WARRINGTON Civic Society is seeking the views of all candidates standing in the local elections on what should happen over the future of the historic town centre cabinet works – which still has a big question mark hanging over its future.
Warrington Borough Council has confirmed that while the building has been made safe, it is continuing to deteriorate while awaiting a revised planning application from its owners.
Warrington Civic Society is currently seeking views on all candidates standing in the Local Elections on May 5th their views on what should happen with the Cabinet Works site.
Chairman John Shipley said: “The future of the Cabinet Works Site in Warrington town centre will be an important issue facing the councillors elected on May 5. Warrington Civic Society would like to know their views on the matter, as a candidate for election to Warrington Borough Council.
“The site, which lies within the Bridge Street Conservation Area, is one of the town’s few remaining industrial heritage assets. Its water tower forms part of the town’s skyline and is visible from all approaches. It is modeled on the world-famous tower of the Signoria in Florence and we believe it is unique in England.
“Unfortunately it has been empty and deteriorating for several years and required minor work to make it safe earlier this year. A planning application by the owner is anticipated imminently.
“Warrington Civic Society is campaigning for as much as possible of the site’s heritage to be preserved via a proactive, conservation led approach.”
A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: “Currently the building is secure, following extensive preventative works by the owners by installing steel shutters across openings, however, the building continues to deteriorate.
“The Council’s building control team will keep the building under surveillance and should it be necessary further action will be taken to ensure public safety.
“We are still awaiting a revised planning applications from the owners, which will be processed in the normal way with full consultation taking place.
The iconic tower on the Warrington skyline – Picture Karen Dakin
Picture Karen Dakin
The cabinet works which is continuing to deteriorate
2 Comments
Can we have the names of those Councillors for and against a conservation project for the Cabinet Works before the elections please? Then we can make an informed choice of who to vote for.
The overwhelming (and unsurprising) indifference on the part of WBC in the face and pace of obvious deterioration of this important heritage laden building, taken with WBC snails’ pace in effecting any semblance of enforcement to preserve it makes a mockery of the claim “the building control team will keep the building under surveillance…”. It does however prompt the question with what objective in mind? Regrettably the record of this and so many previous administrations on all heritage preservation matters points to only one conclusion.