the typos[V]

Reply ID 2285

so however much it cost to put the lights up in the first place has now been wasted [V] good to know that my council taxes are being well spent. (although I believe the new hospital has been privately financed by selling off the old hospital for development[^])