'Knock down' eyesore Wolverhampton building, says councillor

Last week a section of road at Corn Hill, Horseley Fields, was closed due to concerns about the structural safety of the old Steam Mill building.

The road had already been closed to motorists since a fire at the building in 2008 but the closure has now been extended to pedestrians and cyclists following fresh concerns about the structural safety of the disused building.

Councillor Phil Bateman, who represents Wednesfield North, said the 19th century building has been 'out of use for too long'.

He said: "Whilst I understand that the Steam Mill is a key regeneration site, surely the time has come for it to be demolished.

"This city has been without the use of this road for far too long.

"Another eight days of closure is too long in my view.

"This is costing the city in loss of the highway, and it is affecting the business of others.

"I would urge the council to please take action now and bring forward the regeneration of the site, knock the Steam Mill down and make it safe."

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Tim Clark said urgent discussions are taking place to try to bring forward the regeneration of the site as soon as possible.

It is rumoured that the building could soon be snapped up by the developer behind the £96 million city centre interchange project.

Neptune is in talks with Glaedale Estates Limited to buy the building, which was devastated by fire in two arson attacks in 2008 and has been an eyesore ever since.

Permission has been given to demolish a 1970s part of the building to allow the extension of the Midland Metro tram to Wolverhampton railway station and the building of a new car park.

It had been earmarked for development as flats since 2003 but no plans were ever submitted.

Former Wolverhampton mayor Milkinder Jaspal, who is councillor for Heath Town, where the building is situated, said he was 'very disappointed' with how long it has taken to address issues around the building.

He said: "I am very disappointed with how long it takes the council to deal with things like this.

"This has been a problem for years and years, the road has been closed for so long and nothing has been done.

"I have dealt with queries about this on a daily basis for so long and nothing has moved along.

"I have also been inside the building and it has nothing, it is completely bare and empty, so I can't really see what value it offers.

"With all the best will in the world, I understand people want to keep old buildings, but they need to put the money into it because I wouldn't want tax payers money being spent on this."