Hippodrome put under guard in light of attacks

THE former Hippodrome Theatre site is to be secured with fencing and hoarding after a large number of arson attacks over more than a decade - and in the meantime, it will have a security guard on duty.

- By ZENA HAWLEY

The most recent arson attack on May 16 resulted in Derby City Council invoking emergency powers overnight to demolish parts of the Grade II listed building considered to be unsafe - and concerns have been raised about asbestos at the site.

The Derby Telegraph has seen documentation that indicates that any further demolition will be halted for now pending a further survey of the site which will be used to indicate whether more safety work will be needed and how urgent it is or otherwise.

It said: "In the meantime, the building will remain boarded up and fenced off."

It is also clear from the same document that the council has not managed to contact the owner of the site, on the corner of Green Lane and Macklin Street, who is believed to own a large number of properties with London contact addresses and resides in Malta.