Grand designs on Detroit dismissed as a lot of rot

CITY DIARY

Detroit is highly insulted by suggestions that 12 blocks of its old business district be turned into "a theme park of decay". The idea has been put forward by Camilio Jose Vergara, the famous New York photographer and writer, who wants to see the boarded-up downtown skyscrapers stabilised and then left to rot - creating what he calls an American Acropolis.

"We could transform nearly 100 troubled buildings into a grand national historic park of play and wonder," Mr Vergara said. "A memorial to industrial America."

The theory is that walls of the pre-Depression buildings would crumble to expose steel frames. Trees would grow through the ceilings and wild animals would return. Visitors could then stroll through the empty streets, bird-watching and collecting berries.

"It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," exploded John Slater, chairman of the Detroit Planning Commission, who said he has plans to revive the business ethic in downtown Motown.

The continental weakness for a spot of DIY has claimed another victicm. Hans Jakob Zimmermann, chairman-designate of the Thyssen subsidiary Handelsunion, has surrendered both parts of his title after admitting he had his house renovated free of charge by various construction companies. Thyssen said the 51-year-old director had left the company after a short, but terminal, internal inquiry.

The exploits of the toupeed Jurgen Schneider apart, corporate Germany has remained largely untouched by sleaze. That has traditionally been the preserve of the French. You will recall industry minister Gerard Longuet, who resigned last year over allegations of bribery in connection with his villa in St Tropez. And Pierre Suard, chairman of electrical engineering group Alcatel, who allowed the French taxpayers to foot the bill for the refurbishment of his luxury Paris apartment.

Mr Zimmermann, to borrow an English phrase, appears to have been caught bang to rights. According to Der Spiegel, the German weekly, the incident came to light when an anonymous letter was sent simultaneously to the Dusseldorf prosecutor and to Thyssen management. Confronted with the allegation Mr Zimmermann admitted everything.

Not that he had any choice. The value of the work carried out at Mr Zimmermann's house was 800,000 German marks (pounds 360,360) of which 70 per cent is said to have been picked up by Hochtief, the construction giant. More than a quick paint job.

Bookmakers are predicting a complete shutdown in the City from 2.30pm today as the Varsity rugby kicks off in front of a 65,000 sell-out crowd at Twickenham. "A lot of people will either be at the match or watching it on television," said Sporting Index, the spread betting specialist, which is predicting brisk business. Having thumped Western Samoa, Cambridge University are firm favourites to win by a margin of 8 to 11 points.

Documents forming an integral part of the Forte defence strategy have had to be corrected after they were found to contain misleading information. The Christmas party of the Savoy Group press office will not take place on Thursday 19 December as the invitation states. The 19th is a Tuesday.

Free-loading at the London International Boat show comes to an abrupt end. Stung by a loss of revenue the organisers have "revised" the complimentary ticket procedure to exclude non-essential riff-raff. Free tickets will no longer be issued without full accreditation and accompanying photograph. Another fine tradition sinks slowly below the Plimsoll line.