PROGRESS FOR BETTER OR WORSE by Georgina Nottage

PROGRESS FOR BETTER
OR WORSE
by Georgina Nottage

“Would you deny progress?”
the young man said
Hearing this I felt very sad
A statement made by youth
Not having lived long enough
to know the truth

That with progress comes change
not always for the better
Sometime it’s a blow delivered in a letter
Different folk in country places
received these daily
To be read by them gravely

For many they bore a message
of doom
Sending many into deep gloom
Their land was wanted for a New Town
The surveyors came, looked around

Some couldn’t wait to leave for
pastures new
Others didn’t know what to do
Older folk wanted to stay
This was where they had grown
old and grey

Basildon was built over 60 years ago
Houses neatly placed in a row
Green fields and trees now all gone
A sight for which many long

Did you get a letter?
Was it all for the better?
Some would say “Yes”
Others long for their old address

New Addington Croydon 1930/1960
Stevenage New Town 1945
Harlow New Town 1947
Basildon New Town 1949