A COUNCIL has hit back at claims they bulldozed a historic building 'unlawfully.'

Wyre Forest District Council was accused of treating people with 'contempt' after knocking down The Old Bakehouse, in Stourport. 

However the council says there was no choice but to demolish the Raven Street building because it was in such a poor condition it presented an immediate danger.

Members of the Stourport Civic Society have reacted in horror to the loss of the building they claim "should have been saved and was capable of being saved."

(Image: Stourport Civic Society)

Andrew Booton, chairman of Stourport Civic Society, said: “We calculate that this structure had a volume exceeding 115cubic metres so Wyre Forest District Council should have sought consent for demolition as it is inside the conservation area.

“As the local planning authority, Wyre Forest District Council’s conduct should be exemplary, especially when it comes to heritage management and planning".

"Why didn’t they apply for consent in a lawful way?

“This historic and characterful building should have been saved and was capable of being saved"

"Instead Wyre Forest District Council took a bulldozer to it.

“The council needs to stop treating the people of Stourport with contempt and start engaging us in a constructive, transparent way so that the town can be developed for everyone’s benefit not just for Wyre Forest District Council’s convenience.”

The group has claimed that a recent report on Stourport's Conservation Areas was carried out by Insall Architects which identified buildings at risk including the old bakery.

They said that the report outlined that the buildings should be retained, restored sensitively and brought back into beneficial use.

The civic society also claims the report reminded Wyre Forest District Council that the council could serve a s215 notice, an urgent works notice or a repairs notice on the owners to require the owners to protect and preserve the buildings.

The building was demolished on Monday, November 11.

The council said  "immediate action" was needed under the Building Act 1984 - and that a legal precedent in a previous case allowed them to do it.

Councillor Dan Morehead, cabinet member for economic regeneration, planning and the green agenda said that when the council became aware of concerns for the safety of the property a structural survey was carried out.

(Image: Stourport Civic Society)

He said: "It confirmed the whole of the building was in a dangerous condition and it was not possible to remove the danger by only partially demolishing the main building.

"Building Control has been involved and carried out an inspection and reviewed the structural report. They advised that the whole building was a dangerous structure for the purpose of s78 of the Building Act 1984.

"On the basis of all of the advice received and, having reviewed the decision of the court in R (on the application of Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) v Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 2023 EWCH 87) the decision was taken, on the grounds of the immediate danger presented by the building, to demolish the structures on site.

"The council takes the protection of buildings in Conservation Areas very seriously but there is also a duty to protect the public and to act on the advice of professionals, in this case an independent structural surveyor and Building Control.”