1 week Ago
Concerned locals have branded the former Station Hotel in South Hetton a “blot on the landscape”. A petition signed by 354 residents was presented to Durham County Council in the hope it could clear the problem site. The pub closed more than 15 years ago and was later bought at auction, but attempts to contact the owner have failed.
The building is the only memory of the former railway station that served the village. Sheryl Elliot, who launched the petition, urged the council to compulsorily purchase the site and demolish it. “It's currently a dilapidated, dangerous disgrace, and it's right in the center of the village,” she told a full council meeting.
The pub closed more than 15 years ago (Image: The Northern Echo) Locals say the building is repeatedly vandalised and set alight by arsonists, causing chaos and concern for residents. Ms Elliot added: “The blot on the landscape, both literally and emotionally, is the Station Hotel. There are vandals.
They congregate, smash bottles, throw tiles, they cause mischief.” Community campaigners were praised for the vast improvements throughout the village through investment and regeneration - but locals have been unable to maintain contact with the building’s owner to clean it up. Recommended reading: Subscribe to The Northern Echo now.
Locals say the building is repeatedly vandalised and set alight by arsonists (Image: The Northern Echo) In her plea to the local authority, Ms Elliot said: “As a final resort, we're asking for the council to take a much more direct and focused action to ensure that this building is taken down. The space could be used for another venture in line with the values of the community in time, but for now, we need the area to be safe. "The owner has been given 15 years to renovate, sell or demolish and is clearly not going to do any of these things.
“Compulsory purchase order would be expensive, yes, but due to the market value, surely this would be less expensive than the repercussions of the building harming somebody. It's an accident waiting to happen. Do we really have to wait until a tragedy before you act?” Graham Wood, economic development manager at Durham County Council, said: “We understand residents’ concerns about the state of the privately owned Station Hotel.
We are in contact with the owner and will continue to press for a productive use for the building. We can confirm that we have received the petition and will consider it and respond in line with our petitions process.”.
