Longton building collapse fears lead to closure of road
A TOWN centre road last night remained cordoned off after fears an empty building could collapse.
Police, fire crews and council workers have been monitoring the disused property, in Uttoxeter Road, Longton, since the weekend.
The alarm was raised by passers-by who reported parts of the building were crumbling.
The road surrounding the three-storey property – which is thought to date back to around the late 1800s and was last used as a furniture store – remained closed as a precaution yesterday and traffic was diverted down Bridgewood Street.
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Now investigations are underway to asses the stability of the building, which is opposite Stevens Solicitors.
It is understood the building has been empty for more than five years and is currently up for sale.
It is the second structure to be deemed unsafe in Longton town centre this month. A property next to Specsavers, in Market Street, which is about 150 yards away from the property in Uttoxeter Road, remains cordoned off after the inside of the building collapsed and caused a crack to the exterior on July 4.
Now traders fear the two incidents could be connected.
Aram Sabir, of Hanley, who works in the Mini Market, in Market Street, said: "The building at the bottom of the street has been cordoned off for about three weeks and now this one has been shut off for about three days or so. I don't know what is happening.
"This is the second time this has happened in a short space of time and it makes you wonder whether there is something wrong with the ground and not the buildings. It is quite unusual that it has happened to two buildings which are quite close together."
Graham Jones, who works at RW Fencing, in Bridgewood Street, saw parts of the building falling off at about 5pm on Friday.
The 48-year-old, of Bentilee, said: "The police and the council were called and they closed the road off and it has been like that ever since.
"People can still walk down Uttoxeter Road but it is closed off to cars.
"I am just worried that it is dangerous.
"We have been able to carry on working but our job has been made more difficult because all the cars are being diverted this way.
"I know the owner of the building and he lives quite a way away."
It has not been established whether the two incidents are connected.
A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesman said: "A member of the public raised concerns about the building late on Friday afternoon.
"Our experts went to the scene, and found that the front elevation had moved away from the gable end.
"A catchment zone is now in place in case the front does fall away, and Uttoxeter Road is blocked off there as a precaution.
"It's a detached, commercial building which is three storeys high.
"We're in touch with the owners and have met them on site. They're considering a range of remedial options, before deciding on the most appropriate way forward."
Comments
by shufti
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 4:09PM
“Can anyone remember how long it took to demolish the Romulus e Remus restaurant in the Strand? it was months and months with the road down to one lane causing chaos, all I can say is be prepared for more of the same. 'this is not Hanley you know'.
Longton and the other four towns will suffer until this councils fixation with Hanley ends, and some of the cash spent there is spread equally between all of Stoke-on-Trent, but that will not be anytime soon.”
by camband
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 3:28PM
“by MrDAP
"This part of Longton contains some of the worst areas of dereliction in the city (unquote)
On rainy days -which is nearly every day, -walking along Market St Longton is like walking under Niagra Falls, -the gutting and down-spouts are so rotten and leaking.
Makes a rain day even more dreary when being in that part of Longton. Dismal and depressing.”
by RegenMan1
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 3:11PM
“Any chance someone might actually pull their finger out and do something so that we can get the roads re-opened and go about our business?
I went past the Uttoxeter Road property yesterday afternoon, half a dozen chaps in yellow jackets stood on the pavement by the Union pub - looking but not doing.
Regarding the property in Market Street, it was stated that the road would be re-opened in about three weeks. 4th July plus 21 days = 25 July, so already a week overdue and not much sign of any repair works taking place.”
by nelsonl
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 1:02PM
“Having lived in Longton all my life (54 years) i have gradually watched it turn into a run down dishevelled town.
Its pitiful to see it in the state it is in now. I used to be proud to say im from Longton, but seeing all the empty shops, the run down areas, the empty precinct apart from the dossers hanging round is heart breaking.
Going back to when the Clock was the show piece, the precinct booming, the market full, not one shop empty, seems a long long time ago.
Even at xmas time Longton seems to of drawn the short straw, a makeshift tree, decorations i wouldnt deem fit to have in my house.
Its so pitiful, i have actually been into town today, and its sad to see all the empty buildings, plenty of shops to let, no one in the precinct, ok it was drizzling, i actually thought back to when i used to get clobber from Haydens, and dockers from Brassingtons, and sit on the grass in the 4 squares what surrounded the clock..
I feel sad, sorry or whatever you want to call it to see it this way, and now with the crumbling buildings its an embarrasment, one fell down a while ago at the bottom of the town, next to barclays.
I dont know why the council cant do a big revamp, they must have their reasons, but something should be done.
I went into Royals opticians, and sat waiting and looking at the oatcake shop across from it, i didnt see one person go in, how the shop keepers make a living i do not know.
Sorry for harping on, but seeing my hometown so run down has hit home how bad things have reallty become.”
by MrDAP
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 11:09AM
“This part of Longton contains some of the worst areas of dereliction in the city outside of those decimated by the Pathfinder, and it has been ignored and neglected by the City Council for far too long, and the problems have been exacerbated by allowing St Modwen to obliterate the town centre with their monstrous developments. Action is long overdue. Pull your fingers out!”
by Notanumber
Tuesday, July 31 2012, 10:50AM
“Neglect and mining subsidence?”