With Axminster’s Skate Park appearing increasingly forlorn, it’s a shame that whoever has overall responsibility for the place doesn’t drive 40 minutes along the A35, in an Easterly direction, to inspect the recently-opened skate park in Dorchester to see how it should be done.
Given some of Dorchester’s recent planning faux pas...
Including large chunks of Poundbury (where Prince Charles is obviously under the misguided impression that you can add an archway and/or a tower to any mediocre building, to automatically transform it into something memorable) and the new Health Centre in Weymouth Avenue (where Charlie’s policy of building rather naff, utterly fake and wholly inappropriate buildings, worryingly seems to have spread to the town centre).
...I was naturally concerned when I heard of the plans to build a facility for skateboarders opposite the historic Maumbury Rings, a Neolithic henge and Roman amphitheatre.
I needn’t have worried.
The thoughtful, organic, sympathetic design - which echos the lines of the neighbouring amphitheatre - is an absolute triumph. And, judging by the large amount of kids that has been using it every time that I've passed by, it's obviously more than just a work of art.
Sunday 14 February 2010
Monday 1 February 2010
More questions than answers
Given that Tesco were recently given permission to build a giant new store in Seaton, three times the size of their neighbouring Axminster branch, you might’ve thought that commonsense would’ve prevailed, with Tesco quietly abandoning plans to extend their already adequate Axminster outlet.
Sadly, although with depressing inevitability, Tesco have announced that they are to continue with their expansion plans in Axminster and justified their actions by reciting the findings of their own carefully-worded survey that basically asked existing shoppers whether they would like:
a) a better store
b) an increased product range
As if anyone would say no. Note the question ‘Do you think a massive extension is necessary?’ was conveniently omitted. The changes successfully implemented at Morrisons in Bridport over the past year-or-so are proof that you can create a better store and offer an increased product range, without the need for a massive extension - simply by more clever use of existing space. Tesco really should take note.
Sadly, although with depressing inevitability, Tesco have announced that they are to continue with their expansion plans in Axminster and justified their actions by reciting the findings of their own carefully-worded survey that basically asked existing shoppers whether they would like:
a) a better store
b) an increased product range
As if anyone would say no. Note the question ‘Do you think a massive extension is necessary?’ was conveniently omitted. The changes successfully implemented at Morrisons in Bridport over the past year-or-so are proof that you can create a better store and offer an increased product range, without the need for a massive extension - simply by more clever use of existing space. Tesco really should take note.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
