City centre eyesore to stay
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN PROBE OVER BUILDING’S COLLAPSE
THIS ugly eyesore in the heart of Newcastle will remain indefinitely after demolition work was halted.
Work is yet to restart on the former Odeon picture house – more than two weeks after the remains of the building collapsed on to Pilgrim Street in Newcastle.
The Health and Safety Executive has issued an indefinite prohibition, banning work being carried out on the site. It is not known when work will be allowed to resume as the area must remain untouched for the HSE to inspect.
A HSE spokesperson said: “All work other than the assessment of the structural stability of the site has been prohibited.”
The investigation into what went wrong is ongoing after the partially demolished building dramatically collapsed on Monday, April 3.
Twisted scaffolding and piles of bricks are all that is left of the historic site, which crushed a bus shelter when it fell to the ground.
Eye-witness Esther Beadle said she heard a loud rumble before the building remains fell.
She said: “The noise when it collapsed was so loud that some taxi drivers came running around the corner to see what had happened.
“Luckily, no rubble made it as far as the pavement on our side, but had it been just a little bit further, it would have done.”
The cinema, which dates back to 1931, has been in the process of being demolished since January.
Earlier this month, it emerged a report of workmen drinking alcohol on the site is also being investigated by the HSE. The HSE is probing claims someone was seen with a can of lager hours after the collapse.
The HSE spokesperson added: “We were made aware of this incident and inspectors attended the scene.
“We have been working closely with Newcastle City Council to ensure the site is as safe as possible.
“We have launched an investigation.
“As part of this ongoing inquiry, we will work closely with all those involved in the work on this site to establish whether suitable and sufficient working policies and practices were in place to safeguard both workers and members of the public.”
The cinema is being pulled down after its owners submitted plans to clear the site and transform the area into a retail hub, but the collapse reignited the debate around the building.
It has stood empty since its last film screening in 2002. However, many people have fond memories of the old picture house.
David Hodgson, from Lemington, said: “It was lovely building, we used to have regular visits. I remember going to see ET.”