Court decision on historic pavilion is a ‘crushing blow’ (From Worcester News)

Court decision on historic pavilion is a ‘crushing blow’

7:10am Saturday 15th March 2008 in

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THE decision not to protect Worcester's historic cricket pavilion has been described as a "crushing blow" by campaigners.

In 2006, when the St John's conservation area was introduced by Worcester City Council, Councillor David Clark was overjoyed.

He had been campaigning, along with your Worcester News, to protect the pavilion, which has been falling into disrepair since it was declared unsafe in September 2005.

He said: "This is a crushing blow to all those interested in the county's history and those interested in our sporting heritage. However, we deserve what we get. If we don't fight then how can we bemoan any loss that may follow?

"I would like to think that any club, association, committee or organisation interested in conserving our history is going to put their weight behind any effort to retain and renovate this piece of our sporting history.

"In fact, I invite them to contact me as soon as possible in order that we can bring pressure to bear with the owners."

Mr Clark said the vulnerability of the pavilion will not only concern Worcester people but cricket fans across the globe.

At the height of his campaign, which was backed by Worcestershire County Cricket Club (WCCC), Mr Clark called upon city people to blockade the entrance to the sports ground in order to stop demolition vehicles entering.

Equally keen to see the building, home to WCCC until it moved to New Road in 1899, was club chief executive Mark Newton. Mr Newton was unavailable to comment, but at the time described the pavilion as part of the city's heritage.

Councillor Barry MacKenzie-Williams, another councillor involved in the campaign, is now waiting for the High Court to release a final, detailed judgement on what can be done with the area. He said: "It's obviously very disappointing. I believe the entire site deserves to be a conservation area. I also believe English Heritage should have made the pavilion a listed building when we asked them to in 2007.

"It's just such a shame that the judge has come to a different conclusion to that of public opinion."