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As I write this the first actions of the construction of 'Riverlights' are being played out.
It may seem obvious that this means that Charles Herbert Aslin-related campaigning is at
an end. However, it is the job of all those who supported us to ensure that Aslin's masterpiece
has an even mightier presence in its afterlife, so to speak. This means, in turn, that we
will go on campaigning for a permanent memorial to Charles Herbert Aslin to be placed,
preferably, right in front of 'Riverlights', so it is impossible for those visiting the complex
to ignore it.
This should be accompanied by a fully illustrated series of plaques, setting out
the importance, not only on the national stage, but also the INTERNATIONAL stage, of his
'Central Improvement Scheme' and the central role the Charles Aslin Bus Station played in it. If the plaque
in what has been the café, commemorating the opening of the station,
was not rescued in the course of demolition work, we request that a facsimile of it be
a part of this memorial. It has been reported that at least one of the 'Winged Wheel' motifs has been rescued (much to
the relief of the City Council, no doubt!), so that too could be part of this putative memorial.
As well as Aslin's work with Derby Borough Council there should also
be plaques illustrating his subsequent pioneering work with Hertfordshire County Council on
the system-building of schools.
Furthermore,an additional adjunct to the memorial could be a scale model of the CIS as it was originally
built, set in a vandal-proof glass cabinet. This could be paid for by a mix of funding,
variously from the public purse of the City Council and from private donations and fund-raising
events of various descriptions. In connection with this I have conceived of an organisation,
that could have charity status, under the working title of 'The Charles Herbert Aslin Society',
or 'CHAS' in abbreviation.
From henceforth the CHAS will become the focus for campaigning rather than the BSAG.
Please write to Jonathan Guest, Director of Development and Cultural Services, Derby City Council, Roman House, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1XB, explaining why you think this should be done.
You can also contact the Derby Tourist Information Centre, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby,
DE1 3AH. Telephone: +44 (0) 1332 255802. Facsimile: +44 (0) 1332 256137.
Alternatively, you can also contact them electronically by clicking on the preceding link.
Please explain, in addition, to them why you think that C. H. Aslin deserves a permanent memorial
in the city centre and why you think it may have the power to attract tourism to the city.
The latest twist in the campaign is that Riverlights has been taken over by a newly formed
company called Derby Riverlights Limited, owned by a Derbeian currently living in Wiltshire
by the name of David Osborne and financially backed by Kailash Estates Limited, 6th
Floor, Britannia House, 960 High Road, North Finchley, London, N12 9RY, a company owned by
Ramesh Sachdev. In this new-look development an hotel is to be included, so it is quite
possible that the room for the Bus Station may end up even more squeezed-in than it has been
under the previous plans.
In response to this the Bus Station Action Group offered this alternative.
However, those in charge of planning and development never saw fit to give this any serious consideration. It remains to
be seen if that was a wise decision.
If you want to send somebody an 'E-Postcard' with an unmistakable view of Derby send them Greetings from the Bus Station. Have fun!
If you click on the following link, you will go to a site where you can find out more about Derby Friends of the Earth's latest activities.
It has been brought to BSAG's attention that a similar building in Olympia, Washington State, USA is also under threat of demolition. For more details, please visit the Art Deco Society Northwest site.
Please close this window to return to the 'Site Map' from whence you came.
If you've come to this page directly, why not also visit the "Mad Modernist's 'Site Map'"?
This site is a copyright (2006) of Christopher Bentley: Internet Affairs Representative of the Bus Station Action Group
