Once again statistics and maths are causing confusion in the pathinfinder programme. In a letter to The Gaurdian newspaper the Minister in charge of pathfinder claimed that just 4,000 homes have been demolished under pathfinder. (Source: Gaurdian Letters 10th April 2006)
Meanwhile Gateshead Council proposes some 440 demolitions in Saltwell and Bensham, a small area of Gateshead. A quick calculation lacking the quality of rocket science would seem to indicate that 1 in 4 houses being demolished in the country is in Saltwell and Bensham - at least according to the Minister's optomistic patronising tone.
Gateshead Council is not limiting its strategy of mass demolition to Saltwell and Bensham. In papers presented before the full council in May 2005 the estimated demolitions in Gateshead was 3,600 in "Area Specific Plan". As a proportion of the 4,000 this indicates that 4 out of 5 demolitions are happening in Gateshead. Gateshead could become the demolition capital of Britain if the Minister's figures are taken at face value.
However read the exact words. She said:
"So far, the nine Housing Market Renewal programmes have knocked down 4,000 homes for replacement"
The key phrase is "so far". Not all nine projects have been running that long. Some only have "plans" for demolition. Some demolition is taking place outside the pathfinder programme. Some demolition is happening slowly so that councils can cash in with the massive land price rises. Some demolition isn't happening because of resident resistance to mass demolition.
In Saltwell and Besham the average price of homes scheduled for demolition is around £60,000. Taking account of pledges to fully compensate at market value and the cost of demolition the total cost will be more than £30 million. This leaves little in the kitty for regeneration.
Yvette Cooper is not really poor at maths she is simply economical with the truth. In the same letters page on 13th April a representative from SAVE Britain's Heritage challenged the Minister to contradict their figures of 168,000 demolitions nationally. (Source: Gaurdian 13th April 2006).
If we believe the Minister's figure of 4,000 demolitions as a final definitive number then Gateshead will become the demolition centre of Britain. More credible is that Gateshead is a small project in a mass demolition strategy that is now so embarrassing even the Minister wants to cover it up before local elections.
Links
Letter from Yvette Cooper
Letter from SAVE
0 comments:
Post a Comment