Oliver Wainwright’s otherwise excellent overview of the redevelopment of Sheffield’s Park Hill estate concludes by blaming “the council’s neglect of this public asset” (‘It always felt good here’: how Sheffield’s brutalist Park Hill estate survived the haters and their bulldozers, 7 April). This completely overlooks the battle that took place between Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government and local authorities in the 1980s.
A range of measures such as block grants and compulsory competitive tendering ensured that power was transferred to the centre. As this process has continued, it has become increasingly difficult for councils to undertake “municipal pride”-type projects, unless central government approves. Unfortunately, when they are not supported, local authorities are then criticised for being inefficient and wasteful.
John Kirkwood
Sheffield
• Having studied art and architecture when I was at school in Sheffield in 1952-65, I enjoyed Oliver Wainwright’s article about the city’s Park Hill development – especially as our teacher included the topic in our subject matter.
The wonderful theatre production Standing at the Sky’s Edge, featuring Richard Hawley’s splendid music, celebrates Park Hill and those who lived there through the decades. I felt privileged to have seen the debut of the production at Sheffield’s Crucible theatre before the pandemic, and look forward to returning for a second helping this year. Hawley is, of course, a Sheffield lad too.
Chris Bone
Swaffham, Norfolk
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