Update on 131 and 131A Church Street

The demolition contractor has continued work this morning and we estimate that the remaining buildings will be down safely by the end of Thursday 21 November.

As of this morning (Wednesday 20 November), the left turn from Church Row to Church Street is now open.

The cordon has been reduced to allow access to Sandos and 135a Church Street.

Parts of Church Street will remain closed until the demolition has concluded and we will work with the Highway Authority at Lancashire County Council to open Church Street fully as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the adjoining Grade II listed building, 131a Church Street, has been badly damaged by the fire and parts of it are at risk of collapse. Whilst the Council is committed to its legal duty to preserve heritage assets, due to the damage from the fire and necessary demolition of an adjoining building providing structural support, the listed building is now unrestrained, and demolition is necessary to prevent collapse.

Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation said:

"We are extremely relieved that there were no casualties following the incident, especially now that we have been able to clearly assess the full extent of the damage to several properties in the vicinity.  We thank the emergency services and other agencies involved so far for their swift actions and dedication to ensuring public safety.

Preventative Action for Empty Buildings

Owners of buildings which are empty are responsible for preventing unauthorised access and making routine checks for damage and breaches of security, which should be rectified promptly.  This is not only to prevent fires and protect the building from damage but also to prevent anti-social behaviour which is detrimental to others in the neighbourhood.

Where sites are found to be insecure, the Council will notify the owner requiring measures to be taken to prevent further access. There are routine checks carried out by the Council on the buildings where security measures have been compromised until satisfied the matters are resolved. Unfortunately, this may also need to be resolved by enforcement measures, including work carried in default where the owner is unresponsive or cannot be located.

The Council also offers advice on measures to take to prevent access and may require measures using its most appropriate tools and powers.