Sponsored by
Anger over Horsforth Victorian building demolition
Residents have spoken of their anger after a Victorian building was suddenly demolished in Horsforth.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Horsforth Today.
Residents on Outwood Lane woke to the sound of lorries moving in on the proposed site for a 10.5m St Joseph's Care Village.
* Click here to become a fan of Horsforth Today on Facebook.
The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy – which is a registered charity – in association with Westward Care Ltd, hope to create an 80 plus bed home on the former St Joseph's care home site.
The night before the demolition started worried locals attended a meeting with councillors to voice their concerns about the development.
Campaigners fear that the building will be out of character with the area if the plans for the care village are given the green light.
Stella Collins lives on Outwood Lane and has been a resident for the last 40 years.
She said: "We have been well and truly shafted. I think that it is disgraceful that they can just go there and destroy somewhere before they have got permission to build something new."
Val Brattley, who lives on Beech Avenue, added: "I was just appalled at the look of the plans and there are certainly not enough parking spaces.
"It is not in character with the area. To me it seems as though it is just a step nearer to the care village being built."
Local councillors were also concerned that residents had not been informed that demolition work would be starting.
Coun Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said: "All of the people that
have objected to the demolition haven't been informed and therefore had no time to fight it.
"I think that the biggest impact this will have on locals is that they are going to feel betrayed."
Coun Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) added: "People should rest assured that demolition of the property will have absolutely no bearing on what is built."
A spokesman from Westward Care said: "The trustees of the institute feel that they have no alternative but to commence demolition of the existing building as soon as possible.
"This is in the interests of public safety, as the building has regrettably been frequently targeted by vandals who have ripped up floors and removed lift shaft doors. Attempts have also been made at arson.
"Although planning permission has yet to be received for the new scheme, the Institute and their advisers have carried out extensive consultations and are hopeful that the currently submitted scheme will be well received by the City Council.
Westward Care have not broken any planning regulations by demolishing the building.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Web poll: Who is to blame for Leeds United’s league position? VOTE HERE
- Leeds United: Redfearn among bookmakers’ favourites for job UPDATED
- Leeds United: Billy Davies will listen if Whites come calling
- Leeds United: A Bristol breeze! - Gray
- Bristol City v Leeds United: Redfearn focused on the here and now
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
