'Eyesore' Woolworth's left to rot because no one is allowed to knock it down

15 April 2023 , 16:28

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Inside 'eyesore' Blackpool Woolworth, which is being left to rot because no one can knock it down

A decaying former Woolworth store which once served hundreds of people a day has been described as a danger by locals.

New pictures have revealed the inside of eyesore site, which is on the corner of Waterloo Road and Bond Street, in South Shore, Blackpool.

The building originally opened in 1928 as the town's second Woolworth's before closing in 1994 with Harte's Homestore occupying the store for 25 years.

However, the shop shut in January 2019 and has been left to rot away to the elements, Lancs Live reports.

Pictures show the former retail store to be missing a huge section of flooring, as well as broken glass, graffiti, missing ceiling tiles and mountains of debris.

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The former retail store to be missing a huge section of flooring, as well as broken glass, graffiti, missing ceiling tiles and mountains of debris

There were plans in place back in 2020 to turn the former Woolworth into a car park, but this was rejected by the local authority who listed the building as a heritage asset protecting it from demolition.

Now, multiple residents have called for some sort of development to take place with the dilapidated store.

Elain Summersgill owns a business on Bond Street and called the building an eyesore.

She said: "They've let this street go right downhill. Just look at the Christmas shop at the end (Hartes), that's become a right eyesore. Something needs to be done about that."

The store has been empty since 2019

Susanne Johnson, who owns Mrs Johnson's Emporium on Bond Street described the building as a "total danger".

It is unknown what will happen to the building, but as it continues to deteriorate it becomes more and more unpopular with locals.

A structural assessment of the building, which formed part of the planning application, says it would cost more than £87,000 to carry out all the repairs that are needed.

Hartes ceased trading from the shop, which had been well known for its Christmas displays, in January 2019 after 25 years in order to focus on online sales.

Sean McPolin