WHEN you decide to build a city's tallest building, you have to be prepared to face the fact that you are doing more than placing a collection of glass and steel on Sheffield's skyline: you are creating a statement and setting a standard.
The architects and developers behind the City Lofts apartment building knew that when they began to construct their 32 storey skyscraper. They were happy at that stage to present carefully scrutinised proposals which promised to ensure that the finis
hed article would act as a beacon for the regeneration of Sheffield.
So they can expect no sympathy for not only changing those plans but for doing so without consultation.
Councillors are now right to insist that the proposals which were originally agreed should be the ones which are used to complete the building.
To roll over now in the face of a financial sob story would be to give the green light to every developer in the city to downgrade their plans and leave Sheffield with a collection of shabby compromises which would tarnish the city's reputation for generations to come.
Rejection is a slap in the facePARENTS across Sheffield will today be wondering why the Government has so suddenly snubbed the city's proposals to rebuild primary schools.
The application went to Whitehall months ago and the council has received no indication that there was anything wrong with the suggestions.
So it came as a complete shock when the application for £20 million to fund the rebuilding was rejected with little explanation and no warning.
That is no way for a government department to behave, turning management of a city's education system into little more than a lottery
And this is not only a slap in the face for parents and pupils but also for those who rely on construction jobs, particularly in a time of recession when the Government is aiming to begin public building works to help lever us out of the economic gloom.
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