Fascism lives !
 

Following on from the Accrington Masterplan thread: I noticed these two "monstrous carbuncles" while out and about in Accy today. The first set is on Blackburn Road in the Project Phoenix area the second set is at the top of Church Street in the centre of town. It looks as though the Health Fascists are living up to their name. Can you imagine anything less warm, inviting, friendly and reassuring and more like a factory than these two excressences? What are they on in the planning department? Why did they think that these two proto Riech Chancellories would be an attractive addition to the borough? Good Grief, before you know it we will all have to have our blood group tattooed on the inside of our arms, just like the SS had.

Set One
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1143/...e0fa291d_m.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1175/...ee27100a_m.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/...286a6bb9_m.jpg

Set Two
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1028/...2c422067_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/...6219d144_m.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/...3b616697_m.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/...7635234b_m.jpg

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Ya' not impressed then !

Don't mind the one on Blackburn Road, the natural stone is a little more inviting and does give you the impression of efficiency and professionalism inside, however, the red brick building does remind you of some 'Stalag' (is that the correct word ?). Suppose with all the nori brick piling up at Hansons, have to do summat with it though.

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I never thought I'd be disagreeing with you AB but here goes.

They are two wonderfully simplistic buildings and will look even better when the Council puts the finishing touches to them, i.e. the metal shutters, (if they can afford to go that far) otherwise the sheets of plywood to protect the windows when they find no Doctors want to move in and wish to protect them from vandalism when they are abandoned.

Also no-one around here can get an appointment for a Doctor in less than two weeks so this idea of blood groups is a none starter because we would never get any results back, better just to tattoo it's a sort of red colour and leave it at that! :o

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and that will make you feel better when you can't get an appointment, or for that matter a repeat prescription.....call me a cynic, but there are bound to be queues and some degree of chaos.

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I don't believe that bigger is better.

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I was told about these Health Centres about four years ago by a girl who was working in the Eagle Street Surgery. The idea behind them sounded quite good, they are meant to cut waiting time for specialist appointments. As she told me each GP has an area in which they have specialised as part of their training. I don't know whether that is correct maybe someone from the medical proffession can correct me if it isn't. Anyway back to why they were built according to this girl. If you had say a problem with your ears rather than have to wait for an appointment at the ENT clinic your doctor can refer you to the GP who has the right qualifications within these centres. That is the theory as I was told it, whether it will work when put into practice we have yet to find out.

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And when you do get to see a doctor it is like they are doing you a great favour.....and they can't wait to get rid of you.....having said that, I try my very best not to go to any of them.

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Very rarely go to our GP but if it is necessary there is only one who gives you any time. The upshot being everyone wants to see her and she only does two mornings a week. So then you find it really difficult to get to see a GP who you have faith in. Very frustating.

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Thank goodness for old posts this saves me typing it all out again! :)

Bottom of lonsdale st

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Thanks for that news to me:D

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All of which is all very well but why are these buildings so large and why so brutal, crass, insensitive and just plain horrible?

Why does Accrington always seem to get landed with the bargain basement stuff when it comes to architecture? Well, not just architecture, anything really! Totally bereft of style, elegance and beauty. I think we should be told who is responsible for these things and what their qualification for the job was. They are clearly by the same hand.

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the one up church street would remind me of a "New Prison" if there were any:rolleyes: blackburn road is a slight improvement, as for working how has been described. you have more chance of being struck by lightening. as for the architecture i,m with A-B on this i will say Abysmal cos its a family forum.;)

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I must agree,I think the Paradise Street one should have retained the former buildings stonework then it would have blended in with the other buildings.
How long before they clear the surrounding streets some boarded up houses already.

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But they're going to be filled with 'art', which I believe was put out to tender, which Auschwitz and Belsen didn't do.:D

I do think they overpower surrounding buildings, and aren't up to much architecturally.

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How can you put "Art" out to tender??? Is it to be bought by the foot now?

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You've been away for a while A-B and come back even more miserable than before! I realise these buildings aren't exactly stylish or classy but for goodness sake, at least they are being built. Accrington is getting two new, state of the art medical centres. Wouldn't you rather a medical centre spent it's money on medical equipment rather than ornate architecture?

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a simple question gayle as i think no-one objects to building them, WHY could they not have suitable architecture? or should we just touch our forlocks and be grateful.:rolleyes: P.S. not a red brick eyesore.

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Come, come, you of all people, as someone who studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art, know that art has been sold by the foot, ever since those Renaissance factories knocked it out for the Church in Rome, or any other burgher rich enough to buy it.;)

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As for the purpose for which the buildings were intended, my spies on the street tell me that many health workers, whom it was hoped would relocate there, aren't going after all.;)

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Dont knock it we owe a lot to the Renaissance somewhat. So what if it was a tad crappy in some cases it did keep people occupied. :eek:

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I'm not knocking it. It was art that was sold though, to a select band of rich patrons who could afford it, and in some cases it was put out to tender, just like the new health centres are doing.

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Better off with street artists it will be cheaper and look a damned site better. :D

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...or performance artists instead of receptionists.:D

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Depends on what kind of performance artists. ;) And if we cant have them how about ones that are actualy human and have a personality not what we have at the mo. Mind you I think they are trained at the Little Hitler finishing school to be as bad as some of them are.

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most at peel house i find very helpful, but ONE graduated at the Eva Braun finishing school as i found out the other week.

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Why should we "just be grateful" they are even being built at all? Why can't we expect the best? Ideas cost nothing. Imagination costs nothing. Why do we always have to put up with second and third and fourth rate, just because the idiots who are designing them are too far up their own backsides to care about the people the buildings are intended for or the site for which they are intended.

These are crappy, derivative buildings, they do not fit in with the areas in which they are sited and they look more like prisons than health centres - good grief they even have the anti-scaling devices that are a common feature of prison walls. The idea that any building is better than no building is a sadly flawed argument, as well you know Gayle. I credit you with enough taste and discretion to be able to recognise bad architecture when you see it. Please don't make me reconsider my opinion.

And as for buying "art" by tender, I have always been of the opinion that if you buy cheap you must buy twice.

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Thought the whole idea of these centres was to cut down on waiting times for referal to a consultant. From reading the posts on here it now sounds like we have two white elephants which very few if any GP's are moving to. Can somebody please reassure me that money has not been wasted once again? Surely there was some discussion before building work began!!

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I just find it frustrating that you're knocking things before it's even finished and before the service there starts. All right, I agree, they're not very inspiring buildings and they don't impress or engage me as stunning pieces of architecture - they're big boxes! But the areas that they've been placed in aren't exactly renowned for their stunning architecture either - both Blackburn Rd and Paradise St are a bit scruffy to start off with. They are clean and simple buildings containing a medical service that this town needs.

And you're having a go at the service that they will provide before they've even started.

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:( Sorry Gayle but that is the most lame argument I have ever heard. Blackburn Rd is part of Project Phoenix so by your logic we should expect low standard regeneration there because what is being replaced was scruffy. Shouldn't we be aspiring to something better? What price any of the ideas put forward to improve the town centre if the planners merely look at what is there now and decide that it's grim so they had better put something equally grim alongside of or instead of it?

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And If Paradise St is scruffy it can hardly be blamed on the residents as there are only two, perhaps HBC should get the cleaners round more often.

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speaking of all this does anyone know yet , who is moving into blackburn rd premises??
and im dreading peel house moving to paradise street, i think ill have to make a appointment to see my doctor now in case i need to see him next year!!:rolleyes:



oh i think theres nowt wrong with the building (blackburn rd), it just dont look right in the area cuz its a dump!!:Banane28:;)

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A bit of a weak statement but you can't expect areas of outstanding beauty when you have non-stop traffic all the time. I was going to say that the new building was in keeping with the other new/newish buildings but on looking the one at the other end of Paradise Street is actually stone or stone effect. At the end of the day if the health centres do the job they were built for that is the best we can hope for.

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Maybe the building that was there originally could have been adapted for use as a health centre. As I was going into town I can spot plenty of old buildings that are now being used as offices and even some that are now flats. The Globe Centre was a factory at one time as was the council offices. So with a bit of forward planning the old Broughtons factory could maybe have been saved.

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Hear hear Gayle.:)

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When you are in need of medical attention all that matters is that these health centres are clean, efficient, well staffed and able to provide a reliable service. It really isn't important how aesthetically pleasing it is.

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Often it is cheaper to demolish and rebuild - especially when the building needs specialist medical areas - and where it is designed with hygiene in mind (hopefully)

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Just seen what has been done in Bacup to create a health centre from an existing old mill and stay in keeping with the conservation area.

Bacup Health Centre

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That looks just the job.

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I like the look of it. It is a great way to blend old and new. :D

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Ugly white elephants it is then !
I can tell you that Peel House Medical Centre will be relocating to the Paradise Street one ; last date I heard was early November and so far 1 ( yes 1 ! ) Doctor has signed up to move to the Blackburn Rd one.
He will be rattling around on his own until the heathcare trust offer more realistic property values to the other doctors who own their own surgeries and aren't daft enough to accept the offers they have already had.

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The Eagle Street Surgery is moving to Blackburn Road as well, I would have thought that things like this would have been sorted before work on these super centres began. Another mistake IMO not knowing whether GP's were going to agree to move into them.

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We have been told it's just Dr Manjooran moving ; it's a right old mess really.

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A friend of mine works at the Eagle Street one, they are definetly moving.:)

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Now this is where you fall down Gale, this is a very short sighted view of the area I find the use of the word "scruffy" offensive, not only to myself but to the people who live in the said area, I expect a more mature opinion from someone who represents Accrington on the Midd Penine Arts. These properties were built in or around 1840 and have stood the test of time, unlike you, the tradesmen that errected them had only basic tools. They were bullt to house people, not to be pleasing to the eye, as you live in a house not outside looking at it as you must do. The area may not be 'posh' but it is as yet safe, and the people of the Paradise St are of the 'old fsshioned' type who take in your washing if the rain comes. Stanhill is welcome to you.

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First of all you've spelt my name wrong. Secondly, the use of the word 'scruffy' was a bit flippant - I am allowed to be flippant you know. Thirdly, as my signature says, the views in my posts are mine and mine alone - I do not come on here to represent Accrington or Mid Pennine Arts.

I don't live in Stanhill!!!!


My point was, that those new buildings are clean and tidy but not architecturally exciting, they suit the area that they are being put in because that area would not suit a building that has cornices, columns or fancy ornate architecture.

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I seem to remember that the PCT held a few consultation meetings when the centres were first muted.They even provided a very expensive looking brochure pack!
As I said earlier I would have preferred the stone look for the Paradise building,rumour has it that the take up for future occupancy is in a healthy state.

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Stone would have looked better bearing in mind the architecture in the area. Now we just need to hope that the centres provide the standard of health care we all expect and deserve.

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Thats Game Set and Match in my book,it blends in well, whats so bloody hard about that? and costly?:rolleyes:

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What could have been done but wasn't;)

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Exactly, but we should be grateful??:p

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For what? Two buildings both NHS, one stone/stone effect and one red brick on the same street!!!!:confused::eek:

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some seem to think thats all that matters.:confused:

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Good point. They don't even 'blend in' with each other!!!

Apparently we should be thankful for what we've got and not expect any better because we are not worthy. :rolleyes: If other towns can aspire to something better why the flippin heck can't we? It's that sort of apathy which drags us deeper and deeper down. And no Gayle, I'm not expecting Versailles, the Taj Mahal or pillars and pallisades, just something a little more sympathetic than 'boxes made of tickey tackey'.

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I don't like this idea that we should be grateful for whatever meagre crumbs fall our way. There has been too much of that in the past, that is why Accrington looks the way that it does.

I don't expect the Guggenheim Centre or the Lloyds Building, but I do expect something a tad more adventurous than a pair of basic, bog standard, office blocks of the sort that has blighted the country for the past forty years.

Surely the whole point of regeneration is to raise the standard of an area, not drag it further down. I thought that the council were mad keen on encouraging tourist to the area? From what I have seen, thus far, that is an expectation that is destined to be thwarted.

And if they cannot get something a simple as a health centre right, what hope is there for the rest of the town?

These are landmark sites, they demand landmark buildings.

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I doubt if this is HBC'c fault; these are LIFT scheme buildings under the auspices of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT. I suppose that HBC could have knocked back the buildings on the basis they were not compatible with the immeadiate area or that the structures themselves lacked architectural merit. To have done so would have seriously disrupted both the budget and process of the PCT and would no doubt have led to serious criticism of the council by interests within the local health sector.

What is interesting is that nationally, these may be among the last of the LIFT schemes; like the major PFI hospital projects, managers within the NHS are finally doing their sums and realising the long term expense (involving unitary payments over 25 years or so) of these developments; indeed, at the primary level the latest thinking appears to be that we need to get fat-cat GPs out of their expensive 9 to 5 surgeries and back into the communities where they belong. One line of thought is to get 'em set up in the supermarkets, so that when you're buying your fat burger, salt-laden pizza and under sized microwaveable lamb shank in ASDA on a sunday afternoon, you can see your local Doc and get the blood pressure checked at check-out.

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There was something on the goggle box recently were they put 3 GP's out on the streets in Manchester and had them roaming. Had to laugh when they were shown carrying a sign that they were doctors and a nice bright red bag. :D

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Oh, I see, last in the queue, again, what a surprise - NOT!

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I've been around Accy today so thought I'd take a better look. One thing that struck me was that they were both red brick - surely in Accrington that's perfect as it's well known for red brick!

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There are two NHS buildings on Paradise Street, one is stone/stone effect and the other is red brick. The stone one blends in with the other buildings in the area and the red brick stands out like a sore thumb IMHO.

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Yes, of course Gayle .. and as, in my earlier post, a shame that reduncies are being made at the factory due to stockpiling and building work down, blah, blah, blah; so was good they used them (only presuming like .. could have been imported). As a gal with an artistic flair, you must admit that if could have been more welcoming though, irrespective of the services it may be hoping to offer.

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They are placing pieces of art outside and inside of them.

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Perhaps just as well, Willow, as could have finished up looking like Legoland .. :eek:

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I really don't think a few pieces of art are going to hide the fact that we now have a big red brick building in an area where the architecture is predominantly built from stone. Perehaps a bit more thought could have gone in before building work commenced. Now we just have to hope that the GP's move into them and they fulfill the purpose they were built for.

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And here endeth the ? lesson.

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To my knowledge, there are no boarded up buildings on Paradise Street, there may be some on Wellington and Cotton St, but these should soon be re-ocupied. When the Health Centers open, as the created job's that require accomodation will take them. Thus enancing the area's reputation away from some derogatory remarks, 'scruffy':p

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Who's selecting the art not Midd-Pennine Ass for the Arts I hope:eek:

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That's totally uncalled for Ianto. I would never be that rude to you or about anything that pertains to you in that way.

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A certain member described these organisations as the Mid Penine Ass andthe like as, "SPONGE ART, so I am not alone in my views. This is not apersonal attack on you Gayle as your function in gaining grants is to be commended, like the Godfather said, "Nothing Personal";)

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I'm unaware of anyone else calling it that but I can guess who it was. But even if someone else did call it that why does that make it right?

It is a personal attack on me because I come on here to inform you of what's going on. Everyone knows who I work for and so I will say again - you were rude and it was uncalled for!

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You were aware of where we lived before you called this area "SCRUFFY" so you started it. This is a slight on many good people, think before you post in future.
no more correspondence will be undertaken on this subject by me, so have the last word by all means:mad:

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Why so defensive? Actually, it was my husband who coined the term "sponge art," particularly when addressing the government's use of taxpayers' money in order to fund artists - most of whom could not sell their work on the open market. If they can find a private benefactor, fine. But we should not be larding up public buildings, particularly with the kind of rubbish one so often sees these days. Not likely to make one feel any better when waiting to see a doctor.

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I am more concerned that health service buildings be hygenic and easy to clean. I have only once visited the new Blackburn hospital and was amazed by the massive carpeted reception area - must have cost a bomb!
It looks more homely than vynil/lino would but cannot be kept as clean.
Sculpture and paintings in health buildings have the same effect on me - why should we pay extra to ensure they are kept clean (if in fact they are so kept)

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One thing that appears to be absent from the Blackburn Road health centre is a pedestrian crossing on the main road - or at least I did not notice one when I came down there last friday. A large number of senior citizens and women with kids will be crossing that road to access the centre so I would have assumed that the local PCT would have joined up with HBC or County to have one placed - possibly even two.

An appropriate site would appear to be by the sign that says "Accy welcomes careful drivers". Some of you may have missed this, because it is bent over after a vehicle ran into it.

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If we lost our cynical side we would never get nice surprises. :D