The owner of Cockermouth’s Old Courthouse now has days to start work needed on the partially collapsed building.
Part of the building collapsed overnight into the River Cocker in October, forcing the next-door bridge to close to traffic and pedestrians.
Now, Cumberland Council has revealed that it issued a legal notice to the building’s owner on Wednesday and if work does not start to carry out the urgent work needed by January 24, the authority can step in.
The Old Courthouse is a Grade II listed building, and the council said it was in ongoing discussions with partners, including Historic England.
The legal notice lists the minimum works needed on the building, as endorsed by Historic England.
These include:
- Temporary stabilisation work to be installed to first and second floor
- Careful demolition of the first and second floors to the rear wing
- Installation of weatherproofing to the remaining masonry walls.
Agencies – including Cumberland Council, Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency – continue to work together with the aim of protecting public safety.
Extensive investigations of the building have been undertaken by the council with support of agencies.
The building, which partially collapsed last year, continues to be standing however any proposed works are impacted by:
- The site is land locked, access to allow any works to be undertaken is challenging.
- The building is Grade II listed and any further works is required to be minimal to protect the fabric of the historic building.
- The River Cocker, adjacent to the site, is part of the River Derwent and Tributaries Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- The impact on waste flows and the protection of flood defences needs careful consideration.
- Any works need to minimise pollution from any debris.
- Requirements for archaeological investigation and subsequent detailed archaeological excavation if deemed necessary.
The Cocker Bridge in Cockermouth reopened to traffic in mid-December last year.
A five-metre scaffold screening has been erected on the side of the bridge.
Traffic is being controlled by traffic lights on either side of the bridge. They are manually controlled during term time (Monday to Friday) between 8am and 10am and 2pm and 4pm each day.
Pedestrian access across the bridge has also been maintained.
The work was commissioned by Cumberland Council and was undertaken by its specialist highways engineers.
