Deal struck to demolish Burton eyesore
Officers at East Staffordshire Borough Council have struck a deal with local demolition contractors to bring down one of Burton's most notorious eyesores.
Contractors are now readying the plans to bring down the crumbling Bargates site, in a deal the has been valued at £99,100. The schedule so far for the demolition has indicated that bulldozers are likely to move in as early as the beginning of January.
The demolition and clearing process is expected to last around 12 weeks. The land has already been earmarked for the development of new shopping, leisure and residential facilities.
The council's deputy leader for regulatory services, Robert Hardwick, said that Bargates had long been a sore point for many residents of the town, and the demolition of the 1970s edifice had been welcomed by everyone.
"People will be delighted to see Bargates demolished because it's been an eyesore for a long time and in recent years has become totally dilapidated," he explained. "Even when it's demolished and is just a flat area, that will be an improvement for local people, who will be pleased we are clearing the site and preparing it for future development."
The cost of the demolition includes any specialist work that may need to be carried out to remove asbestos from the building.
