Hopeful signs

Depending on whether you are an optimistic sucker (like me) or a pessimistic cynic (like local counsellor Terry Herbst) you will either be delighted or unimpressed to see the scaffolding

on the Old Post Office Tower, one of the really important landmarks in the City Centre. (If you want to read more, check the labels on our sidebar for denton and old post office.)

Recently it has literally been falling apart, and one of the lead sheets from the tower fell off and nearly hit a child on the street. Thus galvanised into action, the owner Mr Denton is finally doing something about it. After years of going through the motions, and making and breaking promises, the sketicism of many locals is not unfounded, but let's hope something really does come of it this time.

dirty details.

Here is a close up look at Ken Denton's shameful legacy. Yesterday we showed you the original historic documents relating to these houses. This is how they look today.




And the closer you get, the worse it is. These once proud properties are mostly rented out to illegal immigrants, and the decorative woodwork is apparently being systematically removed for firewood.

The dark circle next to the door in the bottom left picture shows the place where the brass plaque declaring this a National Monument has been removed. They are being stolen from all over Central, and sold to unscrupulous scrap dealers, along with copper plumbing pipes and even church roofs! As you can see, protecting our heritage is an uphill battle, but there are many in this town who are passionate enough to continue the struggle, even if it does seem a bit Quixotic at times.