Welcome to the real world.

Just to start things off I will say that it has been great fun creating the Framptonos spoof and thank you to all who have said nice things about it.

I have been driving past the "New Frampton Court" development for some months now and have seen it grow. But I cannot say it really registered because I simply did not believe the evidence of my own eyes. Only recently have I come to recognise it for what it is - an architectural abomination of staggering inelegance; an alien intrusion into a village that, up until now, had enjoyed a gentle architecture of remarkable coherence. My characterisation of it as a holiday resort is far too kind. It looks more like the sort of building that Amnesty International would take an interest in.

The planning system seems to have gone seriously wrong here. I am told that Frampton Parish Council objected most strongly to the proposal and that there was considerable local opposition. However the project was supported by English Heritage and ultimately by West Dorset District Council. What either of these bodies were thinking of I cannot imagine. Sometimes artful models or artists impressions can give an optimistic spin on the most abysmal of projects but I have seen the artist's impression of this one and can tell you that it is faithful to the bleakness of the finished building.

When I asked permission to take the photos I asked the foreman if he had received any comments from local people. He said that indeed he had but that common decency prevented him from repeating any of them! Incidentally I tried to find the comments from locals and the parish council on WDDC web site (all such are posted as of late 2003). For some reason they are not there. WDDC has not been able to give, as yet, a satisfactory reason for their absence. I am sure that a sensible reason for this omission will be given soon.

Anyway, what do you think?