Leek New Road, between Spa Street and Stanway Avenue, reopened on the evening of Tuesday 13 October, approximately 24 hours after it was closed due to safety concerns. The road was shut late on Monday 12 October when the roof and frontage of a privately owned building were found to be unstable and leaning precariously over the carriageway, posing a risk to the public.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Dangerous Structures and Highways teams collaborated with Baskervilles Demolition and MTC Crane Hire to swiftly remove the immediate danger. This allowed for the road to be reopened the following evening.
The council explained that when a dangerous structure is located on privately owned land, a specific legal process must be followed, including serving appropriate notices and ensuring all actions are lawful and proportionate. Direct demolition of a building is not an immediate option.
The council acted under its emergency powers as outlined in the Building Act 1984. Efforts to contact the owner of the building have so far been unsuccessful, and the council continues to pursue them regarding the building's condition.
“"I want to thank our Dangerous Structures and Highways teams, and Baskervilles Demolition and MTC Crane Hire, for the speed they worked at. Getting a main road like this open again in about 24 hours is a real credit to them. I know how frustrating a closure on that route is, and I understand why people wanted the building dealt with on the spot. When a dangerous structure is on private land there is a legal process we have to follow, and we cannot knock a building down without taking the proper steps first. Our job throughout was to keep people safe and keep the disruption as short as we could. We are still trying to reach the owner, and we will keep pressing on the state of the building."
