Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Great Eastern Hotel

yep looks like its being gutted: pics from today 12:45

I have posted this elsewhere on this site tonight - but incase anyone is not watching the other threads relating to the Great Eastern - here it is again.

Christine and Wheels are right. At 11.30am this morning, five removal vans parked outside the Great Eastern. The people in them ripped all the metal shutters off the windows and doors and stripped the place. All the tables and chairs were seen being taken out. They then left the scene, leaving the building wide open with all four doors smashed off their hinges. (Thanks for the photos, Wheels. They will be used as evidence against the owners for what has happened - read below)

When I came home from work at 5.30 there were a group of teenagers sitting on a wall opposite it, flicking lighters and waiting for darkness to descend.

I immediately rang Cllr Niblock to warn him. He contacted the Council's property department who sent out two guys who have now boarded up the smashed doors, not as securely as I would have liked, I hasten to add. They couldn't do the windows because there are so many of them. They have promised to come back at 8 in the morning to do the windows.

Wirral Community Patrol also turned up to guard the place whilst the carpenters went to cut the timber needed to board it up. Whilst I waited with the community officer, two loads of gangs of youths turned up - but scarpered when they saw us.

I am very concerned that the Pub is in danger of being torched - imminently.

Cllr Niblock is furious and is going to demand that a full investigation is launched into how this could have been allowed to happen. The owners of the building are going to get the bill for the boarding up and a rocket from Steve via the planning department.

Also, interestingly, the planning application details have been removed from the Council website. Steve will also be asking some serious questions of the planning department as to why.

This was how they left the place

The main door at the front:-




The side door off Clipper View:-


A view of the inside from the side door:-


The back door to the kitchen:-


Inside the kitchen area:-

That really doesn't look like the owners gutting the place. It looks more like someone robbing the place

Then if so, hopefully the police can use Wheels' photos above to take vehicle details and trace the owners of those vehicles.

Have just been to do a tour of the outside of the pub again tonight, and no-one is about. The windows are unbroken as of yet (00.15 hrs).

Message to Wheels - if you have any more photos that you took, could you please email everything to Cllr Steve Niblock at [email protected] as he will need everything as evidence to launch the investigation. Particularly better details of those licence plates and company names on the sides of the vans. Many thanks

Yes, looks like thieves have ransacked the place, not the owners.

Sorry mate they was the only pictures that I took (using my phone)

Looks like robbers have had their pickings, sell it all on, probably never catch them.

I spoke to the removal guys on Friday and they are emptying the property as it is getting demolished they were there on Thursday and Friday. Very sad to hear this and I just hope they don't build flats and fill them with ... bags.

Have just found out that the owners have already sent someone round some of the homes closest to the pub with a petition ASKING for it to be demolished. A couple from Clipper View, their home backs onto the pub, said they signed it because the guy said to them that they wouldn't be able to sell their house because of the "eyesore of a derelict building next to them". They have been trying to sell their home for 2 years. The couple said the petition had over 200 names on it already.

This is totally wrong that the company should use such tactics to prove their case. We have got our work cut out to counter them with our own petition to prevent its demolition. The online version is at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethegreateastern/

According to the couple who I spoke to, the guys who ripped the shutters down last Friday said, quote "the company that owns it are no longer prepared to pay for the security for it". I think that says it all - as I have stated previously - they might have well stuck up a notice outside on Friday night saying "ARSONISTS WELCOME".

The Great Eastern which was beached at New Ferry from which some parts ended up in the pub

Discovered today that the planning application APP/10/00223 was deemed "invalid" - which explains why it was removed from the Council's website. This usually happens when the applicant fails to include some vital information in the application, meaning that the planning department are unable to process it. The applicant has to resubmit the application again, making sure that the missing information is included.

Hope the pub can be saved, before the council specialist arson department wade in.

Actually, I don't think the Council want the building to be demolished. Cllrs Niblock and Moon have been very supportive of New Ferry and our efforts in regeneration, and in helping the cause to defend the Great Eastern. I know that David Ball, head of Regeneration, was keen to talk to the developers to dissuade them from demolition .... so, on this occasion, the Council are not at fault.

If English Heritage turn down the application for listing, then it will be down to the planning department to do their job. I'm not sure of how or what exact criteria is needed for them to refuse the (resubmitted) application (when and if it ever comes), whether it be strength of public feeling about losing this landmark building, or any other technical issue, but - at the end of the day - if legally they cannot do anything but grant permission for the new houses, then they will have to do that. They can only do what the law says they can do.

Just read the planning application online for the proposed houses.

They look good, far better than the last application for apartments. I think the renovation will greatly improve the appearance of this part of New Ferry.

It is sad to lose a land mark, but the place has been left too long now for vandals to ruin, it's in a very sorry state.