Safety before speed to bring down Eagle

£1.34M FUNDING FOR ASBESTOS REMOVAL IN LONG-AWAITED DEMOLITION JOB

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

A REGENERATION leader has said “safety will always come before speed” in the demolition of the asbestos-riddled Golden Eagle in Thornaby.

Leaders at Stockton Council have agreed to use £1.34m from a funding pot towards the demolition job, which has been described by Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Labour MP Andy McDonald as “one of the most complicated demolition jobs of its kind ever performed in the UK”.

This came as a leading independent councillor hailed vital steps towards regeneration in Thornaby, saying: “Progress is at last going to be realised.”

Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The Golden Eagle is a blight on the landscape of Thornaby. We're all working to make sure this building comes down quickly and, most importantly, safely.”

The council’s cabinet approved using £1.34m of previously allocated funding from the Indigenous Growth Fund.

Tackling long-term vacant properties in Thornaby town centre was one of the priorities identified by the Town Deal Board, which is made up of local stakeholders including councillors and MPs, for £23.9m of government Town Fund money.