Demolition day arrives
After seemingly endless delays and false starts, the derelict Ollerton and Bevercotes Miners’ Welfare building is finally being demolished.
A large digger was on the Whinney Lane site on Tuesday to start the job.
The final obstacle to the demolition, Vodafone equipment linked to a nearby phone mast, has been moved to temporary accommodation.
The MP for Sherwood, Mr Mark Spencer, said he was relieved that work was finally under way.
“Relieved is the word, although I am still staggered that it has taken as long as it has,” he said.
“Following several grumpy phone calls from my office and despite assurances that demolition would begin before June 1, we finally have a digger on site and we can begin the process of redeveloping this part of Ollerton.”
He said it was likely the area would be considered for residential development, and he would be working with planners and trustees to develop a suitable scheme.
“We need to make sure it will be in keeping with the town, and the sooner we can do it the better,” he said.
“Hopefully we will be in a position to get something off the ground by Christmas, but the number one priority is to get the building down and hopefully put a stop to some of the anti-social behaviour on the site.”
The abandoned building, once known as the Palladium of the Midlands, has been plagued by arson, vandalism and drug taking.
The demolition was welcomed by the emergency services, which have had to deal with crime at the site.
Ruth Clayton, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s community safety advocate for Newark and Sherwood, said: “I am delighted to see the start of demolition work on the miners’ welfare site, which has been a problem area since the building fell empty.”
She said the Newark and Sherwood Derelict and Void Buildings Group — made up of the fire service, police and Newark and Sherwood District Council — had been carrying out regular patrols to respond to problems, and would continue to do so.
It is expected to take around two to three weeks to demolish.
Mr Spencer said security measures would be put in place to ease concerns that the empty land could be illegally occupied.
