A possible pathway to improve a trespass, vandalism and fire hit former pub has been suggested.
The former Withins pub in Breightmet, Bolton, described by a councillor as a ‘running sore’, has been a magnet for anti-social behaviour for several years.
Now it is being suggested that a some of the £20m ‘Pride in Place’ funding awarded to the district over the next 10 years is used to find a solution
and bring the site back into public use.
Ward councillor Sean Fielding said he is ‘hopeful that we may soon be able to make some progress’.
He said: “It has been a running sore dating from before I was even elected.
“It is subject to break-ins, vandalism and fires, and it’s a miracle that nobody has been hurt on the site yet.
“There hasn’t been a month since my election in 2023 where I haven’t made some form of report to the council about the site not being secure.
“Unfortunately, a property deal done historically means that while the council owns the freehold of the site the responsibility to secure the building lies with a third party who has shown no interest taking care of it.
“While some attempts have been made to secure the site, there is evidence that trespassers, who are mostly young people, have been using power tools to break in, and so even the most robust fencing has been no match for this.””
He said the Pride in Place funding awarded to Breightmet ‘isn’t just money but also comes with powers’.
He added: “These include community right to buy and compulsory purchase powers.
“I am optimistic that these are powers that could be used to finally get back control of The Withins for the people of Breightmet and turn the site into something positive for the community.
“Of course, any decision over how the money is spent or how the powers are exercised is one for the Pride in Place Board, made up of local people and which is in the process of being set up.
“Until then, I’d encourage the community to keep reporting an incidents of trespass or vandalism.
“It’s local kids who are breaking in to and vandalising this place so I’d also encourage people to know where their children are and, frankly, given how entry is being gained, make sure that any power tools in sheds or garages are also locked away.”
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