News and Events
New calls for council to buy former Hippodrome after fire breaks out
23rd Mar 2011
It took firefighters almost three hours to locate the blaze inside the grade two listed building, at the junction of Green Lane and Macklin Street, yesterday morning.
They found burning newspapers in one of the stairwells. It is thought the fire was started deliberately and it is the third time in as many years that firefighters have been called to the site.
They also said it appeared people had been sleeping rough in the building.
Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust chairman Joan Travis said: "This is so sad.
"We have been asking the council to compulsorily purchase the building for some time and I only recently wrote another letter calling for that and seeing what was happening.
"This fire obviously makes it even more essential that something is done soon."
But Councillor Matthew Holmes, cabinet member for planning and environment, said: "I think everybody wants to see the site restored and some would like it restored as a theatre, which I would support.
"But it is going to take private investment or significant investment from the third sector to get that.
"The council is not in a position to take ownership of the building or redevelop it but the message is we would certainly be willing to work with whoever comes forward with a viable proposal."
The Hippodrome has been under scrutiny since its owner, Christopher Anthony, damaged it in March 2008.
The council took out an injunction against Mr Anthony, stopping him carrying out any further work.
Mr Holmes said: "I went down to the site with the structural engineers and there hasn't been a great deal of damage. Residents nearby say they saw someone running away from the scene before they saw the smoke.
"I have spoken to officers and asked them to look at how secure the site is and if security could be improved to avoid further problems."
Parts of Macklin Street and Green Lane were closed to vehicles from 8.45am.
Frances Connolly, a volunteer for the Life charity shop, in Green Lane, said: "Our customers said there had been a small fire and not a lot of damage but a lot of smoke. It seems such a shame for this to happen, particularly if the building can't be redone."
Satvinder Chahal, who owns Green Lane Fisheries, said: "The firefighters were already here when we opened up and it meant we couldn't get the car down the road. We've only been here about five months but we've already heard there's been a couple of fires."
By caroline jones and kirsty green
Source: This Is Derbyshire
