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Towers Over The Goodsyard – Rough Cut

November 9, 2014
by the gentle author

Contributing Photographer Simon Mooney has been conducting interviews in recent weeks to make this short documentary film which examines the Bishopsgate Goodsyard Proposals and explores what people like about Spitalfields & Shoreditch today. Here, I am publishing his rough cut as an exclusive preview for readers of Spitalfields Life.

We have decided to show this version today, upon the official deadline for the pitifully inadequate twenty-one day consultation period. However, The East End Preservation Society confirms that local authorities will accept objections until the New Year.

In a few weeks, we will reveal the completed film – updated with latest reactions to the development – but, in the meantime, we welcome your suggestions and contributions on this work-in-progress.

[youtube tdsr1BnGTzk nolink]

Click here to read the East End Preservation Society’s guide to how to object effectively

8 Responses leave one →
  1. Greg Tingey permalink
    November 9, 2014

    I’m hard-put to determine which is worse.
    The Bishopsgate “goodsyard” development, ot the proposal to (effectively) evict the entire population of the New Era estate in Hoxton, by a mutimillionaire businessman MP, who is almost a self-caricature of a Victorian music-hall villain – except that this is “for real”
    See:
    here
    http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2014/07/01/new-era-estate-families-rent-hikes-benyon-landlord-takes-over/
    here
    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/diane-abbott/richard-benyon-mp-and-londons-housing-crisis_b_5560021.html
    and here, too….
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/devastated-families-face-eviction-after-3786578

    It seems to be an ongoing & very unpleasant trend

  2. November 9, 2014

    It is worthwhile to pursue a goal! — Look at the East German People: they managed it to tear down the wall, and today it’s 25 years ago now!

    http://www.achimthepooh.de/pages/wall_links.html

    Love & Peace
    ACHIM

  3. November 9, 2014

    This is good, but there is perhaps too much voice over and it’s too long. Should be 7 minutes, or even less of maximum impact – short and punchy.

  4. Chris Ashby permalink
    November 9, 2014

    Brilliant film! It may just be a rough cut but it amply shows what a rough deal this proposal would be for the community if it ever goes ahead. I’ve already objected and would urge every reader to do the same. The campaign is growing. Well done to all involved!
    Chris A.

  5. November 9, 2014

    The campaign to stop these monstrosities has needed something like this to illustrate the horror this area faces and articulate the case against it. Well done to all those involved.

    Keep spreading the word.

  6. Alastair McNaughton permalink
    November 10, 2014

    Although I have lived in Australia for half my life I am greatly saddened by this proposal.In my youth I spent many weekends fossicking the stalls on Brick Lane & it’s surrounds in the 60’s & 70’s.As well as being an historical area,it also has an incredibly strong community that would be decimated by this development.I spent a lot of time in my formative years around Limehouse when the Port of London was still thriving.Look at it now,a soul less,cold & unappealing area.
    Good luck to all who are involved with trying to stop this scourge

  7. alison homewood permalink
    November 10, 2014

    Hi – a great effort, thank you. I agree it should be shorter and punchier – 10 mins max and the couple of hesitations in the voice-over should be corrected. Those chunks of text don’t work – if they stay in, there should be a different voice simultaneously reading them.

    Consider adding a little more info in the film about the developer – British Land – and their attempt to demolish the whole of Spitalfields in the 80s (name and shame them). Unsuccessful then due to the efforts of the local people, they are coming back to destroy it a second time.

    This is just one quote from the BL website: We go through a rigorous process to identify and address the social, environmental and ethical issues that matter most.

    Clearly this does NOT apply to the Bishopsgate Goodyard plans.

  8. Ros conway permalink
    November 11, 2014

    Excellent film, though, slightly too long and with unnecessary, unsympathetic and very distracting background music. Otherwise well done and thank you to the people who have given their time and expertise to make this.

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