By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:35, Friday, 22 June 2012

The dilapidated former bus depot in Whitehaven town centre will be demolished within six months’ time because it is a danger to the public.

The owners of the eyesore building, Torquay-based Whitehaven Marina, said that the roof could be blown off the depot at any time.

And earlier this week Copeland council gave permission to knock down the eyesore building, which has stood empty for more than 15 years, in order to protect the public.

At the authority’s planning panel councillors were told that it is against council policy to knock down a building in the town’s conservation area without the site being immediately redeveloped.

While the site is earmarked for development and has planning consent in place for a new shops and flats complex in the future, the immediate demolition was granted due to the unsafe condition of the former depot building which faces onto the harbour’s Millennium Promenade.

Councillors were also told that the building is heavily soiled with bird guano. The site is opposite the bus station, which is also vacant, and takes in the former Grand Garage operated by B & H Motors.

Once demolition has taken place, old motor inspection pits will be filled in and the whole site covered with concrete. Then boundary arrangements will be put in place, including a post and rail fence on the Bransty Row and Tangier Street boundaries, a low brick wall retained on the North Shore Road side and the existing stone wall retained between the site and the Millennium Promenade.

Planning officers say the building detracts from the appearance of the Conservation Area and its removal will eliminate a safety risk and open up views on the approach to the town centre.

The depot, opposite Wetherspoons, got outline planning approval for a flats/retail development back in August 2009 when the owners put forward proposals to convert it into seven ground floor shops with 62 apartments above, over five storeys. Approvals last for three years

Last month maintenance work was carried out at the separate former bus station building, also owned by Whitehaven Marina. The bus station too has outline approval for apartments with parking underneath, also agreed in August 2009.

First published at 11:27, Friday, 22 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk