Poor Plaza

On the right of the picture is a building covered in scaffolding. This was once a fine hotel, Central Plaza Hotel, in the centre of Carlisle. Sadly, for many years now it has been derelict and the focus of a lot of argument. The problem is . . . no one really knows who owns it.

It has passed through the hands of several people, companies and finally it became what is legally known as escheat, but just means – ownerless. It has been thought for a long time that the Crown Estate inherited the building (and it is likely that this is the case), but they refute that claim and refuse to do anything to it, as that would be seen as an act of possession or ownership. The City Council do not own the building, but they have an obligation by law to ensure its safety. So over the years they have done things to make it safe, finally covering it in scaffolding. It is too expensive for them to demolish it and anyway it isn’t theirs to get rid of . . . and it is a listed building.

Now it has become so unsafe that the road has had to be closed – it’s a main road out of town. Several local businesses have closed up, either permanently or temporarily. And today they were supposed to be bringing in two cranes and apparently seven tonnes of loose masonry will be removed from the front of the building. I presume the building across the way has been protected from this action. 

Today the local paper is carrying the story that there is a possible buyer. Well, we’ve heard that before, many times. I wonder, if by any chance someone does want it, who will pocket the money, or will they just give it away to someone who will do something with it.