Anger over Leicester wagon works demolition plan
The planned demolition of an old wagon works building in Leicester has drawn controversy among local people.
An application has been submitted to demolish Great Central Railway's former wagon works on Upperton Road, but some local people have said the building has too much historical significance for it to be destroyed.
It is understood that a local development firm is planning to transform the prime site for a number of different uses, including student accommodation.
The chairman of Leicester Civic Society, Stuart Bailey, said the building is on the "local interest list" and needed to be preserved.
"It's important to the city and one of the few surviving structures with a connection with the Great Central Railway, which is important to Leicester's industrial history," he explained. "We're all in favour for new uses for old buildings but not demolition and loss."
One local heritage campaigner, Karen Green, who chained herself to the Bowstring Bridge in 2009 to stop it from being bulldozed but failed, said she was prepared to resort to similar methods to preserve this piece of the city’s heritage.
"This is old Leicester, it's beautiful, original and historic and it must be preserved," she said. "Yes it's shabby and dirty, but it's over a 100 years old. With a little love, care and inspiration, it could go a long way and serve the community."
