Councillors approve demolition of Waterloo Road site

Councillors have agreed that the former Hill Top School – famous as the home of TV drama Waterloo Road – will be demolished.

The school, on Hill Top Drive, and the adjacent Rochdale Borough Training Unit have been home to the show since 2006 but now that production is to move to Scotland and no future use for the buildings have been identified they will be knocked down.

A report before Councillors read: “No use can be identified for the buildings in the short to medium term.

“If not demolished they would be empty, incurring costs for security and presenting high health and safety risk.

“It would not be appropriate to seek a use for the buildings in the longer term because the site is identified as part of the approved clearance programme for the implementation of the Kirkholt regeneration plan.”

The proposal is for demolition to take place as soon as the programme vacates the premises in January 2012.

SHED Productions, the makers of Waterloo Road, have renewed a lease with the Council yearly since 2006, paying a fee of around £35,000 for each lease period. They also provided all maintenance and security for the site.

Under arrangements for ending the lease they will pay the Council £40,000 towards the demolition costs – making it possible to clear the site in early 2012 at ‘minimal cost to the council.’

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Councillors also approved the demolition of the Kirkholt Community Centre.

The Community Centre is being vacated by all current occupiers on 27 November. From that date the building will be closed and no possible future use for the site has been identified.

Councillors approved that the demolition take place. The original date of 28 November is subject to users of the building finding a new location –  a new demolition date of 31 December was requested and approved to allow flexibility.