randyrippley
Established Member
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- 21 Feb 2016
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Well........it looks like First have done the unthinkable and requested planning permission to demolish the Nautilus Works in Yeovil in preparation for the site to be sold for housing development.
Their justification is that they now only need a PVR of nine buses to run the service.
There is some resistance to the plan
Birthplace to the Nautilus fire grate, Petter Engines and Westland Aircraft, it's one of the few historic buildings Yeovil has left
Historic Yeovil bus depot building to be demolished
The prominent red brick building is more than 100 years old
www.somersetlive.co.uk
Yeovil's historic bus depot is set to be demolished. The prominent red brick building located on the A30 Reckleford is more than 100 years old and has been a base for First Bus South.
However, with changes to the way buses are run locally, the building is now no longer needed. Operations are set to be moved to a new outstation which will provide staff with a new base for its Yeovil operations, a statement from First Bus reveals.
The statement confirms that "the plans do not impact customers or services and Yeovil bus station will remain at its current site, where services will continue to serve the bus station". First Bus hopes that demolishing the depot building will help its bid to sell the site.
The bus depot site has been on the market since at least October 2015. The large plot includes an office building, two workshops, and a bus garage.
Simon Goff, managing director at First Bus South, said: "Following the transfer of some Yeovil routes to First Bus' neighbouring West and Wales business, Buses of Somerset's Yeovil operations have reduced significantly from 43 buses to nine, making the current depot too large and not fit for purpose. For many years now, the current depot in Yeovil has been larger than required, and to ensure the long-term sustainability of our business, we have decided to sell the depot and move operations to a smaller site.
"Previous attempts to sell the building in its current state have failed, so to help facilitate a sale, a decision has been taken to demolish the site. We understand the building is of historical interest to some local people, but unfortunately, we can no longer afford to maintain the site.
"Demolition is planned in the coming months and will take place in a safe, controlled way. There will not be any impact to our customers or services, which will continue to operate as normal."
The Yeovil bus depot building was built in the late 1890s and was originally part of the Nautilus Works factory. For much of its life it was used to produce oil engines, but it was also home to war materials manufacturing during both World War I and World War II.
There is some resistance to the plan
Urgent race to get historic bus depot listed and halt demolition
Locals are hoping to save the historic red brick building by getting it officially listed
www.somersetlive.co.uk
A number of local people are urgently attempting to get the historic Yeovil Bus Depot building officially listed in a bid to stop it being demolished.
The prominent red brick building on the A30 Reckleford is more than 100 years old and has recently been a base for First Bus - but the site, built in the late 1890s, has a long and storied history and was originally part of the Nautilus Works factory. For much of its life it was used to produce engines, but it was also home to war materials manufacturing during both World War I and World War II.
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However, many locals have been saddened by the news of the demolition. Some believe the "lovely looking old building" should be saved, and are hoping it might have a chance of being listed due its historic nature, which could halt plans to demolish it.
Yeovil Town councillor Tareth Casey has revealed he is urgently looking into what can be done. He says he has "received a significant number of queries" in relation to the demolition plans.
In a statement, he said: "Over the past few weeks I have been working with local groups, residents and other councillors who have concerns over the future of this building. It is understood that First Bus are scheduling a demolition for as early as November this year.
"While I remain open to the future of the building, I am concerned that a demolition can take place on a potentially historical building without a full assessment of the impact, and in this case without any long term development for the land once demolition has taken place. I have been in touch with Historic England who confirmed that it was rejected National Listed Status back in 2014 and have received the report in relation to why.
"I have also spoken to Somerset Council staff who have highlighted that it has a pending review for a locally listed status, but that the processing of this will only take place if a full planning application is submitted. By just requesting a demolition of the building, the trigger to assess it for local listing does not apply.
"My understanding is that Somerset Planning are currently in discussion with First Buses on their proposal to demolish this building, a building that was deemed important enough to receive a blue plaque back in 2000. Given that both Somerset County Council and South Somerset District Council were both in support of the application for National Listed Status back in 2014, I would hope that there is a decision from Somerset Council to reject this demolition without a full development plan to allow a complete assessment to be carried out."
Birthplace to the Nautilus fire grate, Petter Engines and Westland Aircraft, it's one of the few historic buildings Yeovil has left