Wakefield Metropolitan District Council : (23/1/2017) Decision on The Counting House is welcomed

​Date: 23/01/2017

Ref: PR8462

Wakefield Council has welcomed a decision by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which supports the action it took to protect Pontefract's medieval Counting House from collapse.

The Grade II listed building in the town's Market Place Conservation Area, which is in private ownership, had fallen into severe disrepair.

The Council inspected the building after concerns were raised by English Heritage and a local conservation group in 2014. A report concluded that urgent work was needed to temporarily stabilise the building and to make it weathertight.

Discussions were held with the building's owner, requesting he carry out the work. But following unsuccessful negotiations, the Council issued legal notices to carry out essential works, which it then undertook to protect the historic building.

The Council has been seeking to recoup the cost of the work from the building's owner, and had sought support from Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The owner had appealed against the legal notices. But Ms Bradley has dismissed the appeal.

Welcoming the decision Cllr Denise Jeffery, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Skills at Wakefield Council, said: 'The Council fully supports the Secretary of State's decision to dismiss this appeal and to back the Council's approach to safeguarding this building from collapse.

'Most importantly, the building is now stabilised. We now look forward to working with the owner to secure a scheme of permanent repairs which are essential for the long term preservation of this nationally and locally important building.'