Newbury "dodgy". Options

[Andy Capp]

I bet it won't be viable for any affordable homes quota.

[TallDarkAndHands...]

Well if a "copper' says something then it must be true.

You are funny. Grass is green. Trains sometimes run late. Care to argue?😂

[newres]

You are funny. Grass is green. Trains sometimes run late. Care to argue?😂

I just said I hadn't noticed a particular problem on Pound Street. It was you that dragged the law into it.

[On the edge]

Sold for £18m.....

Bargain. Empty it of retailers, claim it isn't viable & then demolish it -

making way for a lovely brownfield site for lots of nice duplex apartments......

That may well be the way of it, even so, why not? We'd get a good few more homes tucked away neatly in the town centre, further easing the pressures on the surrounding unspoilt green. Plus, it adds an even bigger in built customer to the town; increasing its vibrancy and viability. So, even what seems to be an unimaginative solution would be of far better value in the future. Can't complain about that surely? The only thing we need to push for, is what AndyC has mentioned, making sure the homes are properly affordable and the tenures safe.

[dannyboy]

I bet it won't be viable for any affordable homes quota.

Naturally. Free to those who can afford it, very expensive to those who can't.

[dannyboy]

That may well be the way of it, even so, why not? We'd get a good few more homes tucked away neatly in the town centre, further easing the pressures on the surrounding unspoilt green. Plus, it adds an even bigger in built customer to the town; increasing its vibrancy and viability. So, even what seems to be an unimaginative solution would be of far better value in the future. Can't complain about that surely? The only thing we need to push for, is what AndyC has mentioned, making sure the homes are properly affordable and the tenures safe.

I'm ambivalent as to the fate of the Kennet Centre. IMHO it is one of the worst shopping 'malls' in the country.


I bet there won't be much in the way of 'affordable' housing though, should the wrecking ball come to play.

[JeffG]

I just said I hadn't noticed a particular problem on Pound Street. It was you that dragged the law into it.

I was in the pharmacy there the other day and there were several dodgy looking people hanging around near the bridge.

[On the edge]

I'm ambivalent as to the fate of the Kennet Centre. IMHO it is one of the worst shopping 'malls' in the country.


I bet there won't be much in the way of 'affordable' housing though, should the wrecking ball come to play.

It's simply bland, but shopping malls were enormously popular some years back and were considered the height of modernity. Every town seemed to want one. Newbury'sxwas fairly late and really quite small. It's rather ironic, but it was erected in the very period people on nostalgia sites nationwide hark for! Still, can't account for fashion. At least Parkway has some real architectural pretention sitting well with its surroundings. Kennet centre may well provide a good opportunity to do something similar.

As to affordability, it depends on who is doing the affording of course. So downsizing retirees and young commuting professionals might well be prime candidates. I'd argue that we need to be rather more truthful with our housing policy, that is today affordable really means social, which is, of course, yet another hackneyed cliche.

[Biker1]

I was in the pharmacy there the other day and there were several dodgy looking people hanging around near the bridge.

From what I have seen the chemist there is a favoured outlet for the methadone (paid for by you & I) "cure", "treatment" or whatever it is.

[JeffG]

From what I have seen the chemist there is a favoured outlet for the methadone (paid for by you & I) "cure", "treatment" or whatever it is.

It's a sort of half-way house: less harmful than the alternative, but not a good idea as a permanent substitute. A lot like smokers using electronic "cigarettes".

[On the edge]

From what I have seen the chemist there is a favoured outlet for the methadone (paid for by you & I) "cure", "treatment" or whatever it is.

This doesn't seem to be a unique Newbury problem, so it's not likely to put people off. Arguably, having more people living in the town centre might well reduce the problem, simply because it make life more uncomfortable for them. Similarly, it's often said we suffer from the over exuberance of the race going visitors; however, from what I'vecever experienced, it's far better round here than Ascot.

[newres]

From what I have seen the chemist there is a favoured outlet for the methadone (paid for by you & I) "cure", "treatment" or whatever it is.

Do you pay tax on your old age pension?

[On the edge]

Do you pay tax on your old age pension?

Never heard of VAT newres?

[JeffG]

State pension is taxable the same as any other income.

[Biker1]

This doesn't seem to be a unique Newbury problem, so it's not likely to put people off.

Agreed but someone was asking why certain elements of the populous gather around that area.

[Biker1]

It's a sort of half-way house: less harmful than the alternative, but not a good idea as a permanent substitute. A lot like smokers using electronic "cigarettes".

So has anyone been cured of drug use by using methadone?
(I see the thread drifting from it's original subject. Sorry!)

[Simon Kirby]

So has anyone been cured of drug use by using methadone?

And what is your solution to the drugs problem?

[newres]

And what is your solution to the drugs problem?

Have you come across this Simon. Very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg

[Simon Kirby]

Have you come across this Simon. Very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8L-0nSYzg

An interesting insight into the causes of addiction.

[Biker1]

And what is your solution to the drugs problem?

I wish I had one Simon. But methadone provided by the taxpayer doesn't seem to be it does it?
I think some of the ideas I have would probably not sit comfortably with yourself whose probable policy would be simply to legalise the lot.
Not sure that would work as a "cure" for addiction either!