Britain from the air

[LordThornber]

Some of you may enjoy this, from the BBC.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11427007

 

Martyn

[Bulletguy]

Very interesting.

 

Though I would like to have seen more shots of housing estates which display exactly how British build and live. Clumps of tiny little houses crammed together if not on top of each other, bearing close similarities to battery chicken farms......then mile upon mile of barren open land.

 

I liked the two shots of the Mansell Forts at Shimmering Sands, last used during the wonderful days of Pirate Radio. Always wanted to take a trip out to view these.

[Brian Kirby]

Bulletguy - 2010-10-30 5:15 PM Very interesting. Though I would like to have seen more shots of housing estates which display exactly how British build and live. Clumps of tiny little houses crammed together if not on top of each other, bearing close similarities to battery chicken farms......then mile upon mile of barren open land. .............

Housing estates, villages, towns, or cities?  Is this not a common characteristic of how most people in developed countries live?  Dense development for work, life and play, and open land for (mainly) production of food?  Hardly uniquely British, surely?  Have I missed something?

[Bulletguy]

Brian Kirby - 2010-10-30 6:23 PM

Housing estates, villages, towns, or cities?  Is this not a common characteristic of how most people in developed countries live?  Dense development for work, life and play, and open land for (mainly) production of food?  Hardly uniquely British, surely?  Have I missed something?

It's a pet 'bug' of mine Brian! Possibly not unique only to Britain as this style of living can be seen in many third world countries though they tend to build their shacks from tin or mud where we use brick. I don't know about 'developed'.......more like developing. Unfortunately it's 'developing' the wrong way.We have a tendency to demolish ageing terraced properties to be replaced by..............new build terraced property disguised as semi-detached, often called 'town houses' or 'starter homes' or worse still, 'link detached' which I suppose gives a level of luxury that appeals to the snoots. Miniscule in dimension and built cheek by jowl. Top end 'luxury' ones will have 'garages' which are nothing short of a disgrace and basically brick built sheds. As long as you drive a bubble car or ride a bike you will be ok. Anything bigger will have to stand outside.Herding humans together at such close quarters in confined spaces has a detrimental psychological effect on human behaviour and you need look no further than the many sink estates scattered around Britain for evidence of this where inbreeding and feral youth is commonplace. You expect this amongst the animal world......but not human.As for open land being used to produce food......how come we import so much? Are we really so undeveloped that we haven't yet worked out how to develop our own land to adequately produce our own food supply?Most of our open land is either the private reserve of the elite or National Trust who own vast amounts, some of which they graciously allow the serfs and proletariat to walk upon.

[Porky]

Bulletguy - 2010-10-31 10:32 AM

Brian Kirby - 2010-10-30 6:23 PM

Housing estates, villages, towns, or cities?  Is this not a common characteristic of how most people in developed countries live?  Dense development for work, life and play, and open land for (mainly) production of food?  Hardly uniquely British, surely?  Have I missed something?

It's a pet 'bug' of mine Brian! Possibly not unique only to Britain as this style of living can be seen in many third world countries though they tend to build their shacks from tin or mud where we use brick. I don't know about 'developed'.......more like developing. Unfortunately it's 'developing' the wrong way.We have a tendency to demolish ageing terraced properties to be replaced by..............new build terraced property disguised as semi-detached, often called 'town houses' or 'starter homes' or worse still, 'link detached' which I suppose gives a level of luxury that appeals to the snoots. Miniscule in dimension and built cheek by jowl. Top end 'luxury' ones will have 'garages' which are nothing short of a disgrace and basically brick built sheds. As long as you drive a bubble car or ride a bike you will be ok. Anything bigger will have to stand outside.Herding humans together at such close quarters in confined spaces has a detrimental psychological effect on human behaviour and you need look no further than the many sink estates scattered around Britain for evidence of this where inbreeding and feral youth is commonplace. You expect this amongst the animal world......but not human.As for open land being used to produce food......how come we import so much? Are we really so undeveloped that we haven't yet worked out how to develop our own land to adequately produce our own food supply?Most of our open land is either the private reserve of the elite or National Trust who own vast amounts, some of which they graciously allow the serfs and proletariat to walk upon.

BG I don't know where you live but if it is in that environment I feel very sorry for you and suggest you move. I live in a lovely Victorian terrace of which there are many in the city. It is absolute rubbish to say this is detrimental psychologically. Our neighbourhood watch system allows us to monitor our area and crime is very low. There is a quarterly newsletter with local news and events etc supported by advertisements by local firms. Oh yes and I can walk to the shopping centre, cinema, swimming pool, theatre, cathedral and numerous bars and restaurants. How can that be bad????I think you need to visit other places to see that your extreme prejudices and views are fatuous*-)*-)

[malc d]

Porky

 

To be fair to BG, he was talking about " new build ".

 

I don't think you could class your Victorian property as new build.

 

 

;-)

[Bulletguy]

Porky - 2010-11-01 11:58 AM

 

BG I don't know where you live but if it is in that environment I feel very sorry for you and suggest you move. I live in a lovely Victorian terrace of which there are many in the city.

Thank God no I don't. I live in what could be termed semi-rural (only a short walk to open country), but large*ish* village.

 

My criticism whilst some may see as extreme is not without foundation. If you get chance just take a look at clusters of estates, best viewed from the air, and then absolutely nothing for miles. Houses so close together you would be hard pressed to get a nats wotsit between them. Utterly crazy.

 

A few years ago a small (very small) college was demolished in my village to make way for hundereds.....yes hundereds of 'new builds' to form an estate. These are not houses for humans.....they are more like rabbit hutches. Some have 'garages', but everyone has to park their car outside as even a small car won't fit in.

 

Victorian property was built entirely different.

 

The point i'm making is we need to build in more realistic, sensible and humane dimensions. Spread property further apart and not on top of each other. We have plenty of land.....just that it's not used.

 

[Porky]

Bulletguy - 2010-11-01 4:47 PM

 

Porky - 2010-11-01 11:58 AM

 

 

Victorian property was built entirely different.

 

The point i'm making is we need to build in more realistic, sensible and humane dimensions. Spread property further apart and not on top of each other. We have plenty of land.....just that it's not used.

 

No it wasn't. Most Victorian terraces were built for the masses, not very large (2 bedrooms) and as cheaply as possible with outside toilets and no drive let alone a garage. Many have of course been improved.

Whilst I accept from the air there appears to be a lot of land, it is still the price of land which limits the economic proportions of new housing.