Calls for action over decaying buildings

A county councillor is calling for action to restore decaying historic buildings in Bromyard to their former glory.

Herefordshire Council served repair notices on the old library in Church Street and the Hop Pole Hotel in Market Street in 2019.

However, Bromyard Bringsty councillor Nigel Shaw says nothing has been done since and the state of the buildings will discourage future tourists.

“After a significant effort, I successfully got a section 215 served on the old library in March 2019 and another served on the Hop Pole Hotel in the Market Square in June of the same year,” he said.

“Despite chasing, no further enforcement of these orders has been made by the authority.

“Local businesses rely on our tourist trade and visitors are being put off by the neglect of such significant buildings of such local character and interest. They discourage people from walking around and exploring our friendly town.”

“I fear for the future of these buildings. They have decayed to a point where their structure is threatened.

“The old library has holes in its roof, broken windows and rotted doors, damaged stonework, as well as damaged and blocked guttering.

“We’ve already had a pane of glass fall out of a first-storey window in the Hope Pole and that listed building, at the heart of the Market Square, has a derelict appearance with buddleia growing out of the walls.

“If these buildings were in Hereford then action would already have been taken.

“I would have hoped that the conservation area status would have provided better protection.”

Section 215 orders can be served by a local authority if the amenity of an area is badly affected by the condition of land or buildings. And councils can bring legal proceedings against owners for not taking steps to remedy defects.

The council has been approached for comment.