Derelict Lever Arms Pub ‘needs to come down’

The former Lever Arms pub in Top O’Th’ Lane, off Radcliffe Road, Bolton, which has been closed since early last year, has been left in a derelict state following repeated instances of youths trying to enter the building, according to its owners. Cllr Sean Hornby said he had been told that contractors had been attacked trying to secure the property “by young individuals with knives”, with youths regularly seen at the site.

A planning application was submitted to demolish the pub and put a new building in its place in December last year.

The new building was designed to become nine flats, a mixture of two and three bedrooms, over three floors, however, the plans were withdrawn in March.

The building has been left to deteriorate even more, with Cllr Hornby saying it now “needs to come down”.

“It’s become very dangerous now,” he said. “It only takes one slab or roof tile to come down for someone to get seriously hurt.

“Kids have been breaking in occasionally which is causing significant problems. The owner has told me how workers trying to secure the building have been attacked by these kids which is shocking.

“It’s become a complete eyesore for local residents too and is now just totally beyond repair. It’s sad really. We are now at the stage where it just needs to come down.

“It wasn’t left very secure in the early stages and had been set on fire a few times leaving it in total disrepair. It needs to come down.

“It was a nice and friendly pub too so it’s a shame to see it like this.”