WARRINGTON Civic Society is drawing up new plans to help local residents fight against the continued demolition of beloved landmarks in the town.
The plans come after the loss in the past few months of two of the town centre’s most important heritage buildings – the Garnett’s Water Tower in Barbauld Street and the Unitarian Chapel Sunday School in Cairo Street.
Civic Society member Sean Clemo, said: ‘’Many of our landmark buildings in the town centre are owned by developers or Buy-to-Rent companies from outside Warrington, who only seem to be interested in making money from the land the buildings are on. They have no appreciation of how much these buildings mean to Warringtonians and the North West Region – and in some cases nationally -and aren’t maintaining the buildings properly, as they indeed should. This is our future heritage that is being neglected and destroyed.’
“Garnett’s Water Tower had been an iconic part of the town centre skyline since it was built in 1906. It was the most visible part of the Cabinet Works on Barbauld Street, a brick built Edwardian building with an ‘Italianate’ style water tower and looked rather like the chimney for a baron’s castle. It was a strong and ever present symbol of what our town means to many Warringtonians – a centuries old history of excellence in skilled manufacturing and the entrepreneurial spirit for which Warrington has long been famous.
“Despite this, the developers who owned it had left it empty for years, only to then claim the building had become unsafe and required demolition on health and safety grounds.”
Mr Clemow said the loss of Garnett’s Water Tower and more recently the Chapel Sunday School, had highlighted what seems to be a deliberate policy in recent years where developers allow buildings to become derelict so that they can be demolished without opposition, on health and safety grounds.
Warrington Civic Society, which was established in 1961, was relaunched by John Shipley in 2015 to give a voice to Warrington residents concerned about the demolition of a series of historic buildings in their town with the Bridge Street Quarter Development. But John is stepping down due to work commitments which will see him leave the area.
Jean Ball said: ‘’As a Trustee, and Secretary for Warrington Civic Society, I would like to thank our Chairperson, John Shipley, for the excellent job he has done over the past few years in re-launching the Civic Society. John is now re-locating due to work but we are going to press on with the projects he started. The demolition of Garnett’s Water Tower and the Sunday School has proved the Civic Society is needed more than ever.’’
Another society member Victoria Madden added: ‘’We’ve been in touch with the Victorian Society and Historic England, as well as other Civic Societies around the country, about what we can do to combat this situation. With their help and support we’re putting together a list of buildings that Warringtonians themselves consider to be part of their heritage and getting independent surveys done as to their condition.
“People will be able to send in the names and locations of buildings they value throughout the borough of Warrington, as well as act as Neighbourhood Champions Neighbourhood Champions who will keep an eye out for threats to them and notify us. Buildings like these belong to the people of Warrington; they shouldn’t be viewed as cashcows for developers from outside the town.’’
A full website for the Civic Society will be launched over the next few months with information on the long history of the Society, a catalogue of the historic buildings within Warrington, including those that have been lost, and ways in which people can help.
Another member, Barbara Clarke said: ‘We’re working on a membership leaflet to put in libraries, we’ll be doing a survey to find out what Warrington residents think about the demolition of the town’s heritage and we have plans to get school children aware of the beautiful buildings they’ll inherit. There is a lot we can do to combat this situation, despite appearances. These demolitions have only made us more determined.’
Garnett’s Cabinet Works -Picture Paul Jackson
6 Comments
I thought that the Civic Society had voted to wind itself up at the AGM held on 5th June. Has this been reversed?
Are you not on the mailing list Bob? Victoria has volunteered to help keep it going with a group of like minded individuals
I was on the mailing list but am not aware of having heard anything about the re-launch, which I welcome.
I will ask Victoria to put me back on the list.
Are you the same Bob Barr who tried to sell off Walton Hall & Gardens to a boutique hotel group for £1? Who overturned a planning decision to ensure that the beautiful, Victorian Stockton Heath Primary School was demolished etc.etc.etc? And who, more recently, represented the Lib Dems on the ALL Party Devolution Task & Finish Group, that recommended WBC progress a bid for ‘New City /mass development’, which will rip up all our green fields, and destroy our town? If so, why would you be interested in the Civic Society?
He’s the same Bob Barr who was reported as saying recently, after years on successive planning committee’s: “I think it is a real problem for the council.
“We are passing the buck, or allowing this to happen to a whole range of heritage and archaeological assets around the town.”
Developers from outside of the Town? The Sunday school was actually owned by Warrington & Co – a company charged with overseeing Warrington’s “Town Centre Regeneration” project! Warrington’s own planning dept, instead of instigating criminal proceedings against them for demolition without planning permission, granted them retrospective permission and in doing so condoned the destruction! If the Civic Society is going to be in any way effective, they need to first be clear about what/who the threat to our heritage is – it is not some nameless, faceless bogie-man from far and beyond it is our own council who have been the main drivers of a systematic destruction of all that is of genuine worth in our built environment. It is they, who are orchestrating the replacement of our beautiful buildings with bland, ugly, box-like monstrosities! It is they, who are trying to force upon us their developer-led ‘aspirations’ to change our once wonderful, Warrington Country Town into Sheddington New City!