Lever Arms Pub: Calls made to demolish old Darcy Lever pub

Cllr Sean Hornby believes someone may be hurt if the building is not demolished as soon as possible, due to the building being “beyond repair”, with incidents of vandalism happening regularly.

• ALSO READ: Derelict Lever Arms Pub ‘needs to come down’

Cllr Hornby has in the past called on council officers to issue a demolition order on the pub, claiming that if action is not taken then someone could be seriously injured.

• ALSO READ: Bolton: Lever Arms Pub demolition questioned

Cllr Hornby said: “If something does happen, I will hold the council accountable.

"It's beyond saving and there is nothing left of it.

"The building is unsafe, and it's also been broken into at the front and the front door has been completely smashed in and parts of the roof no longer exist.

"The front end of the right hand side is coming away.

"It is an eyesore and needs to be taken down as soon as possible."

• ALSO READ: Lever Arms Pub development receives objections

A petition was also created to try and restore and preserve the Lever Arms Pub, following plans put forward to demolish it, and Cllr Hornby says this has given people "false hope".

Cllr Hornby says that he will now raise this with council officers in the interest of safety to have the building demolished.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “There is an open application to demolish the Lever Arms pub which is still under consideration.

“It is the responsibility of property owners to ensure their buildings are kept secure and do not pose a risk to the neighbourhood.

“The council has certain enforcement powers that can be used if a building is considered dangerous and a threat to public safety.”

As the pub landlord of the Queen's Hotel in Bradley Fold Cllr Hornby said that he was keen to take the pub over, but following a fire it would need a large amount of money spending on it.

He added: "The idea of making it a community pub would have been fantastic for the area, but the building is in such a state it would be impossible.

"It is also not a listed building."

The building on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever, has been empty since the end of March 2019, and is said to be beyond repair due to repeat acts of vandalism and rainwater damage.

Proposals were previously put forward to redevelop the site into apartments and a café.

A planning application is still in place for the demolition to be carried out and it is expected to go before The Planning Committee by at least the end of June.

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