Riverside House: Call for action on crumbling Northwich building

Miraculously, nobody was hurt when the roof came crashing down at the station last May, but there are fears Riverside House might suffer a similar fate if nothing is done soon.

Riverside House has been derelict for decades

A photograph of a significant crack in the building’s brickwork was shared on social media and Cllr Sam Naylor spoke of his anger that it continues to deteriorate.

“It makes me and other councillors who have been campaigning on this issue look inept,” he said.

“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve personally raised this.

“We’ve heard so much about how negotiations are ongoing, and more recently how the land will be developed as part of the wider Winnington corridor.

“But in the meantime, the building continues to deteriorate.

“We’ve already had a train station collapse.

“Do we need a building falling onto the road or even worse, onto a passing member of the public, before anything is done about it?

“There are some heavy wagons coming down that road as well.

“We’ve raised the issue at the highest level with the leader of Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC).

“We’ve had an understanding response and they’re going to get somebody from building control down there as soon as possible.

“And if they decide it poses a danger, something will need to be done about it.”

A close up photograph of the cracks in Riverside House in Winnington

However, John Fifield, chairman of Osborne House Ltd, one of three owners of the building, said he didn’t believe the cracks were any worse than they have been for several years.

“I’m not aware there has been any additional cracking, other than what has been there for many years,” he said.

“I don’t think there is any evidence to suggest it’s recent.

“No doubt CWAC will send their engineers out, which they’ve done before and they’ve found it was perfectly safe.

“The building is going to be demolished, as you know.

“We are working on proposals to submit to CWAC for the redevelopment of the entire site – including their land at the back – and have been invited to do so and hope to do so within a month.”

Weeds can be seen growing from out of the brickwork

Cheshire West and Chester Council have been approached for a comment.