After third fire in 32 days, demolition workers called to Hippodrome

CITY COUNCIL USES EMERGENCY POWERS TO TAKE ACTION

- By OSCAR FISHER

AFTER three fires in just 32 days, the Hippodrome's days as a Derby city centre landmark could be numbered, with a pile of rubble left after part of the historic building was demolished.

Derby City Council has confirmed that, after inspectors visited the Green Lane site on Saturday, it was placed under “emergency planning” with Cheshire Demolition Controllers beginning work yesterday.

That follows a fire on Friday afternoon at the Green Lane site, which itself followed two similar incidents on May 1 and April 14.

Friday's fire saw a huge response from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, who tackled the blaze in the warm weather while crowds gathered on the surrounding streets.

Sunday's demolition work has not yet been confirmed as a full or partial demolition. Two bulldozers remained at the scene after demolition work took place earlier yesterday, mainly focused on the Macklin Street side of the building.

A spokesperson for the city council said: “Derbyshire Building Control Partnership visited the site on Friday and Saturday, and under emergency planning have handed it Cheshire Demolition Controllers to make safe.”

The spokesperson said they were planning to assess the site again today.

The demolition work came 24 hours after a notice was published by the city centre’s neighbourhood policing team, urging people to remove vehicles parked in the area.