The Bridge Inn in Altrincham has lost its long struggle to stay open. Along with other local businesses including two garages and a pet supply shop, it is being demolished. It always struck me as a bit of a "spit and sawdust" pub but even so, I am not sure about the redevelopment.
The £100m Altair* scheme for the 6-acre site includes 31 homes, 90,000 square feet of offices, 70,000 sq ft of retail floor space and a 125-bed hotel but I think they could have incorporated the pub, completed in 1901, upgrading it as they went.
Local residents are also fuming at the prospect of more traffic opposite their property and having light blocked out of their little terraced houses by the new arrivals, which will be on the land adjacent to the ice rink.
* Altair is named, somewhat inappropriately in my opinion, after the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila in the northern hemisphere. An artist's impression of the new development is at: http://www.nikal.uk.com/siteNorm/selectedDevelopmentLive.php?qsSelectedProjectId=1
That's one of the ugliest proposed redevelopments I've ever seen! Even worse than some of the monstrosities that tried (and luckily failed) to get planning permission here in Brighton & Hove.
ReplyDeleteSomething good will come of it all.
ReplyDeleteOh no Chrissy, that image of the new development is too horrible, WHY would they do that..can it be stopped at this stage by protest or something..that poor old manky inn is 100% better than the new idea!!
ReplyDeletewhat a shame to tear this great looking building down and for that monstrosity? yuck! oh by the way, i received the book, thanks! can't wait to start reading it :)
ReplyDeleteProtests have been ongoing for 2 years but to no avail- the pub has scaffolding up ready for demolition as I type... I don't find the development plans too bad myself- but it's the waste and the ignoring of mass protestations in this so-called democracy that I object too...
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be nice to somehow keep this old pub. Progress, unfortunately, sometimes costs too damn much!
ReplyDeleteBetween the planners and the developers we are stuffed. I am all for progress but we should not lose sight of the past and our social history.
ReplyDeleteAn impressive mean to measure time and life.
ReplyDeletePlease have a kind Tuesday ahead.
Some call it progress...
ReplyDeleteI call it a shame!
FANTASTIC photo!