Eyesore development just one among many

IN response to your article on February 25 ("Friar Gate Square chief defends design of office block as firms look to move in")

Maxwell Craven calls it "a harsh 1960s-expression machine derivative", whatever that is. I call it Derby's latest eyesore.

When we look around at other cities, both at home and abroad, we see what has been achieved hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago – wonderful examples of beautiful, long-lasting architecture. In contrast, we see in Derby huge square blocks, glass houses and "the house that Jack built" in the Market Place.

Do our council planners ever look at these plans submitted to them before granting the go-ahead? It seems to me that they must all have shares in The Ugly Grey Panel Company and The Faux Copper Company. It's dreadful.

MOTORCYCLE MOTS

Five Lamps Auto Centre

View details

Print voucher

Get 20% discount off your motorcycle mot with this voucher

Terms: cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
only one to be used per test

Contact: 01332 410211

Valid until: Thursday, October 31 2013

As stated in the article, this is the first office block built in Derby for 20 years.

Let's hope it's another 20 years or more before the next!

I never thought the Cockpit car park would look good but our planners have achieved the impossible by surrounding it with even bigger eyesores, namely Westfield, the bus station, Jurys Inn and now this office block.

Sadly, our city has lost all of its character and charm over the last few decades but all is not lost, since nothing is built to last these days.

Let's see if the next generations can do better.

Tim Beresford

Windmill Hill Lane

Derby