WARRINGTON Rugby League Club’s former Wilderspool home is set to take its final curtain call with major demolition works on the old stadium set to start on Monday.
Following the appointment of Buckingham Group Contracting Limited by site owners Wire Regeneration, preparation work has been taking place in recent weeks prior to the main demolition work.
The stadium will make way for a new “southern gateway” into Warrington in a joint venture between property company and regeneration specialist Langtree and Warrington Borough Council to drive forward regeneration and development.work is set to start on the demolition with immediate effect.
The stadium, which is now a shadow of its former glory days was vacated by Warrington Wolves following their move to the Halliwell Jones stadium.
The final competitive game at Wilderspool was a 52-12 win over Wakefield which took place in September 2003.
Since 2003, the stadium has hosted the Wolves’ junior and academy matches. The final match at Wilderspool came in May this year in front of a sell out crowd.
Following the final game game all materials of cultural and historic value were removed in preparation for demolition.
Leader of the council Cllr Terry O’Neill, a lifelong Wolves fan said at the time the demolition was announced: “It will be sad to see the old stadium demolished but times move on and I’m excited at the potential that the site offers in the redevelopment of the southern gateway area.”
Meanwhile Buckingham Group has actively recruited a number of local people to work on the project.
To date, six unemployed Warrington residents have been employed and supported by training from Warrington Borough Council and Warrington Collegiate.
Training has been provided for all of the new recruits, enabling them to achieve all of the necessary skills and accreditation in order to work on a complex project such as this.
Buckingham Group is ideally located to deliver the project, having recently relocated its North West headquarters from Cinnamon Brow, Warrington to St James’s Business Centre, Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington which is close to the former stadium.
Regional Director of the Buckingham Group, Jack Rowley, commented: “We are absolutely committed to Warrington, and have been delighted by the support we have received from the local authority and the Collegiate to expand our workforce with local people.
“Our new recruits have made an excellent start. I firmly believe they are well placed to develop successful careers in the construction industry and play an important part in projects that Buckingham Group is looking to deliver.”
