Call to demolish derelict Star Inn

FIRE-DAMAGED . . . the former Star Inn pub in Failsworth which Councillor Paul Martin wants demolished or secured

ACTION is needed to secure or demolish a derelict Failsworth pub, according to a local councillor.

Failsworth East councillor Paul Martin has raised concerns about the former Star Inn, in Church Street, which was damaged by fire at the weekend.

The pub was owned by Daniel Thwaites Brewery until last month, when it was sold to new owners Splash Properties Limited.

Councillor Martin, who fears that the derelict site could attract further damage, has called on Thwaites to pay for the clean-up of the site.

And he has urged the pub’s new owners to properly secure the building.

Councillor Martin said: “I contacted Thwaites in August with concerns about the state of the building and they said they had taken reasonable steps to protect the property from vandalism.

“The council-tax payers of Failsworth should not have to cough up for the failure of Thwaites Brewery.

“The pub should have been demolished as soon as Thwaites had washed their hands of it.

“The pub should now be properly fenced off or pulled down.”

Malcolm Harrison, Daniel Thwaites property director, said: “We are completely satisfied that we took all reasonable steps to ensure that the building was as secure as possible.

“That included significant costs to fit metal shutters to all the doors, roof-lights and windows, together with the installation of an interactive alarm system to provide response units to the site.

“Daniel Thwaites continued security arrangements at the premises on the weekend following transfer of ownership, to ensure that protection was still in place while arrangements were made by the new company.

“Unfortunately, it appears that some people saw this security as a challenge and were determined to cause criminal damage.

“If that is the agenda you are dealing with, then there is very little you can do to prevent it.”

A spokesman for Splash Properties Limited said an 8ft security fence had been installed around the property.

He also said they had taken advice from the police to board up the windows before the pub was burned.

He said: “We have done what we can but we can’t totally stop people from getting in.

“The pub should be demolished in the next few weeks. We are waiting for approval from the council’s planning department to go ahead with the development.”