Bid to knock down eyesore Coalbrookdale garage welcomed
The planned demolition of an "eyesore" garage that has tarnished the gateway to a world heritage site for many years was welcomed today by Telford residents.
A planning application has been submitted to pull down the dilapidated Dale End Garage in Coalbrookdale to make way for homes on the site.
Permission for six two-bedroom apartments and four houses at the site in Dale Road was granted by Telford & Wrekin planners in February.
Residents said the rundown building "marred" the entrance to the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site for those entering by Buildwas Road or Jiggers Bank.
Alex Bingham, owner of Deli-Dale cafe in Dale Road, said: "It's an eyesore The sooner they tidy up that corner the better.
"It's on the corner where it's the first thing everybody coming into Ironbridge sees and it gives a really bad first impression.
"A lot of tourists come in and have a coffee and ask why is that there but the locals know it's been like that for about 10 years.
"We have done quite a bit of work outside to make it a pleasant place to sit and the garage is spoiling it.
"The houses will be a great improvement.
"I can't understand why it's taken the council so long."
And Councillor Keith Osmund-Smith, of the Gorge Parish Council, said: "This is one of the most important gateways to Ironbridge and it's been marred for a number of years by this dreadful eyesore of a dilapidated broken down building surrounded by horrible fencing and concrete.
"It's taken a long time to get to this point.
"The parish council is happy to see it go and some far more attractive houses in its place."
Owner of the site, Morris Property, needs planning consent for the clearance of the site for the new homes to go ahead.
Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee will discuss the proposal but have not yet set a date for the decision to be made.
