Worcester's history at risk (From Worcester News)

Worcester's history at risk

9:53am Monday 15th October 2012 in Worcester By Tom Edwards

THESE are some of Worcester’s historic landmarks which are officially in danger of crumbling away.

A total of 29 public buildings, chapels, former pubs, private properties, conservation areas and other assets feature on an ‘at risk’ register published by Worcester City Council.

Some of them remain in serious condition because of decades of neglect, with the council warning many are in a parlous state.

It includes 18 grade two- listed sites, including the railway bridge at Foregate Street railway station, St Cuthbert’s Chapel, and the old engine works in Shrub Hill Road.

One of the biggest landmarks on the register is the old railway viaduct which snakes along Sansome Road and The Butts, which is looking increasingly tatty and “detracts from the conservation area”.

It also mentions two curry houses in The Tything: Ash-ley’s and Anarkali, where the second floors are both empty and in a “poor state of repair”, according to repair, according to the report.

Also the empty Scala Theatre in Angel Street is in a “poor state of repair internally” and needs urgent “remedial action”.

The list is published once a year and is aimed at keeping tabs on Worcester’s most neglected builings. The register had 22 sites on it last year, meaning it has grown by seven, but by 2013 several are expected to come off the list because of current renovation work.

That includes Heron Lodge, St Cuthbert’s Chapel and Woodside in Lark Hill, where repair works are due to finish in January.

A report spelling out the publication of the register says all the sites will “continue to be monitored” and if negotiation over upgrading them fails, “enforcement action” will be taken.

Councillor Alan Amos, who sits on Worcester City Council’s planning committee, said: “The council does need to take a tough line on the owners of these properties to make sure they are improved.

“It needs to use whatever means it can, because these sites deserve nothing less.”

Councillor David Wilkinson, the city’s appointed heritage champion, said: “Ideally this list would go down until there’s nothing on it, but that’s not the real world.

"When it comes to the numbers, when we want to keep tabs on any damaged building the best thing to do is put it on the register so our attention remains on that site until we are satisfied.”

Buildings at risk

• Shrub Hill Station, the ladies waiting room
• Remains of City Wall
• Lock Cottage, Diglis Dock
• Foregate Street Station railway bridge
• 42 Henwick Road, St John’s
• 34 Henwick Road, St John’s
• 55-57 Lowesmoor
• St Cuthbert’s Chapel
• Shrub Hill Railway Station
• Engine works, Shrub Hill Road
• 18 and 20 Silver Street
• 13 The Tything
• 28 The Tything
• Heron Lodge, London Road
• Woodside, Larkhill
• 11 The Tything
• 47 The Tything
• 115 Sidbury
• 11 Green Hill
• The Granary, St Martin’s Gate
• Railway Viaduct
• 79-81 St John’s
• Scala Theatre, Angel Place
• Ice Factory, Bromyard Road
• Battle of Worcester battlefield, Powick Bridge
• Worcester and Birmingham Canal Conservation Area
• Lowesmoor Conservation Area
• Larkhill Conservation Area