I have sketched the Watch house located in Newcastle's harbour a number of times, finding that the composition works best when the building is partly obscured by boats over wintering in the car park. It's not a particularly attractive place. Redevelopment proposals have no less stirred strong emotions among local residents and boat owners, unless you happened to belong to one of these groups its hard to see what all the fuss is about. The building has been neglected for quite some time and is situated in a odious car park that fills with smells wafting from the adjoining sewage plant. I never attended a youth club there nor remember the sandy shore in fact I've never even seen inside the building. I do however know a bit of its history and agree that it should not have been sold. Potentially it could have provided a number of useful functions for the local community but it seems likely that it will now be replaced by apartments. If sensitively built the new apartments may improve the visual appearance of the harbour and the occupants will no doubt band together and demand that the authorities sort out the unpleasant smells. The only people likely to miss it are the locals who grew up in and around the harbour and only they will have the necessary drive and determination to do something about it. By presenting its history and showing the extent and depth of opposition perhaps local representatives may be persuaded to act, stop its destruction or at least come up with a compromise solution that suits the existing harbour users and local sensitivities. As it stands it provides an effective back drop for my paintings, if you live near the harbour or use it on a regular basis your needs may be more than simply aesthetic.