Historic pavilion to be demolished

PROPOSALS to replace the historic bowling pavilion in Warrington’s Bank Park are to go ahead – despite opposition from English Heritage.
The borough council’s planning committee has approved the scheme as part of the wider facelift being given to the park.
It will mean the existing pavilion, which dates from the late 1920s, will be demolished.
The new building will be of similar size and design to the existing one and will provide accommodation for bowlers and a café.
There will also be a new terrace area and the two all-weather bowling greens will be replaced.
English Heritage had argued that the pavilion and bowling greens, represented a high quality inter-war addition to the park.
The pavilion was of architectural and historic interest and it is regrettable that it had not been adequately maintained.
They noted that a structural report on the building stated that refurbishment was unlikely to be a cost effective option – but did not rule out conservation.
“We would recommend that this valuable heritage asset is repaired and re-used.
Planning officers agreed that demolition of the pavilion would be regrettable. But they argued that saving the building was not feasible.
“The level of dilapidation and degree of modification and replacement of historic fabric that would be required to ensure that the building meets modern standards would make the retention of the building both financially and practically, unfeasible.”
They argued that the proposals sought to respect the setting of the adjacent Grade 1 listed Town Hall building.
A number of trees would be replaced and there would be floodlighting and a three-metre high fence to protect the new, all-weather greens from vandalism.