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Boris does nothing to improve architecture, blasts Livingstone
Will Hurst4 Dec 2009
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone today launched a withering attack on his successor's record on major architecture projects.
Mr Livingstone said "nothing was happening" on architecture and design on Boris Johnson's watch, despite the need to bring the capital up to scratch in time for the 2012 Olympics.
He also waded into the row between Mr Johnson and architect Lord Rogers, formerly the Mayor's top architecture adviser, claiming his recent bitter resignation was no surprise.
Mr Livingstone vowed to put architecture and public space at the heart of his own bid for re-election in 2012. He complained that the Mayor's new Great Places scheme neglected the capital's most important spaces, piggybacked on the work of boroughs and included projects from his own 100 Public Spaces programme, such as Windrush Square in Brixton.
He also said he had amassed £1.5billion in Transport for London reserves which he now regrets not spending on the public realm before Mr Johnson "squandered it".
"Boris is cutting back on virtually every capital project," he told Building Design magazine. "The £1.5 billion has been squandered on things like getting rid of bendy buses and not proceeding with congestion zone charges."
But a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "He has embarked on the most ambitious programme of urban realm and environmental improvements the capital has ever seen."
Reader views (13)
Rob, London - public spaces are what every great European city is about.
What Ken did, pedestrianising and revamping Trafalgar Square, achieved just that- turning a glorified traffic island into something to be proud of.
My guess is that half those complaining about such schemes never bother to venture into the centre at all. In fact, 9 times out of 10, they are commenting from everywhere but central London!
- Liam, London, 09/12/2009 16:44
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WHO IS LIVINGSTONE?
- Peter James Grogan, London, 07/12/2009 19:37
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Since when did Ken care about architecture, he's the man responsible for destroying London's historic skyline with his egomaniacal ugly high rises, let alone inflict the olympic shambles on protected hackney marsh. It's a shame boris can't cancel the whole lot.
- Kevin, London, 04/12/2009 14:17
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Funny comments, not sure how Parliament Square is a vanity project - trafalgar square is far far better thanks to Livingstone. Nobody knows what Boris is doing except taking credit for ideas developed by others. One big missed opportunity his time so far. Yes I agree with ST. in London Boris is certainly subtle in his work, so far I cant think of one achievement that is actually his? Pathetic, at least ken was bold and made things happen.
- Dave, London, 04/12/2009 13:50
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Sarahn (sic) - you must be psychic if you're experiencing Windrush Square in the way describe as it's not yet finished.
- Richard, LONDON, 04/12/2009 13:15
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Bit of a libelous suggestion Ken was taking back handers from Bob Cheam, but hey anything to obscure the inaction at City Hall. Interestingly at the LDA, the Boris' team told staff they won't have jobs 'when the Tories win the next election' - no wonder the place is in standstill.
- Steve S, London, 04/12/2009 13:06
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Instead of sitting on the sidelines sniping all the time, like the bitter old man he is, it's time Mr Livingstone went out and got a proper job and took part in some wealth creation that the country desperately needs to get out of recession.
Fat chance of that happening - eh Ken?
- John Bull, London, 04/12/2009 11:22
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Erm, perhaps Ken hasn't noticed but there's a recession on, no one wants to build anything currently. Although admittedly Boris isn't taking backhanders and allowing huge buildings to be built indiscriminately across London, perhaps that's what he meant?
- Bob, Cheam, 04/12/2009 11:02
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"his own 100 Public Spaces programme, such as Windrush Square in Brixton"
Windrush Square is a gigantic white elephant - an expensive outdoor toilet and open-air drinking den. The traffic noise is so loud that no one would want to linger there for more than a few minutes, that's assuming you're not driven away by the hassling teenage drug dealers. Unless your idea of a good time is drinking strong lager and fighting, then Windrush Square is not for you.
I'm sure the architect's plans looked pretty though.
Just another way for whitey (Ken) to feel good about the 'hood - I speak as a long time Brixtonian.
- Sarahn, London, UK, 04/12/2009 10:35
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More public squares for kids and drunks to menace people? No thanks Ken. Good riddance.
- Rob, London, 04/12/2009 10:28
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Blah blah blah. Still bitter eh Ken?
- Andy, London, 04/12/2009 09:23
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Livingstone’s problem is that he put too much emphasis on vanity projects such as the pedestrianisation of Parliament Square.
What we are seeing with Boris, as far as I can tell, is a much subtler, cumulative effect; smaller projects from a less meddlesome Mayor and, at the end of the day, who really thinks the centre of London needs changing dramatically? I think it’s pretty awesome as it is, personally!
Finally I’d rather Boris spent his time sorting out policing than architecture, which appears to be what he’s doing…so once again Livingstone proves we were right to get rid of him.
- St, London, 04/12/2009 09:14
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Livingstone is dead but he will not lay down, wish he would go away
- Peter Woods, Torre Chianca, Italy, 04/12/2009 09:12
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