Calls for immediate halt to Morecambe teen hangout demolition

This follows the City Council’s Planning Regulatory Committee granting prior approval for demolition of the former bus shelter on September 1.

At a recent meeting of Morecambe Town Council, councillors strongly criticised the process leading to the demolition decision and unanimously called for Lancaster City Council to work with the Town Council and the local community to explore alternatives.

Planning documents currently indicate that demolition works could begin on Monday September 21, leaving only a short window for discussions about alternatives before the building is lost.

In passionate statements Morecambe Town Councillors took issue with:

*the lack of evidence that all realistic alternatives to demolition had been properly explored;

*the limited information provided about the future of the site and what would replace the building;

*the evidence presented to justify demolition, which Councillors considered insufficient to demonstrate that retention, refurbishment or alternative community uses had been properly assessed;

*the absence of meaningful community engagement about whether the building could be retained and put to an alternative use;

*the negative environmental impact of demolishing a structurally sound building when environmentally friendly alternatives such as refurbishment and restoration are left unconsidered;

*the timing of the planning application during the summer holiday period, which Councillors argued reduced the opportunity for wider community engagement;

*the speed with which Lancaster City Council’s own demolition application progressed, which Councillors contrasted with the timescales often experienced by members of the public submitting planning applications of their own; and

*the decision to proceed towards demolition, with its associated costs, without evidence that the costs and feasibility of retaining or refurbishing the building were adequately explored.

A member of the public attending the meeting described Lancaster City Council’s approach as ‘disgusting’, reflecting the strength of feeling expressed during the discussion.

Similarly Councillor Clark Kent, chairperson of Morecambe Town Council, lamented that 'Morecambe is being gradually stripped of its assets at the hands of Lancaster City Council without any consideration of local feeling or Morecambe Town Council’s potential role’, citing the recent grassing over of flowerbeds around the town as another example.

A Morecambe Town Council spokesperson said: ‘We call on Lancaster City Council to reconsider its demolition of the youth hut on Central Drive and come to the table with Morecambe Town Council and the local community to discuss alternative proposals.

“Prior approval may have been granted, but once this building is demolished the opportunity to consider alternative uses will be gone permanently.

"With a bit of work and TLC this building could have another life. It could be restored to its original intended purpose as a bus shelter; the toilet facilities that used to be there could be restored to serve the footfall from the bus and train stations, which is anticipated to increase with the opening of the Eden Project; it could be restored as a youth hut; or it could be repurposed for any other number of uses.

“The asset could also be considered for transfer to Morecambe Town Council, allowing these ideas to be explored in collaboration with the community without further burdening Lancaster City Council. Simply demolishing it without considering these alternatives is not acceptable.”

Morecambe Town Council is now considering what further options are available, including further community campaigning and whether there are any appropriate legal avenues available to challenge or delay implementation of the demolition.