Residents launch battle to save Trafalgar House in Nelson from demolition

A decision on the fate of Trafalgar House will be made at the council’s Executive meeting on Hallowe’en night, this Thursday, by the seven councillors who sit on this committee.

“The three councillors who voted to demolish the building at the previous meeting in September do not live in Nelson or represent Nelson wards. They do not appreciate the importance of this building to local people,” explained local resident Dr William Stephenson.

William added: “That’s why we are urging local people who care about Pendle to have their say to protect Trafalgar House and to let the small number of councillors who will decide its fate know their views.

“Anyone who cares about the country’s heritage is also being asked to sign the petition, which is being backed by The Victorian Society.”

Well over 1,000 people have already signed to save the elegant building on Change.Org via this link: https://www.change.org/p/save-trafalgar-house.

Trafalgar House is an important part of the £25m. Nelson Town Deal designed to revitalise the town. The Nelson Town Deal website www.nelsontowndeal.org states that the project is about “improving local buildings/assets and bringing back into use vacant or underutilised sites.”

The Nelson Town Deal site also flags up the importance of the town’s “strong built heritage, particularly in and around the town centre, with some beautiful buildings, including the Town Hall and Grade II listed old library, reflecting the town’s history.”

The Town Deal’s website describes Trafalgar House as a “prominent Nelson building” which is “an important part of the Revitalised Nelson project. The plan is to restore the heritage front of the building on Market Street and to find exciting new purposes for the rest of the building to secure its future.”

Dr Stephenson added: “This is why local people are horrified to learn that the building is under threat when they had the impression it was in safe hands.

“Pendle Council has owned the building for over four years, but has left it in a neglected state unprotected from the Lancashire weather and is now using its deteriorated condition as a pretext for demolition.”

Julie Palmer lives within walking distance of Nelson town centre and worked in regeneration at Pendle Council for several years and continues to work on regeneration projects in Lancashire.

Julie said: “I appreciate the financial and practical challenges that historic old buildings present in renovating them and bringing them back into use.

“But Pendle Council, through its joint venture company PEARL and other partners has done it before successfully with grant support including Northlight and the properties in Whitefield Conservation Area.”

All three proposals for Trafalgar House which the public were asked to comment on in August 2022 included keeping the historic front of the building as a minimum with one of the proposals focused on converting the whole building for residential and commercial use.

Julie added: “Local people who care about Nelson are asking the council’s Executive not to turn their backs on Trafalgar House.

“It’s a battle worth winning, not losing, for our town.”