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Demolition for school building
Date published: 13 November 2009
COUNCIL chiefs are to demolish a Victorian building in a conservation area after residents warned it was collapsing.
Oldham Council has made an emergency application to bulldoze the former Eustace Street Primary School in Chadderton.
Officials say they were forced to act after a neighbour reported there had been a serious partial collapse in the roof during the early hours of Wednesday.
An inspection revealed the building to be in a dangerous condition and advised that an urgent demolition — without delay — is required on health and safety grounds.
Councillor Mark Alcock said: “It is sad but very necessary that we take this action as quickly as possible. This collapse happened without any warning or external cause on an evening with calm weather.
“Clearly the issues here are structural and serious and we cannot afford to risk a further collapse. Over the years repeated attempts have been made to find a new use or owner for this building. It is regrettable to have to demolish what was once an outstanding example of Victorian architecture and I sympathise with those who will be saddened by this news.”
The Eustace Street premises – located within the Victoria Street Conservation Area — has been vacant since 2001 when pupils transferred to the new Burnley Brow primary school, on the former Kent Mill site, Victoria Street.
In the intervening years the site has become a target for repeated vandalism, fly-tipping and theft.
Comments
This building has been in decline for years. It is an eyesore but the council will now make a pretty penny by selling the land for development should get 3 or 4 appartments out of it. Good move for the council to leave to rot. This building could have been renovated and used by the community but hey ho profit first with OMBC.
Its a shame they can't do the same with the wall on roundthorn rd which has been built 6 times (serious, structural issues) and which will fall down on someone, but ombc has been warned
its the same old story, let an old building rot away, do nothing then the conservation orders etc dont mean anything and they can drop it and sell the land. yep bet the other commentors right, town hall will be next, no doubt replaced by an eyesore like the one at star inn which is still empty!!!!
dont worry there will be a mosque on it before you can say Mohammed
Now thats wonderful how they can decide to pull down this nice red brick building but have made no efforts at all on the old railway yard on park road or the old Lake View home on king street so if we are pulling buildings down then lets start knocking down these two sites ,, because that is what they are sites a mess and a place for unwanted to hide .by ian
The park road site is a listed building and planning have already aproved it being turned into shops and office space so you should be able to see an improvement there ,sometime in the next ten years maybe !!!!! :)
Have Your Say
The town hall's next! as soon as the first stone, brick or mortar falls they'll be pulling it down in a flash!
By fedupoldhamer @ 13/11/2009 13:42:43