A
Anonymous
Guest
The April 2006 edition of 'Grand Designs' mag has as its 'In Peril' article by SAVE Secretary Adam Wilkinson another cause close to my heart - Easington Colliery School, which is listed Grade II and has been given permission for demolition by the local authority.
The buildings, in the centre of town, were bought by developer Westnew Management, which then left them to become increasingly derelict. The local authority officers tried to take legal action but the judge decided that as an application for demo was to be made then the site could remain an eyesore...
Naturally local people and even the MP John Cummings were persuaded by the owners that it would be better to demolish such an 'eyesore' and have houses on the site than the building be revamped and re-used! The demolition decision by councillors was against the advice of officers of the authority - including the Conservation Officer, who naturally is most concerned about this.
However, the provisions of national planning policies appear to have been a tad overlooked and English Heritage and SAVE requested that the decision be called in, and a Public Inquiry into the council's demolition proposals has been granted. Both organisations will defend the retention of the school buildings.
An alternative scheme exists for re-use of the buildings in the shape of the Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust, a charitable trust which proposes that the building be made into small business workspaces - which will provide training and jobs in the construction and space in which small businesses can incubate and operate.
This is much-needed in an area with high unemployment since the closure of the colliery - what is surely not needed is more housing, although of course bulldozing these heritage buildings would be much more lucrative for the developer - even if against the reasons buildings are listed in the first place.
I'm a bit miffed I add about the fact that a pic in the article taken by me on a freezing cold Boxing Day (yes such heroics... Easington in sleet...) has been credited to English Heritage though! Humph!
Images of England numbers
468879
468880
468881
or a search 'Easington' will bring pics and listing description.
A most interesting set of buildings!
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk
The buildings, in the centre of town, were bought by developer Westnew Management, which then left them to become increasingly derelict. The local authority officers tried to take legal action but the judge decided that as an application for demo was to be made then the site could remain an eyesore...
Naturally local people and even the MP John Cummings were persuaded by the owners that it would be better to demolish such an 'eyesore' and have houses on the site than the building be revamped and re-used! The demolition decision by councillors was against the advice of officers of the authority - including the Conservation Officer, who naturally is most concerned about this.
However, the provisions of national planning policies appear to have been a tad overlooked and English Heritage and SAVE requested that the decision be called in, and a Public Inquiry into the council's demolition proposals has been granted. Both organisations will defend the retention of the school buildings.
An alternative scheme exists for re-use of the buildings in the shape of the Acumen Community Enterprise Development Trust, a charitable trust which proposes that the building be made into small business workspaces - which will provide training and jobs in the construction and space in which small businesses can incubate and operate.
This is much-needed in an area with high unemployment since the closure of the colliery - what is surely not needed is more housing, although of course bulldozing these heritage buildings would be much more lucrative for the developer - even if against the reasons buildings are listed in the first place.
I'm a bit miffed I add about the fact that a pic in the article taken by me on a freezing cold Boxing Day (yes such heroics... Easington in sleet...) has been credited to English Heritage though! Humph!
Images of England numbers
468879
468880
468881
or a search 'Easington' will bring pics and listing description.
A most interesting set of buildings!
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk