Councillor Launches Crusade To Save Local Buildings
Town councillor Steven van der Whitevanman today launched a campaign to ensure that a number of historical buildings in St Neots are not lost to redevelopment.
A number of businesses and services have closed recently leaving an even higher number of empty shops and offices than usual. Many would consider these eyesores, but Whitevanman believes that, as part of the town’s heritage, they should be listed and therefore saved.
The piles of bricks facing an uncertain future include the South Street toilets, MC Garrett’s florists on Cambridge Street, and the former Choices video store, which has been empty for over two years. “We’ve already lost some prime examples of the town’s rich architectural heritage,” said Whitevanman, “with the loss of the Priory Mall and Jade Bridge a few years ago, and more recently the outdoor swimming pool – although this is now a brilliant fenced-off piece of grass.”
Many locals jumped to support the scheme. “It’s terrible how many lovely buildings we have lost over the years,” said Milton Avenue resident Stacey Horsfayci, 41. “All the empty units we used to have around the Market Square, the old Paines Brewery, all these have been turned into shops. And they aren’t even empty shops! Disgusting.”
Councillors have a long history of hiking business rates to ensure there are always a lot of derelict units, but never before has anyone attempted to list them with English Heritage to ensure they stay that way. “If we succeed,” continued Whitevanman, “we can ensure that St Neots looks the same for ever and ever, and that’ll be lovely won’t it.”
