Interview with Ernest Pye (b.1924).
Ernest Pye was the first Chief Officer to be appointed to the Milton Keynes Development Corporation, as Chief Engineer in 1967. He was A Deputy Planning Officer in local government at the time. He describes the early stages of work on MK’s development, remembering the point at which the Pooleyville plan for monorail was dropped and planning started ‘from scratch’, with regular consultations with the Officers. In particular he mentions bringing in all the utilities for the whole area at an early stage.
Moving on to later stages of development he recalls the rapid rise in numbers of MKDC staff as the town grew, and the need to split into teams for north, south and central development teams to keep up the pace. He comments on the stress on staff because of the pressures over a period of years and talks of the inflluence of Jock Campbell and Fred Roche.
Having decided to stay in MK after his retirement, he comments on the beautiful landscaping, the shopping centre and Xscape.
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