Bay Horse flattened but who gave the go-ahead? (From Warrington Guardian)

Bay Horse flattened but who gave the go-ahead?

DEVELOPERS have demolished a listed Warrington landmark to make way for a development that has not yet been given the go-ahead.

The Bay Horse and surrounding cottages, near Warrington Central station, were all Grade 2 listed buildings but were demolished without permission on Sunday, February 20.

John Groves, Warrington Borough Council's development control manager, said: "We are aware that the building has been demolished and that the necessary consent was not requested to carry this out.

"We are seeking a formal explanation from the owner of the site as to why this action has been taken and, based on the information received, we will then consider our response"

The buildings stood on land next to the proposed Modus development, but in all plans for the site the pub and the two cottages were shown as being retained to create a historic front to the new development.

Local historian Mike Warburton wrote to the council, on February 7, to say the pub was missing slates and looked in a bad state of repair.

He told the Warrington Guardian: "If

this had happened in Stockton Heath there would have been hell to pay.

"This could have been a great development for Warrington North. I thought the pub was looking a bit shabby the week before they demolished it and I wrote to the council urging them not to allow the developers to use this as an excuse to knock down the building."

Under the 1990 Planning Act (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) anyone who demolishes a listed building could face 12 months imprisonment and an unlimited fine. The record fine is £200,000 handed to developers in Newport around seven years ago.