Although the Hatters have not been in action since last weekend, it has, off the field, been a decent week.
News broke that our old favourite, Alan McCormack, had returned to Luton, as an Academy coach, something we covered – the-return-of-the-mac – but perhaps the best news of the week related to our off-the-field activities.
I am probably not the only supporter who had their fingers crossed relating to the midweek council meeting and vote on the Power Court development plans.
To hear that the changes to the plans had been given a unanimous seal of approval certainly brought a smile to my face and it looks like that dream of a new stadium we have yearned for, for many a decade, is going to come to fruition, indeed work on the site could start next year.
But, yesterday, another piece of news broke, relating to the eyesore that is the plot of land, in Bute Street, where the old bus station once was.
Now operating as a car park, the council has received a £20 million grant from the government to regenerate that area.
With it being so close to the Power Court development, the potential is there to bring some character back to a town centre that was devastated by the wanton urge to build the monstrosity, the Arndale Centre.
Bring it on I say, utopia could be just around the corner!
COYH’s
Luton Town v Middlesbrough?
Luton Town to Win!
Middlesbrough to Win!
A Draw!
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Luton – You Believe Boss Is Staying Put For The Foreseeable Future
Morning mh, sorry to disagree with your view of a utopia to come. But I doubt it will come to pass. Now this town is a dump sadly. Without trying to look through Rose tinted glasses of age. An not blaming any one political party they have all been to blame. For years as this town has lost all its character since the arndale was built. You could find any kind anything you wanted once cos we had everything a coop Blundells m an s bhs five night clubs pubs on every corner. Up to dunstable Road remember dockrills pet shop woollies a thriving market. Now police patrol George St every day all day cos of the problems there. An it’s worse at night!!! No decent shops in the arndale at all. Regeneration of bute Street may look good on paper but that won’t change anything or power court either. An another thing this town had 30 youth clubs for youngsters I doubt if 1 exists now!!! The only problem in those days in the arndale was on Saturdays with us footie hooligans.
I agree Chris, it has all gone from bad to worse, but I live in hope. Power Court will illuminate the area, St Mary’s Church will be a picture and if Bute Street is done properly, that side of town will be on the up, just don’t look towards the monstrosity that is the Arndale car park! As for the way in which the town has declined, I often ask myself how so many pubs have gone when, just down the road, in Harpenden, the pub business continues to thrive. As for the Arndale, I used to be a regular visitor, but like you say there is nothing in there to entice me now, all the decent shops have gone. As for St George’s Square, what a dossers / muggers paradise – stay clear. Where did it all go so wrong?
regarding the arndale,its the people who use it that changed.i think most shoppers were excited to go to a brand new experience. gradually it got grubbier,car parking got more difficult,then milton keynes opened. free parking,loads of good shops,was a death sentence for luton and dunstable.i remember luton before the arndale,the covered market,waller street swimming baths,fantastic shops in bury park,and high town. the bus terminal in bute street,you knew what bus to get on so easy,not like now.regarding dossers,i can’t remember seeing them,but there were a lot of tramps about.you did’nt get groups of tramps, like you get groups of dossers now.power court can only enhance luton,it will take much more to change it.best of luck to josh neufville on his recovery,another bright star in the making.lets hope for a good game today.coyh.