ONE of Warrington’s most iconic landmarks, the Garnett’s Water Tower at the old town centre cabinet works, is under threat of demolition.
An inspection of the building by Warrington Borough Council Building Control Officers has revealed the actions of so-called ‘free-runners,’ illegally entering and engaging in damaging the building with serious anti-social behaviour, has left the building structurally unsound and in need of immediate attention.
Now the council is to meet with local conservationists and other interested parties to discuss the future of the building.
Warrington Civic Society Chairman John Shipley said: “Emergency demolition is planned at the Cabinet Works which may include the Water Tower.
Lee Birchall pictured outside the building in September 2013
“We will be meeting with the Council on Thursday evening to discuss their plans. Such an iconic part of Warrington’s skyline would be a great loss to the town.”
In September 2013 Warrington born Lee Birchall, who runs Birchwood based architectural consultancy DV8 Designs, was appointed bythe Borough Council to prepare an analysis, study and draft master-plan for the Garvin Place and former Cabinet Works areas of the town centre.
Both sites, situated within the cultural quarter, are currently unused and the commission involved exploring and maximise their regeneration and development potential.
Mr Birchall said:” This is one of the most significant landmarks on Warrington’s skyline…. Should anything happen to it, the council’s position should be to replace it with high quality architecture and not a cheap apartment building. We need something that is impressive and that won’t date!”
In an email to the Civic Society Peter Astley the borough council’s Assistant Director – Regulation & Protection, says Building Control Officers have recently identified some serious structural issues with the building that require an immediate response by the owner of the building to make safe.
“These works will require certain parts of the building to be demolished and the developer will have to submit further plans under Section 80 of the Building Act to address the rest of the building which is rapidly falling into a state of total dilapidation.
Mr Astley wrote “I am clearly aware that this building sits within a conservation area and the acute need to preserve as much of the town’s heritage as we possibly can, hence I am inviting interested parties with a stake in these issues to a meeting on Thursday night (28th January) at Warrington Town Hall at 6pm.
“At this meeting we will outline the action we intend to take under the Building Act and allow you to view footage of recent surveys etc., as well as seeking any views the Society and others may have on this issue.
“I appreciate that this meeting has been called at short notice; however, the immediate public safety concerns with the building are serious enough to warrant action to be taken very quickly and it is important that we still endeavour to fully inform all relevant stakeholders.”
Garnetts Cabinet Works was Founded in 1824 and the tower was built built in 1906. Robert Garnett was born on June 6th in Penketh, Warrington and died on April 9th 1903 –
An enforcement order was made by Warrington Council on owners CAPA of Glasgow to Secure the works to prevent access and possible liability under the Public Health Act 1936.
Video footage courtesy of Chris Digita
A facebook group has been set up https://www.facebook.com/Garnetts-Water-Tower-Warrington-1509460712703231/timeline
10 Comments
I am no expert – but looking at that image I fear the building is beyond saving.
If it is lost Warrington borough Council must take stern action against the owners for allowing it to fall into disrepair – way beyond whatever value the site can get through re-development.
Only then will the people who own these buildings start to value them.
Gary sums it up exactly right.
Warrington Borough Council could have and should have taken action to prevent this building falling into such a state of disrepair years ago! It’s only too common these days for the owners of such buildings to neglect them in the hope that they can then have them demolished and then make money on redeveloping the site. That building is not beyond repair and Warrington Borough Council should force the owners to repair it.
Also, when buildings are neglected to the point where demolition is the only option then the owners should be made to rebuild in the original style and original materials.
Only then will the people who own such buildings realise that that the longer they neglect them the more it will cost them!
There is a Civic Society meeting to discuss the Cabinet Works tomorrow evening from 7pm at Holy Trinity Church. Anybody who is concerned about the future of this piece of Warrington’s heritage is welcome. you don’t have to be a member.
Well said Gary and yes the property/land owner should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this deterioration to happen. They were warned years ago to secure it to stop people getting in but clearly they haven’t even bothered to do that if people are still gaining entry (as mentioned in the article).
It’s more than obvious that the owners, who paid just short of half a million pounds for it in 2006, have only ever been interested in the land and new development possibilities.
I just hope the Tower can be saved 🙁
Will full minutes from Thursdays meeting along with the structural evidence etc etc that they will be showing be available on-line anywhere for others to see ?
Having enquired tonight I am told that the meeting on Thursday is by council invite only.
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WBC does not have a reasonable record of enforcing the conditions upon which their own planning approvals are conditional (the latest example of this was the Ship Inn in Walton), so the chances of them holding owners of local buildings to account as you rightly propose Garry, are remote.
Sad news indeed – I remember being on the planning committee and stopping the demolition in May 2011. The owners have had nearly 5 years!!
Just for clarification as yesterday I posted on here saying that Thursdays Council meeting, 6pm, is by ‘Invitation Only’ as that’s what I had been told by the Civic Society. However I have just had it confirmed to me (via a call to the council) that it IS a PUBLIC meeting and that anyone can attend.