Park Hill receives ugly building accolade

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Dec 2005

The Labour Council are set to waste £35m on Park Hill

Sheffield's notorious Park Hill complex has been rated as one of the countries top five ugliest buildings most worthy of demolition. The building has been given the accolade by the upcoming channel four programme 'demolition' which will feature the ugly social housing blocks.

Early in 2005, Channel 4 asked the public to vote for the buildings they want to see demolished. These nominations formed the basis of Demolition, a four-part series which investigates how Britain came to be littered with eyesores and considers what we can do about it.

The programme is co-hosted by George Ferguson, former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), who's not afraid to admit that architects make mistakes. They propose to create an x-list of structures that should be 'put out their misery'.

The news comes just weeks after Sheffield's Labour Council announced they are to spend at least £35m of public money on renovating and preserving the unpopular listed flats in partnership with private developers, despite wipespread opposition.

The local Liberal Democrats are continuing their 'Not in our Name' Park Hill campaign in which they oppose the waste of £35m. They are continuing their call for the building to be demolished and fully support Channels Fours 'Demolition' in their call for an x-list.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats, said: -

"This poll proves that, unlike our Labour Council, the majority of people in Sheffield are desperate for Park Hill to be demolished once and for all. Its clear that Labours decision to waste at least £35m of taxpayers money preserving Park Hill would go against the wishes of the people of Sheffield"

"This Council is not listening to its own people. The Liberal Democrats campaign in support of local people against the £35m taxpayers bill is gathering pace. I believe that the 'Demolition' series, which starts on Saturday, will persuade more and more people to sign our petition which they can do by logging onto www.sheffieldlibdems.org.uk"

"There is now only one option for the Council and that is to pursue demolition, but the biggest roadblock to demolition remains Labour politicians on the Council who profess to love Park Hill. This begs the question, when will this Council listen and start to govern in the interests of the people?"

Note: - The first 'Demolition' programme starts at 8pm on Saturday the 17th of December. More information can be found here http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/D/demolition/