Re: 5 New Houses to be built on the Bond Garage Site | Forum

Avebury & the Marlborough Downs 64

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5 New Houses to be built on the Bond Garage Site

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Rhiannon Jan 15, 2008 17:31:58

Replying to Heritage Action

But don't local people have to live somewhere? Especially if they're supposed to be affordable houses that mean local people can live there instead of moving away because only rich people can move to Avebury from miles away. It's not like the site isn't already there (and it's not that pretty at the moment is it).

I know I look like a stirrer but what exactly is the problem - is it a matter of aesthetics?
If so, does that mean you'd rather the garage was flattened so there was nothing there at all.. and maybe any other house or building that people move out of / leave empty in Avebury would be fair game too? Or are they ok because thye're old (not that old compared to the henge though)?

I'm not for building on ancient sites just for the sake of it, obviously. And I can't stand all the greed behind 'redevelopment'. But in this case.. surely it's better than what's there at the moment.

tuesday Jan 15, 2008 18:07:51

Replying to Rhiannon

nicely put rhiannon

Littlestone Jan 15, 2008 21:20:33

Replying to Rhiannon

I mean the question is, is Avebury somewhere to live, or is it a museum.

Think you've put your finger on an important point there Rhiannon, in so much as you could say the village started dying when Alexander Keiller moved half the villagers out to Avebury Trusloe and demolished their houses back in the 1930s in order to create a 'megalithic muse'. The village, for example, once had a little hotel (the thatched house next to the antique shop, which I think itself used to be a teahouse). There was also a butcher's and an abattoir for example at the bottom of the High Street. Now all that has either gone or changed, in fact there are now only four privately owned houses in the whole of Avebury.

I might be wrong but building new houses in Avebury will probably not regenerate the village. With the school now gone and the post office/general store about to close as well any real village infrastructure (other than the social club, playing field and church perhaps) no longer exists. Inevitably, people who can afford it will move into the new development on the Bonds Garage site and, although that is not necessarily a bad thing, I fear it might be the thin end of the wedge with not just five houses being built on the former garage site but many more at the back as well (and later [and even worse] wherever developers can get their hands on land in the area).

The only really safe option is a green zone around Avebury where no further building (with the possible exception of small improvements and extensions) is allowed.