DEMOLITION has begun on the main building of Lymm Hotel – and a former council leader says 'anger has been inflamed' as residents see what is being lost.

Plans to pull down the building and replace it with a children's nursery, residential care home and retirement space with care apartments was approved last year.

Cllr Ian Marks, former leader of Warrington Borough Council, says the decision at Warrington Town Hall at the time was 'shocking and disgraceful' adding that the concerns of 180 residents who objected were 'completely ignored'.

He added: "Now that demolition is actually taking place this anger has been inflamed again as people can see what is being destroyed forever. I argued very strongly that the front of the building should be retained.

"It may not have been an ‘architectural gem’ but it had a distinct charm and character and was an important part of Lymm’s heritage.

Warrington Guardian:

The former hotel building

"It had links to the old railway line and the famous people associated with the hotel.

"We now can look forward to months and months of disruption caused by demolition and construction vehicles.

"These should not use the unmade stretch of road at the end of Statham Avenue nor the golf club corner where vehicles are forced to drive onto pavements to avoid hitting oncoming vehicles. We know this is illegal but everyone does it.

"The council’s highways experts assured us this was not an issue because there were no records of serious accidents. Thankfully this is not surprising because most drivers take care to avoid an incident.

"Current residents of Lymm and future generations have been badly let down by Warrington Council and they are very angry and saddened by what they see happening now.”

Warrington Guardian:

Pele in 1966

Famously the hotel housed Pele and his Brazilian teammates during the 1966 World Cup.