THE demolition of Carlisle’s derelict Central Plaza Hotel is nearing completion, say officials. Our readers had their say on the News & Star website and Facebook page.

Well done to the guys for getting the job done sooner than expected. Shame to see that pile of rubble but let’s get this viaduct open and welcome any business that is willing to take the land so our council can hopefully get some money back.

Shinyman

It’s good that things are finally moving forward, but it should never have been allowed to reach this state in the first place.

Border Reiver

Have they saved some of the beautiful interior features, and if so, what will happen to them?

chevron71

Finally an end in sight to this long running fiasco. Get the roads opened and traffic flowing, businesses back on their feet. Turn it into a car park. Anything is better than a rotting old building.

I did knock

Surely we can do better than a car park?

curry-club

Very glad everything will be open again soon, particularly Tesco! Makes everything so much easier for everyone.

Avice

Great get the city back open. Hats off to the demolition company for a swift job.

Handyman87

This is great news isn’t it. The whole sorry mess is drawing to a conclusion and quicker than expected. Incredible how quick it came down in the end. Sad but it had to be done.

Thelma79

Just make it an open space to sit and relax, otherwise the stupid council planners will put a building up like the eyesore next to old Paddy’s Market.

ken h

Of course this still leaves the ownership issue unresolved. A lot of comments on here from people assuming the council can now sell the site and recoup some of the money they spent on it or use it for something such as a car park or green space, but I don’t think that’s the case. By doing the expensive bit to get the site ready for development they might even have increased the site’s value so that the Crown Estate can now recoup more from the sale. It’s still the taxpayer who benefits at the end of the day but would be good if it were our own council that benefit to ensure the money is spent locally.

McAll W

There are a few dodgy looking buildings in Botchergate too.

Definitely needs followed up.

Graitney

I don’t know what everyone’s so upset about. Yes, we’ve lost an old building but we lost it a long time ago because it should have been refurbished years ago. Good riddance, I say.

Alex Horky

Thank the Lord it’s gone! A blot on our landscape gone forever. I’m pleased for the people of Carlisle and businesses that have suffered in its wake.

Margaret Wright

I’m sure the traders will be glad to see the back of it. If it was so beautiful and so worth preserving why do they let it fell into such disrepair. The church opposite the civic hall in Whitehaven is the same.

Carol Calder

This is so sad they should of come to its rescue years ago it was beautiful building its part of Carlisle history gone forever.

Dozereli Fleetwood

Gone in a flash. Well done to the team. Just shows how many businesses could have been still trading if they had got the go-ahead sooner.

Alice Murphy

Such a shame that a beautiful old building was allowed to fall into disrepair.

Denise Millward

I’m sure The city council said that they were going to save stonework and other items but it certainly doesn’t look like that has happened. I do understand that it being in such a bad state of repair was a problem for local businesses and traffic, but if something had been done a lot earlier it surely could of been saved, I really do believe that the city council have no love for the old buildings of the city. What next, the castle and cathedral?

I bet other councils up and down the country preserve the past.

Sad day. That’s where we had our wedding reception 21 years ago.

Ali Maleney

Looks so empty. My mum and dad had their wedding reception there on September 27, 1969. Very posh in those days.

Melanie Milne

About time too. It shouldn’t have got to this, a loss of a beautiful city building.

Viv Atherton

So glad business can get back to normal. Happy Christmas.

Ian Hall

Best news for that area, and happy for the businesses.

Ron Kirkley

Shame the front of the building could not have been kept - like they have done in Dublin - then build a modern building behind. Let’s hope we have another stunning building like the Civic Centre erected...

Greg Mcgough