Work is continuing behind the scenes on the partially collapsed Old Courthouse in Cockermouth – and a Sellafield Ltd worker will provide project management support.
On October 8 2023, part of the building collapsed overnight into the River Cocker, forcing the next-door bridge to close to traffic and pedestrians.
A temporary pedestrian walkway was installed almost immediately but Cocker Bridge did not reopen to traffic, with temporary traffic lights, until December.
A five-metre scaffold screening has been erected on the side of the bridge. The work was commissioned by Cumberland Council and was undertaken by its specialist highways engineers.
The Old Courthouse is one of the oldest buildings in the town and was bought by Samiul Ahmed, a London property consultant, at auction in July 2022 for £51,000.
The authority had to issue a legal notice to Mr Ahmed so he would carry out urgent repair work, but he failed to do so, so the council was forced to step in.
It said it and other agencies, including Cumberland Council, Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency – continued to work together with the aim of protecting public safety.
A spokesman said: “Now that we have informed the owner that we’re taking on the work needed on the Old Courthouse building, work has been underway to procure a contractor, do the necessary pre-work investigations and secure permits from agencies to allow access into the watercourse.
“We have secured dedicated project management support to oversee the work and the tender for the main contractor.”
The project management is being provided by a secondee from Sellafield Ltd.
It added that any proposed work is complicated because:
- 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 are 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
