'Birthplace of British aviation reduced to rubble'

COTTAGES famous for being the birthplace of aviation pioneer Hugh Oswald Short have been demolished, despite widespread public opposition and urgent calls to Erewash Borough Council to intervene.

- By ZENA HAWLEY

The site is part of the New Stanton Park business park project.

The demolition comes less than two weeks after residents first learned that there were plans to demolish 3 and 4 Lows Lane in Stanton-by-Dale, and after more than 750 signatures on a petition opposing the demolition had been obtained.

A submission had also been made to Historic England to list the buildings, and an appeal to the borough council to pause demolition until heritage assessments could be completed had also been made.

Bulldozers moved in last week, levelling the cottages before any decision was made on their historic status.