Demolition of drug den buildings gets green light (Jeremy Hilton)

Demolition of drug den buildings gets green light

February 7, 2009 8:00 AM
In Gloucester Citizen Newspaper

A DERELICT nursery which had become a den for drug users and anti-social behaviour has been given the green light for demolition.

At a planning committee meeting in Gloucester on Tuesday, members unanimously voted to get rid of an area of buildings at the former Gloscat site in Brunswick Road.

The three single-storey buildings have been empty for two years and have become a hive for drug use, drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Barry Leach, chairman of the City Centre Community Partnership, said he was pleased the buildings were finally going.

"We are extremely pleased that something is going to be done," he said.

"This time, they've reacted very quickly, and the planning application appears to have gone through in record time.

"The community who live around it are also extremely pleased, as the site has always been a worry for them."

At the meeting, councillors voiced their eagerness to finally get rid of the problem.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Coun Jeremy Hilton, said: "I've had a lot of correspondence from the police about the anti-social behaviour and I fully support the demolition."

The members of the committee have now granted delegated powers to officers at the council to give the go-ahead, providing no further objections are made."

But Mr Leach added that, although he was pleased, he was wary about the actual demolition work.

He said: "With delegated powers, it's going to require a lot of monitoring.

"It's not going to be a quick and easy demolition. There's been so much drug use, the buildings are going to need a good clean up before they're demolished.

"It's nice to see when the city council works with the community it works well.

"I just can't wait until the bulldozers turn up."