WITH the Swan serving its final ever pints in September, the historic building has been boarded up ahead of its impending demolition.
Despite the Swan's 160-year history and reputation as a popular town centre pub, St Helens Council approved a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2022 to take over the premises for regeneration purposes.
With a new transport interchange a major part of the council's wider regeneration plans, councillors believe that the removal of the Corporation Street building is necessary to make space for a new and improved bus station.
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public inquiry ruled in the council's favour in August 2023.
Although the decision provoked fury with many of the Swan's regulars, and a petition to 'Save the Swan' gained almost 2,000 signatures, aWhile landlady Angela Hindley, who has lived above the pub for a decade, asked the council for one more Christmas with the Swan's regulars, the council said it needed to acquire the property by the end of October.
This is due to the council executing a 'General Vesting Declaration', which gives an authority the legal right to take ownership of a property, a spokesperson explained.
So following the Swan's bittersweet final day of trading on Friday, September 27, the council has now started boarding up the historic building.
A statement from St Helens Council ahead of the acquisition said: “The Council was granted a Compulsory Purchase Order in August 2023 and since that time we have engaged with the property owners and the current licensee to agree appropriate financial compensation for the current Licensee.
“In accordance with the CPO, the Council has executed the appropriate General Vesting Declaration (GVD), to acquire the property before the end of October 2024.
“The resident is moving out at the end of September and the Council will then take ownership of the property.
"The property forms part of the footprint of the new bus station and will be demolished together with the existing bus station once the temporary bus station is complete and the services have been relocated."
Do you have a news story? I cover the whole of the St Helens borough and surrounding areas. Email conal.cunningham@newsquest.co.uk
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