Balby Road/Trafford Way Flats

[Wellington Vaults]

I've been stuck in the traffic on Balby Road approaching the Trafford Way Roundabout a few times lately and have had a good chance to look at these monstrosities.

Well past their sell-by date, grubby and the fabric is beginning to wear badly. The area screams out as a grim Eastern European housing development.   These are land-mark buildings in Donny on one of the main arterial routes into the town, but they wouldn't look out of place in down-town Minsk.

I know times are hard and the public purse is empty, but how far down the Council's priority list is some initiative here?   Someone will probably come on here and tell me they are little palaces inside, but looking at the windows I doubt it.  Its all very well spending millions on grandiose Cultural Quarters when this is the gateway to town.

Even a coat of new paint would be a major improvement.

PS  The clientele of the Corporation Brewery Taps look a distinctly rum crowd.

[RoversDave]

Saw a dvd the other day, Bygone Doncaster, I think it was these flats, They were built about 1964, should have seen the back to backs they were replacing.

As for the Corp Taps, when I worked in Coal House (now Council House), up to 1990, served some lovely beer, had a few strange folk even then.

[5minstogo]

Wellington Vaults wrote:

I've been stuck in the traffic on Balby Road approaching the Trafford Way Roundabout a few times lately and have had a good chance to look at these monstrosities.

Well past their sell-by date, grubby and the fabric is beginning to wear badly. The area screams out as a grim Eastern European housing development.   These are land-mark buildings in Donny on one of the main arterial routes into the town, but they wouldn't look out of place in down-town Minsk.

I know times are hard and the public purse is empty, but how far down the Council's priority list is some initiative here?   Someone will probably come on here and tell me they are little palaces inside, but looking at the windows I doubt it.  Its all very well spending millions on grandiose Cultural Quarters when this is the gateway to town.

Even a coat of new paint would be a major improvement.

PS  The clientele of the Corporation Brewery Taps look a distinctly rum crowd.

If you think they are bad from the outside you should go in Cusworth or Sandbeck House and have a look. Grim.

As for Eastern European housing development, it must at least make the tenants feel like they are at home  

[CusworthRovers]

The look of an under-developed Euro country is not just consigned to a few buildings, have a look at our roads of late.

[MrFrost]

There was an article in the Free Press a few months back. The council were to make a decision on whether or not to demolish the flats or give them a multi million pound make over.
It sounded as if the prefered choice was to bring them up to scratch and that funding options were being considered.
That was the last I heard of it though.

[Yargo]

Interesting thread,i live in Sandbeck(the block next to Corporation Taps)top floor,right handed side as you look up from dual carridgeway,cracking inside with big rooms,(there are worse places to live,i was born and brought up in Edlington!)does look appalling from outside though,due for major repairs soon but not holding my breath.As for the pub you can keep it,not been in for years and seems to be populated with assorted lesbos and ex hardcases

[Filo]

Yargo wrote:

Interesting thread,i live in Sandbeck(the block next to Corporation Taps)top floor,right handed side as you look up from dual carridgeway,cracking inside with big rooms,(there are worse places to live,i was born and brought up in Edlington!)does look appalling from outside though,due for major repairs soon but not holding my breath.As for the pub you can keep it,not been in for years and seems to be populated with assorted lesbos and ex hardcases

I bet you`ve got some cracking views from up there!

[neilfinne]

on the subject of these roadworks. in almost seven years of travelling this route to and from work, i can`t remember the bus lane and the bridge near to where the vine hotel was, ever being in full working order. weight restrictions i`m guessing.