TOWN Hall planning chiefs at Warrington are again being asked to decide the fate of the historic Garnett’s Tower in the town centre.
The long-running dispute over the century-old building will come before members of the development management 
committee on Thursday.
Decisions have been deferred twice previously – on the last occasion because of recent case law relating to the demolition of old buildings.
Developers PTS Property have now submitted a new application for permission to demolish the tower, adjoining works and office buildings and the schoolroom associated with the Grade 2 listed Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel, in addition to earlier applications to override Conservation Area and Listed Building regulations.
Planning officers are recommending the proposals be approved.
But Warrington Arts Council – in association with the town’s Civic Society – has lodged a strong objection.
English Heritage is also concerned about the issue.
They are recommending the application in its current form should be withdrawn while the council considers what action is necessary to safeguard the buildings until such time as an informed decision can be made.
Almost three years ago, PTS obtained planning consent for a scheme for a restaurant, shops, a café and offices which would have preserved the landmark tower. But it was never implemented and the applicant now says the tower is unsafe and would cost up to £150,000 to make safe – making the whole project unviable.
Historic tower's fate again in the balance
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
9 Comments
Well if it is unviable, bugger off and build somewhere else PTS. Hopefully the new Labour lot will do what the old lot wouldn’t and chase these chancers out of the town for good. I may change my name then!
Don’t hold your breath!!
The Development Management Committe comprised of 5 Labour, 4 Lib Dem and 1 Conservative before Thursday’s elections so Labour have always had an equal hand and have been fully involved in all the development approval/refusal/deferral decisions. So what’s the makeup now anyone know and will it make any real difference… I hope it will. Like SL say’s don’t hold your breath as they could possibly have stopped this and many other decisions before if they had wanted too 😉 We will see……. but I’m happy to give them a chance to prove themselves so I wont criticise them too much… for now ha ha
Based upon proportionality rules, the Labour group will have a majority on the Committee, and I assume its Chairmanship. The makeup of the Full Council is now 34 L : 17 L/D: 6 C, the Development Managment Committee is currently a 12 Member Committee. Committee makup will be decided at the Annual Council on May 23rd.
Thanks Paul… so in this instance (as the meeting is before the 23rd) would that mean that the existing DC members will be again be voting on the probosal to demolish the tower then (or deferring it again) ? Could be interesting 🙂 Maybe the newly RE-elected Lib Dem Cllr Biggin who is a member on this committee may even turn up as I noticed his attendance for these meetings is stated as only being 14% on the councils website and labours Cllr Bennets is only 43% too. Surely that shouldn’t be allowed as people shouldn’t be on such committees if they can’t be bothered to go !
Regarding the meeting this week, yes, it is my understanding Dizzy that it will be the existing Members, with the exception of former Councillor Wheeler.
Three years ago when consent was granted for the previous proposals the Tower and the Schoolroom were to be preserved. Now they are saying they are ‘unsafe’. This is just a scam by wiley developers. Demolition of these buildings was not included in and would not have been granted in the initial application and should not be granted now. If the owners/developers have left these buildings to fall into disrepair to the tune of £150K the fact that they will now make less profit is their problem! Why do all these mega rich businessmen expect the public to suffer losses due to THEIR negligence?
The recently previous Lib/Con administration have also been negligent in not protecting the town’s heritage, in allowing the owners/developers to let these buildings fall into disrepair in the first place.
Another big problem with regard to heritage protection in Warrington appears to be the seeming lack of commitment to conservation by the officers in the planning department. Why when there is supposed to be a strong commitment to protect the town centre conservation area have the planning officers recommended that consent be given to this application? I think it is extremely worrying, considering the incompetence and gross negligence of some within the planning dept that has recently been revealed, that it is upon the planning officers opinions/directions that the development control committee so heavily relies. I hope that each individual councillor on the development control committee ensures that they themselves are informed enough re planning law to make their own decisions on this application and that our heritage is saved.
I’m ready to stand in front of the buldozers…
If the proposals were passed I think the ‘action’ would start long before the bulldozers move in Richiepoo!!! I don’t however think any action will be necessary, Contessa pulled out of the Walton Gardens proposals when they knew the ‘game was up’. Perhaps these developers will withdraw their application as the legal odds are so heavily stacked against them? But if by chance the plans do happen to be passed and the ‘action’ starts, maybe I’ll get to meet you !!!