commercial
 

my fella heard on the radio that the church commercial has collasped!, as anyone else heard this?, sorry but dont know the full story, but all the traffic is bedlem, wondering if this is true or his my fella pulling my leg:rolleyes:

Re: commercial
 

probably true think the foundations were weakened by my discos.:D

Re: commercial
 

There is nothing on the fire station site ........ yet?
Your Station

Re: commercial
 

i drove past earlier and the road was closed off but it wasnt closed off at the comercial it was just after it so i assume one of the other buildings near the bus stop is collapsing

Re: commercial
 

BBC - Lancashire - Travel - Road Travel Information
Just seen on BBC Lancs website
A679 [Blackburn Road] Church
both ways between Buttermere Drive and Thwaites Road closed
A679 Lancashire - Blackburn Road closed both ways between the Buttermere Drive junction and the Thwaites Road junction in Church, unsafe building.

Last updated: 1st February 2008 at 15:43

Re: commercial
 

i'm not being funny but...maybe its good that its collapsed, now they can remove the awful eyesore...just my opinion thats all

Re: commercial
 

Its not the Commercial... further on towards Blackburn - can only think that there is housing there opposite and backing onto the canal

Re: commercial
 

There were just good, stone-built Victorian houses along there when I lived in West End - on the canal side that is - and a couple of pairs of 20s semis. Heaven knows what they've built on the "new" side.

Incidentally, it refers to the area as Church but it isn't. Church starts after the railway bridge and the Twenty Steps.

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Don't let it get you down Wst Ender the BBC always get things wrong:D

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When I went past earlier, it looked like the building next to The Commercial, thats where there was loads of rubble and bricks in the road.

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That's the warehouse that is supposed to be listed as being of historical importance.
I could never see it as that - hope it is not going to cost US to restore it to its former ugly condition :rolleyes:

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Here:

Road Closed After Wind Prompts Roof Collapse (from Lancashire Telegraph)

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So BBC Travel info were WRONG

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its just says a derelict warehouse, well there are a few round there with their roofs missing anyway, all that area should be knocked down!

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aww ******, that means it wont be coming down then :(

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The gov. report on the Hyndburn Gateway project included -
"Hargreaves’ Warehouse is a Grade II Listed Building at the heart of the Church Canalside
Conservation Area. It is also a key building prominently located at the Church Oswaldtwistle
Gateway.
The building has suffered from long-term vacancy and its deteriorating condition has been a
cause of concern in recent years. The poor condition of the building creates problems for the
historic building fabric; the character of the canalside; the regeneration of the surrounding area;
and the image of the borough at this gateway location.
3.2 Officers have had prolonged negotiations over many years with the owner of the Warehouse to
secure essential maintenance and the long term economic use of the building. However the
building continues to be vacant and in a deteriorating condition"

Grade 2 listed = expensive restoration

Re: commercial
 

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...407_report.pdf
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 Hargreaves’ Warehouse is a Grade II Listed Building at the heart of the Church Canalside
Conservation Area. It is also a key building prominently located at the Church Oswaldtwistle
Gateway.
The building has suffered from long-term vacancy and its deteriorating condition has been a
cause of concern in recent years. The poor condition of the building creates problems for the
historic building fabric; the character of the canalside; the regeneration of the surrounding area;
and the image of the borough at this gateway location.
3.2 Officers have had prolonged negotiations over many years with the owner of the Warehouse to
secure essential maintenance and the long term economic use of the building. However the
building continues to be vacant and in a deteriorating condition.
3.3 The gateway area around the Warehouse is a high priority for regeneration within the borough.
A feasibility study for the area was produced for the Council by consultants in 2005. Planning
guidance based on the study was adopted by the Council in 2006 to create confidence for
investment in the area. This has been followed up with the selection of a private sector
development partner to work with the Council to bring about the much needed rejuvenation of
the gateway. This will involve a complex package of masterplanning, site assembly and
partnership development.
3.4 There is widespread recognition that the regeneration of the area requires early action to
address the problems associated with the Warehouse. Local authorities are empowered by the
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation areas) Act 1990 to take action to secure the
repair of listed buildings when it becomes evident that a building is being allowed to
deteriorate. There are two forms of potential action :
• Urgent Works Notice
Section 54 of the Act enables a local authority to carry out urgent works considered necessary
for the preservation of a listed building. The owner must be given notice of the intended works.
These powers extend only to the minimum work necessary to keep the building wind and
weatherproof; safe from collapse; and protected from vandalism or theft. Local authorities may
recover the cost of urgent works from the building’s owner.
• Repairs Notice
Section 48 of the Act enables a local authority to serve a Repairs Notice on the owner of a listed
building which is not being properly preserved. These powers should be used where protracted
failure by the owner to keep a listed building in reasonable repair places the building at risk. The
Notice is intended to secure work for the long-term preservation of the building. The extent of
repairs is largely determined by the condition of the building at the time of listing. If, after at least
2 months, it appears that reasonable steps are not being taken by the owner, the local authority
may be able to begin compulsory purchase proceedings under Section 47.
A further report will be sent to Cabinet if the owner defaults on the Repairs Notice.
A local authority may serve an Urgent Works Notice and a Repairs Notice concurrently.

That report was april 2007 - did the council compulsory purchase? if they did WE pay to restore its ugliness

Re: commercial
 

Not many people call it that anymore.

As children we were always excited if our Nan took us on an adventure, that included going to the Twenty Steps, before jumping brooks, and other fun stuff, before perhaps ending up at the Fairy Caves for a picnic.:)

Re: commercial
 

Last i heard a doctor from london owned the hargreaves warehouse.

Article from LET : Building hope for warehouse

Re: commercial
 

what did that place used to be called and what did they do there?

Re: commercial
 

That was 2 months before compulsory purchase was being considered in the report I have quoted - safe to presume that IF it found a new owner, the new owner wasnt complying with council's request to repair either.

Re: commercial
 

it was sold by auction for £160,000 - 21st feb 2007

Pugh & Company Ltd - Property Auctioneers

so seems the new owner is prob holding out for some kind of grant or such like

Re: commercial
 

It was the stone building next to the commercial, the end part (with the apex at the front) had some coping stones dislodged and the rubble came down onto the road, if the thieves had left the lead and slates alone it would not have happened, I was coming out of bridge street as the traffic had stopped, just missed the fall, when I passed again 30 mins later, the police had closed the road.

Re: commercial
 

So it wasn't near Thwaites Rd. at all. :rolleyes: Yep, I'll concede that where that warehouse is (or was) is in Church. It figures large in my childhood memories, that place. I used to get the Blackburn bus at the stop opposite (large, green painted wooden shed - very cosy and weatherproof) and you couldn't avoid the warehouse with the canal beside it. After the war, for years, the letters E W S were painted on one wall inside the arch. Somebody told me, when I was 6, that they stood for "Enter water softly". Naturally, I believed it. :D


Rindy - The Twenty Steps will always be that to me. For some reason I haven't a clue about I always found that bridge and the steps a bit scary. Probably my brother telling me horror stories about it when I was small. :(

Re: commercial
 

ya know iv lived in ossy all my life and i have never once been on them steps:rolleyes:

The old commercial pub
 

Just heard that its fallen down on talk sport, anyone know any more?

Re: The old commercial pub
 

The area would look nicer if they both fell down. On second thought it would look better if everything within 500 yards of the traffic lights fell down.

Re: commercial
 

I used to work in the red brick building to the left of bridge street, someone did buy it after consultations with the council as to it possible usage, he then purcased it and started work on the windows and entrances, only to be told he couldn't use it for what he planned, (as discussed with the council) due to it being situated within the vacinity of Blythes. He planned to turn it into a restaurant/hotel venture I believe. Needless to say he stopped working on it.

Re: The old commercial pub
 

It was still there last night, but the roadblock was there too, as I said, it was falling rubble from the roof, all undermined by the fact that the roof has been stripped.

Re: commercial
 

I am 250 miles away, but I can tell you now that the roof that has collapsed is the temporary roof that the council ordered to be placed on the building about 18 months ago. A clear view of this could be had from the spot where the Gypos where encamped last year. So much for modern building techniques, eh!

Re: The old commercial pub
 

Good to see that people appreciate our industrial heritage

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Apologies there andystanley but if you have a look at that particular bit of "heritage" it's an eyesore, derelict shops on one side, derelict pub and warehouse on the other. Now it would seem it's a dangerous eyesore.
You can't blame folk who live near it and pass it on a daily basis for being a bit cheesed off really; it's been like that for donkey's years and nothings been done.
Hardly sits well with the regeneration and new health centres does it? Not exactly a welcoming sight if you are a visitor coming to Accrington for the first time is it ?:rolleyes:

Re: commercial
 

I would rather drive past a building like "that" than any of the new health centre, projectss etc. It's a G2 listed building for good reason. and probably more deserving of a CPO and restoration than any of the other "regeneration" CPOs down that way

Re: commercial
 

Knock them all down, make more room for the caravans.

Re: commercial
 

That's all you get on it if it was razed to the ground !
The whole area needs thoughtful redevelopment, the Commercial was/ is a substantial building and the area at the rear of it next to the canal could be really pleasant, sadly the proximity of the rather noxious Blythes and Ashworths factories will hinder any plans.

Re: commercial
 

"particular" piece of heritage in question is the warehouse, not the derelict pub and shops. if you cant appreciate a piece of architecture like that, and it's significance in the "commercial" history of church, then that explains your response.

Re: commercial
 

I was simply replying to the earlier responses that the whole surrounding area is such a mess that no one could tell which bit had actually collapsed. I have a great affection for Accy and it's environs, it's really sad that the remaining parts of our industrial heritage are in this appalling state of disrepair, if folk were less blinkered and more open to new ideas on conservation then this wouldn't happen ... Owl Hall (I rest my case.)

Re: commercial
 

That's the difference. some "Blinkered" people like Neil, would have the whole lot knocked down, maybe in their place build some nice canalside dwellings for the workshy types....but I assume you are on the conservation/preservation side, so fair play.

I am not sure what your point is on Owl Hall, it's a contentious one, there are a number of differing opinions, mostly nimbies who bought houses built on green belt nearby (Colroy / Brookside estate) in the eighties, with no regard for surrounding residents, and now think that its wrong to allow development close to their houses. Having also had the play area removed from Arden Hall because their own chavvy kids were on there being noisy at night they now seek to prevent the restoration of Owl Hall. If the planners exercise a bit of common sense then they could probably persuade the developer to sympathetically restore the Hall before allowing any further development. (then maybe knock down some of them brooksidey houses that spoil his view!)

Re: commercial
 

I'm very much in favour of the conservation of these buildings, but we need to look at the bigger picture; for example when Oakhill mansion was literally falling down there were calls for demolition and objections to it being redeveloped as a nursing home, it's still there, looks great as a nursing home and has had the renovation needed. That building would have been lost to us all without the renovation, granted it's not a museum open to the public, granted it's a private concern but we can still see it and appreciate it's architecture. Better than nothing eh !

Re: commercial
 

So... It seems that we agree. Conserve not demolish. Preserve (albeit with another use) these grand buildings!

Re: commercial
 

Looks that way ! Blimey, doncha just lurve a happy ending !:)

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Dose anybody know how long it's going to be blocked off. I was pretty peed off yesterday when I was going to work at 5.00 and couldn't get through.
No way round except though all the mud at fox hill. It was dark muddy n horrible. just glad I had decided to put my boots on. I don't usually wear them for work.
I was not an happy bunny when I got to work.
Luckily I got a lift home at 10.00

Re: commercial
 

well blackburn rd must still be blocked off this morning, ya should have see all the traffic coming along harvey street in ossy!, even union rd is chocka block!

Re: commercial
 

Blackburn Road at traffic lights is open again! :D

Thank God. The traffic in Ossy has been horrific this week.

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i found these on the camera i forgot to put them on while the road was closed sorry:)

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what a pretty site eh?.......Attachment 10818

all that area need knocking down, makes ya wonder what tourists think when they go to ossy mills:rolleyes:

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Next time you pass Mick, you will find that the apex on the left of your picture is now level, the prearlings are propped up with a few pieces of wood, otherwise is now completely open to the elements, If the council would allow development (they won't at the minute because it is considered too close to Blythe for residential buildings), this would not have got so bad, the building has gone down the same crying shame road as the old con club.

Re: commercial
 

How bluddy typical of HBC. This is a building that has managed to stand for almost 150 years without any major bits dropping off. Then HBC helpfully step in and "repair" the roof. The inevitable consequence is that during the first really good bit of bad weather since the repair was done the whole bluddy roof blows off!

Moral: Only a fool would trust anyone from HBC to sit on a lavatory the right way round - much less manage the conservation and repair of our heritage assets.

Re: commercial
 

What fantastic buildings, all three in that picture. They just need lots of tlc. Fantastic architecture on the mill, that huge arch!.

Knock them down and in a few years you'll all be regretting that you destroyed your heritage.

Panther Tourists want to see these old buildings, they want to see, character, heritage, history, not new modern red brick, characterless boxes. Strange that you say tourists on the way to ossy mills, is that not an old mill building?

It's not pretty at the moment but it could be with restoration, and could even be a tourist attraction in it's own right.

Re: commercial
 

i agree Madhatter but they are a bloody eyesore, like a few things round there!:rolleyes:

I mean how long have they been empty??.......years and years, the building that the roof came off as been always empty as long as i know, commercial pub was a good pub, god knows why the shut it:(......but IF they did do them up they WOULD look nice, but they are now getting in a state, that its cheaper to demolish and build again:(

Re: commercial
 

Flats.
All I ever hear is the shortage of housing, we're having new eco towns in the uk to cope with the need for more housing, yet these building have been stood empty years.

Re: commercial
 

Been another episode today, a wagon from walker steel shut the road down all morning because the divvy lost his load, he knew it had moved when he came off bridge street, but instead of just reversing and going back, he decided to turn around at the junction, and the load slid off, demolishing the curtain sides and framework, and leaving steel all over the road.

Re: commercial
 

should think would be a very difficult manouvere reversing back up bridge street,if were talking an artic?:confused:

Re: commercial
 

Not back into bridge street, he actually got out onto the road, realised the load shifted, another driver got out of his wagon to guide him backwards so he could drive back into bridge street, the guy took no notice and swung the wagon round at the junction, in the same direction as the load had shifted, soon as he straightened up, it slid off, taking the curtain and framework with it.

Re: commercial