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SALFORD SHOPPING CITY TOWERBLOCK AN `EYESORE’ SAYS MAYOR
 

Star date: 22nd September 2016

BRIAR HILL COURT AN `EYESORE' AND A `BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE'

Briar Hill Court, the towerblock that looms out of Salford Precinct with the words `Salford Shopping City' and a big red arrow down its side, has been branded an `eyesore' and `a blot on Salford's landscape' by Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett.

Is it an `eyesore' - or the only thing in the city with the word `Salford' actually left on it?

Full details here...

Salford Shopping City
click image to enlarge

It's been a bit of a joke for years – the Briar Hill Court towerblock that rises out of Salford Precinct with a big red arrow pointing to the shops and the words `Salford Shopping City' slapped across the side of the flats.

Now Salford City Council wants to do away with what has become a bit of a landmark and is pressing the Government to force owners Praxis Holdings to tart it up, in line with the new posh veneers of the other Pendleton towerblocks.

Local Langworthy councillor, John Warmisham, told a full meeting of Salford Council yesterday that the changing face of the towerblocks was "fantastic"...

"The skyline is changing but one thing that isn't changing, and is a blight as you come into this great city, is Briar Hill Court" he said "I think it's an absolute disgrace."

Responding, Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said that he'd already tried to engage owners Praxis and Sterling Properties but had got nowhere....

"I have asked officers to explore with the Government and the HCA [Homes and Communities Agency] what pressure we can actually put on the owners of Briar Hill Court to bring that block up to decency" said "I think it absolutely is an eyesore and a blot on Salford's landscape, and Langworthy's landscape..."

While many people would agree that it is a bit of an eyesore, it is also one of the few landmarks in the city that actually have the word `Salford' on them. With Media City, Manchester, the University of Salford, Manchester, and whole sections of the city being re-branded as in `Manchester', some might look on the big red arrow pointing to Salford Shopping City with a certain nostalgic fondness...


The Salford Star asked Praxis for a comment and we are still awaiting a reply...

See also previous Salford Star article: 

The End of Salford As We Know It - click here
T Ryan wrote
at 13:52:10 on 23 September 2016
Look at Thorn court and it's pearlescent cladding that changes colour on whatever angle it's viewed from. That's the way forward for this tired looking monolith. Matching window frames wouldn't go amiss either. Then add some neon signage around the top of the building. Make it subtle and, imo that is all needs doing to improve its appearance a 100 fold
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philo wrote
at 13:51:56 on 23 September 2016
Briar hill Ct is an arsepit. So is Fitzwarren Ct. The fact is, all of the tower blocks are poor. The shiny happy veneers on the outside are mere window dressing.All packaging, but no content. That's just the way it is. People! Just do better at school, work hard, get a career and earn the big bucks; and then you won't have to live in such high rise ghettos.
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norma parkinson-Green wrote
at 11:07:59 on 23 September 2016
More to the point can I ask if the old library building in front of the Civic Centre is going to be bulldozed, if any building in Salford needs to go it's that one. Its just a concrete jungle!
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Michael James Felse wrote
at 11:07:55 on 23 September 2016
Thank you DW for pointing that out. Owing to brevity my own comment would more fully have been me calling for Councillor Dennett to sack all his committee deputies. Hence sack all the Labour Councillors he has power to punish. It would he's much better Salford if he the let the voters choose who gets tobe the chairs and service heads. I would sack the lot of them as we do see daily the failures for which Salford Labour has become world famous when post Brexit we should now be leading the world as our young talented citizens enter into their enterprising futures.
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The Fat End of the Wedge wrote
at 10:15:24 on 23 September 2016
I think it is a unique local landmark, why make it as bland as everything else?
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RayofSunshine wrote
at 10:15:03 on 23 September 2016
Incoherent "cak" from Mr.Felse. What's new??
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D Wright wrote
at 10:14:55 on 23 September 2016
Michael Felse wants the Mayor to sack his councillors. Has he had a brainstorm? The mayor has no power to do that; the councillors were elected by the people of Salford. We call it democracy; perhaps the UKIP wannabe wants to do away with that.
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Winston Smith wrote
at 05:29:42 on 23 September 2016
Salford's got a Mayor? What does he do then???
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Richard Heed wrote
at 22:04:16 on 22 September 2016
It should have "Avoid" written on it instead.
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Michael James Felse wrote
at 22:04:09 on 22 September 2016
I agree with Councillor Dennett. But why no solution if he really wants to be seen as our City Mayor. In me voicing my opinion based on my personal experience I must suspect this Labour Council has failed to put inspiration into the minds of the said owners. Therefore the Mayor should sack his Councillors if he is trying to show a better way forward for Salford. They failed our City on the iconic dock cranes, multiple heritage buildings and now his Council try to pretend they are not the cause of Brand Salford's downfall. If our Mayor says it is the only building with the name of Brand Salford is he admitting some devious plot to exchange Salford into the word Manchester. I feel a bright future is not coming to Salford Shopping City under Labour.
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Paul R wrote
at 18:16:41 on 22 September 2016
It is an eyesore...looks ridiculous. Why make an issue out of this when there are far more important things to sort out? Everyone knows they are in Salford...
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John B wrote
at 17:53:31 on 22 September 2016
Mr Dennett what about Fitzwarren Court? Looks worse than Briar hill and is Council owned I believe!
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