Critics blind to Venetian mess

May 3 2009 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

THERE was a lot of claptrap about Middlesbrough and Venice last week.

Oh, how the London-based media laughed when it was revealed that experts from the industrial North town had been called to provide advice on regenerating the famous city.

One newspaper said: “One is famed for its Renaissance architecture, rippling waterways, and romance. The other is Middlesbrough.”

Others sneered that Middlesbrough could not possibly have anything of value to give.

Well, lads and lasses, get that nose out of the air, get the marbles out of the gob, and listen up.

Venice isn’t just the Bridge of Sighs, gondolas, and the birthplace of serial love cheat Casanova. Just the same as Middlesbrough isn’t just smog and Roy “Chubby” Brown.

The last time I went to Venice, I was struck by dead rats floating in putrid water, the inability of the local authorities to provide protection to flooded buildings, and a city living in the past.

Last time I went to Middlesbrough, I was struck by the cleanliness of the town centre, the rejuvenation of the Riverside, and a forward-thinking council determined to succeed.

So, yes, it makes sense for experts from Middlesbrough to help smelly Venice.

I’m with Neil Kenley, of the Tees Valley Regeneration, when he says we can provide inspiration.

An urban regeneration team headed for Venice last week – thanks to Prince Charles – to offer advice on how to make use of old shipyard areas.

Or, to put it another way, to save the crumbling city after years of neglect.

If anyone can successfully redevelop those parts of the “Pearl of the Adriatic” in need of makeover, it is the team which made such a good job here.

It’s good of the North to provide help to those parts of the world less fortunate than ourselves.