Housing Prices

[sleepy]

Longshank/Nicks,

What is happening to you both. for the sake of this forum would the two of you stop this 'new best friend' routine.

Please try lying in a darkened room - separately - with the boxing gloves on technique, till you both come to your senses!

But seriously, I cannot see any local landowner selling off their land for what was known as 'Council Housing.' The bottom line is how much money can I fleece out of people before the bubble bursts.

The cost of land for building, is, as we all know, totally OTT!

Unless there is a Saint out there who will philanthropically sell/donate his land for peanuts, then the problem of young families or others who wish to live in their own locality, and want to rent appropriate properties at sensible prices, will persist.

Would anybody who owns property around here be prepared to sell to someone who may not be the highest bidder - purely from a stance of public conscience?

I couldn't - sorry I ain't that principled, or indeed that propertied!

I don't think I'll waste too much time logged in for an immediate positive response - but - is there a Carnegie out there?
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Oiche Mhaith

Or as they say around here now Goodnight Cedric

[Pentlandpirate]

Ganavan v Cnoc Fennaig

If you like the executive style of life, a nice modern home on an upmarket site, his and hers 4x4s parked on the drive, a life of eating takeaways and microwave food, and jetting off on foreign holidays, then Ganavan is where you will head.

But Cnoc Fennaig? It may be pitched at the same affordability bracket, but doesn't someone who lives on Seil like a quieter way of life, a bit of space, not living on top of others, where they have a chance to live as individuals, not trapped into keeping up with the McJones's and living Life out of a packet? Cnoc Fennaig has a nice outlook (at the moment), but if I was looking for a plot on Seil, I don't want to live on an executive housing estate on Seil.

In total contrast, the cottages at Balvicar crossroads are in the style of 100 year old workers cottages that form the backbone of so many rural villages across Scotland. They have to be the way forward and I wish much more thought was given to similar ways to enhance the island, rather than litter it with blots and plots that stain the landscape for ever.

[NickB]

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Cnoc Fennaig has a nice outlook (at the moment),

PP, if from where you are living Balfour Beatty's Lie Down Area No.1 looks like a nice view then you need to get out . . .

Agree that the proposed development at Clachandubh will look a lot better though.


- NickMcB

[NickB]

Unless there is a Saint out there who will philanthropically sell/donate his land for peanuts

The equating of philanthropy with sainthood illustrates the problem with our society and the persistent legacy of the Thatcher years' 'no such thing as society . . . greed is good!' school of social analysis.

There is a long history of philanthropic construction in Scotland. Most planned communities prior to WW2 were built by philanthropists - look at the history of most towns and villages where the first word of the name is 'New' for examples.

Philanthropy - on a small or a large scale - used to be common, with landowners keen to put something back into the community. Now philanthropy is seen by the smart as naivete at best and anyone apparently doing something for no personal gain immediately comes under intense scrutiny to determine their 'angle'.


- NickMcB

[longshanks]

Ever so slightly disagree with you here NickMcB:

"Now philanthropy is seen by the smart as naivete at best"

Not really. What about Tom Hunter? And Bill Gates who has given away billions; much more than HMG gives in Aid?

And Sleepy: never heard of Compulsory Purchase? If that is no longer politically acceptable we do have the latest Crofting Act which allows for local communities to buy land from the big landowners and the cost is covered (in the main) by Edinburgh and The Lottery.

And Pentland:
You're just bitter and twisted with your totally insulting characterisation of those who have the cash to buy at Ganavan. Is this jealousy of those who have been successful in life and accumulated this sort of capital? If you believe that people who have half a mill to spare and choose to live in Ganavan lead a "life of eating takeaways and microwave food"then you must either lead a life distanced from reality or be so low down the pecking order that resentment at your lot in life consumes you. Either way: Live and Let Live old chap.

Apologies for disagreeing with you at the top NickMcB, nothing to spoil our friendship I hope.

McLongShanks (tolerent by choice)

[Pentlandpirate]

And Pentland:
You're just bitter and twisted with your totally insulting characterisation of those who have the cash to buy at Ganavan. Is this jealousy of those who have been successful in life and accumulated this sort of capital? If you believe that people who have half a mill to spare and choose to live in Ganavan lead a "life of eating takeaways and microwave food" then you must either lead a life distanced from reality or be so low down the pecking order that resentment at your lot in life consumes you.

Dear Longshanks, if I'm bitter and twisted I'm a sliver of orange and you are half an unripe lime. If I'm insulting I am Martha in Noddy and you are Chubby Brown.

It is you who displays the signs of jealousy (against people with boats), resentment (because you have to work Saturdays when some of us can earn a decent wage from Monday to Friday) and unreality. Just look at how often you're out on your own with your views.

Pentland MacPirate (non-Ganavanite by choice)

[sleepy]

NickB, I ain't disagreeing with you. I would like to think that a solution could be found for 'affordable housing' but I'm not holding my breath.

It's don't think it's going to happen any time soon. The bottom line is greed and the pension

[longshanks]

My dear Pantiland Peasant

A very chippy reply but I won't descend to your level by responding as discussiing one's work and income is so lower class and, no doubt, you'll blame your situation in life on the English....your beard is the giveaway.

$$$$ Shanks (stinking by choice)

[Pentlandpirate]

Longshanks..........always wrong by choice