SPAT ON A COLD TIN ROOF

Oh Dear the old problem of disagreement over what the new Village Hall should like has somewhat belatedly raised its ugly head yet again. Huttonian’s attention has been drawn to an unsigned notice on the Hutton bus shelter inviting those who disapprove of the roof of the new hall to say so in writing to the Planning Department in Duns. The notice describes the new ‘bright blue’ roof as an eyesore in a historic area and suggests that an unprepossessing building could adversely effect property prices in Hutton.

I have a number of problems with this anonymous call to arms. First, it is anonymous although given the past record of discussions over the hall it is not too difficult to work out a short list of probable authors. Second. Why now? The colour of the roof has been all too apparent since well before Christmas. It has been fully in place since about 12 December.(See previous posts) Third: it is much too late. Detailed planning permission was approved yonks ago and the plans, including, presumably, a description of the roof, have been in the public domain even longer. Fourth: IMHO as the Texting fraternity might put it, the colour is acceptable- quite a pleasing contrast with the roof of an old cottage on one side and a very modern bungalow on the other. The blue is not all that bright (see image) except in exceptional meteorlogical conditions as, say, once in a Blue Moon. . Nor can I really understand how a building quite a distance from the main village can effect property prices with in it? (60 % of Huttonians live outside the village) If it is true that the roof material has been salvaged from Edington Mill (now turned into bijou apartments for well heeled refugees from Ould Reekie)- well, surely this represents a very imaginative and cost effective recycling of expensive material saving the donors and the people of Hutton a pretty penny or two. Huttonian has had his differences with the Hall Committee in the past but this is not one of them.

And another thing you really have to be eagle eyed to see the hall from the village and then the roof is not visible because of the angle. Even close up and from the buildings next door the roof is hardly intrusive.

Mrs Potential Buyer to Mr P B. ' Oh lets not buy this house we can nearly see the village hall from it' An unlikely story.

BTW note the walls-not really shooting up but getting there.  ¶ 11:12 AM