Pannal today

 As i passed the horrible Dunlopillo building today I saw that it was being dismantled on the inside.

Since the article appeared in the Harrogate Advertiser it has been quite amazing as people from Harrogate have been coming to see the building and when I have met them they are astounded that it was ever built and what an eyesore it is. Broken windows and generally very tatty. Hopefully gone soon but what will be put in its place. Lets hope HBC see sense and refuse permission for another two storeys being added. The old cottages opposite will loose some of the sunshine they have had for all these years. Does seem a shame . Would be good if developers would use the Harrogate Advertiser or The Stray Ferret to let everyone see what is planned. How it ever managed to be built in the first place I do not know. There is no high building in any other village anywhere around. 

Is there any Harrogate residents that have a good word to say about Harrogate Borough Council? I have not heard it. Words I have heard "What are they playing at," "they must be mad" "what are they doing to our lovely town." 

When as chairman of the Friends of the Valley Gardens the Sun Pavilion and Colonnade we saved them from being demolished for a "car park" it was stated that when the Sun Pavilion was refurbished then it would be the turn of the Colonnade. This was in 1998. What has happened? Think what an asset to the town it would be. The Christmas Fairs could be held there and the much missed Artists and Painters Exhibitions and so many other Fairs and Exhibitions. 

Posters have been put round the village notifying everyone that my latest book Pannal and Burn Bridge Their Stories will be launched on Saturday 2nd October at Pannal Memorial Hall at 11.30am and I will be there until 1pm. I have seen a copy of my book and I have shown it to a few people. I am very happy with it and everyone that has seen it likes it and will purchase it. The price is £10 and I have been told that is a good price. Please come and join me as this is my last book on Pannal and Burn Bridge and my other books a History of Pannal and Postcards from Pannal are long out of stock. I want everyone to love Pannal as I do that is why I wrote this book.

My little cat Marble is, as I told you, losing her sight but seems happy as she knows the garden and surrounds. Vet says she is healthy and happy. As for Tigs she is a madam but very loving to me that is not to Marble. She just ignores her. 

Pannal and Dunlopillo

 Well my book is with the printer. Over £5000 to publish but I want to keep the price down as I want everyone to read it and enjoy Pannal as I do. Will let you know price later. Come and see me Saturday 2nd October for the launching 11.30 Pannal Memorial Hall. Shall be there from 11am to 1pm and hope I am not left sitting on my own for two hours. 

The latest plans are in for Dunlopillo the office block or monstrosity as we call it. So many windows broken it is a right mess but then always was. How HBC allowed that blot on our landscape I do not know. Well I do really as HBC on mass do not like Pannal. I had a bit to say about the building in the Stray Ferret and there will be an article in the Harrogate Advertiser next week. The plans have increased the flats from 26 to 48 with two storey's added. Many more people and cars. The car park at the front I am not sure what will happen as it does not belong to Dunlopillo it belongs to solicitor's office in Halifax. I remember it being purchased and I thought why but now I know as they will if they sell make a lot of money.Please if you think this is wrong for Pannal the size this building is going to be. Object. 

All I can add is what is Harrogate Borough Council doing to the whole of Harrogate? Housing masses of it with no infrastructure and built where house owners will have to use their cars to even get their shopping. Houses are not appealing . When one thinks of the the Tudor buildings and what the Victorians left us and what is now being left to future generations. It is so very sad. Developers now rule. HBC will say but we have to have so many houses we are told that by the Government but I say we do not have to have the houses that the developers are putting up and you are letting them.