AN HISTORIC lock cottage in Worcester is under threat from decay after being left empty and neglected for several years.

The grade two-listed cottage at Diglis dock basin has “deteriorated significantly” over recent years, according to a city council report and has now been put on the authority’s register of old buildings it believes are officially “at risk”.

The lock cottage is one of the oldest buildings in the Diglis area and the council is keen to put pressure on its owners to find a good use for it and save it from further deterioration.

The city’s senior planning officer Alan Coleman told a meeting of the planning committee: “The cottage is a typical building at risk – it’s not currently occupied, there’s no proposed use for it and it’s starting to fall into disrepair.

“It’s one of the oldest buildings there and it’s important that it’s kept. Given the state of its disrepair we need to secure these repairs as soon as possible.”

The lock cottage, located by Diglis top and bottom canal locks, is owned by British Waterways, the public corporation in charge of caring for Britain’s river and canal networks.

Mr Coleman said that putting the building on the council’s at risk register was likely to spur the body into action.

“I am very hopeful about this,” he said.

“We have been in talks with British Waterways and it is in their interests to realise their own assets.” Committee members were fully supportive of the council’s actions.

Labour councillor Paul Denham said: “It’s a building we want to preserve – it’s part of the history of the area and we shouldn’t just allow it to go into ruin.”

His colleague Geoff Williams said he “totally supported” efforts to save the building: “The important thing in the long term is to find a use for it.”

A spokeswoman said for British Waterways an announcement is likely about the cottage’s future in the coming weeks. “There are a number of options on the table regarding this building but we have not yet reached the stage where we’re ready to go public with them.

“We’re aware of the condition of the building and of our responsibility to keep it well maintained. We’ve got a number of ideas we’re working on but it’s too early to say which one we will take forward.”