Image by Christine Renney
Basildon Town Centre is dominated by a huge block of flats named Brook House which was originally designed to sell to high-fliers. Over the years they have been used to house those amongst us who, for whatever reasons, are not high-fliers but are forced to be high-rise tenants. There were security guards on the main entrance to the flats so that says something. I managed to take a few images but this lady was the only person I saw, on either side of the tower block which, for England, is huge and cold. Strangely, I spoke to a work colleague about this building and he knows it, being an ex-Basildonian, and at one time had considered buying a flat there for £15,000 – I think that figure says it all as he is only in his early thirties.
Spartan Eye 
Great shot, Chris.
Thank you so much. She just seems trapped to me and placed at distance from community.
It is interesting to see how housing perceptions have changed. The last 15 – 20 years has seen a real boom in inner city living in Birmingham with converted or rebuilt canal-side buildings sitting close to what would have been considered ‘undesirable’ social housing.
As long as it is reasonably affordable and so often it is not but regeneration of the city centres is vital and will serve the multi-cultural society we have as it should be. Thank you for taking the time to visit and comment. Regards Chris
I agree, although sadly it seems that the most affluent (funny how that rhymes with effluent) always get the best pickings. Is there a glimmer of hope on the political horizon, I wonder, with the election of a Socialist opposition leader? We can but hope!
I am delighted that Corbyn has been elected – I think he says what Ed Miliband wanted to say but was pressured into not doing so. Capitalism is survival of the greediest and yes, the most effluent. Love it Chris.
I hope that, with the mandate that the Party appear to have given him, he is able to hold firm to his policies.
Talking of which, did you see the One Show (I think it was that anyway) the other night when a reporter was stopping people in Tory Guildford and presenting the policies anonymously? Nearly all of those spoken to agreed with his plans. What was concerning, however, was how they balked when told that these were Corbyn’s policies! Perhaps we should all vote purely on policies and not personalities or labels.
I’ve finished now!!
And I am with you on that idea. He is not a new boy on the block, and he holds true to his values and let the Blairites join Cameron because there is no difference.
Absolutely. We’ve been basically a one-party state for far too long.