Anger at road closure due to 'collapse fears'

QUESTIONS ASKED AS STREET NEXT TO HIPPODROME FACES CLOSURE UNTIL MARCH ‘27

- By ZENA HAWLEY

CONCERNS have been raised about the sudden closure of part of Green Lane adjacent to the frontage of the former Derby Hippodrome building - which could be in place until March, 2027.

The temporary footway and road closure order was not due to come into operation until October 13, but the road has been closed off since the end of September.

The reason for the closure is given in a public notice which appeared in the Derby Telegraph on September 26. It said it was “to protect safety of all traffic and pedestrians due to Hippodrome building at risk of collapse”

This has left local people scratching their heads as to why this has happened now, more than four months after the building last underwent an arson attack and selected demolition made the rest safe.

At that time in May, a large part of the Grade II*listed building was demolished but it is understood that the remaining facade did not need to be brought down after inspections by the Derbyshire Building Control Partnership, which acts on building matters on behalf of Derby City Council, and Historic England, which oversees listed buildings.