Anger over store's blazing bulbs

Don Frame

March 14, 2009

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ILVA, on Great Ancoats Street, which still has its lights on despite being closed for the past six months

ILVA, on Great Ancoats Street, which still has its lights on despite being closed for the past six months 1/2 Play Slideshow

HUNDREDS of lights at a city centre store that closed six months ago have been burning day and night - because no one knows how to turn them off.

Ilva, the plush Danish-owned furniture shop on Great Ancoats Street, in the city centre went into administration in September.

But the lights, which are computer-controlled, have stayed on - running up a huge electricity bill.

A spokesman for Town Centre Securities Ltd, the property's landlord, said: "It's a lot more complicated than you would think. They can't simply be turned on and off at the flick of a switch.

"We have the keys for marketing purposes only, to be able to show prospective new tenants what's on offer. We don't have possession of the building.

"We are looking into the issue with a view to sorting it out, but the lights are controlled by a complex computer system.

"A lot of systems have been turned off within the building, but we need the lights to be able to show interested parties around. If they could have been turned off easily, we would have done it."

Unacceptable

Environmental campaigners described the situation as 'absurd and unacceptable'.

And Simon Ashley, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Manchester council, said: "This takes 'computer says no' to a new level."

Ilva, who billed themselves as an up-market rival to Ikea, opened their Manchester store in 2006.

But the company went out of business, with the loss of 400 jobs, after little more than two years.

Responsibility for the shop passed to administrators Zolfo Cooper - who handed the keys to Town Centre Securities.

Zolfo Cooper said in a statement that Ilva had vacated the store on September 8, the day after trading ceased.

It said: "The company notified the landlord that it was no longer in occupation of the building and immediately returned the keys to Town Centre Securities. Consequently, the joint administrators believe that all issues associated with the property are now the responsibility of the landlord."

Spencer Fitzgibbon, spokesman for Manchester Green Party, said: "There is a good case for whichever energy company is concerned to simply pull the plug."

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Bean of the yard, stalybridge (14/03/2009 at 07:18)

Beggars belief! carn't turn the lights off? no wonder they went out of business.

gladys rowbotham, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 08:45)

There'll be a switch near the door as you walk in, usually but not always on the right hand side depending on the door opening, about five feet from the floor...........

neil sk6 (14/03/2009 at 08:56)

eeeerrrrrrrrr try taking the bulbs out.....

PW, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 08:58)

Well take the bulbs out!

Mike, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 09:02)

Just wait til the bill doesnt get paid, then the supplier will come round and disconnect it. The lights should go off then.

MPs gravy train, UK (14/03/2009 at 10:23)

Can't we have this as a new Tesco. The city centre is in need of a decent sized store. Liverpool has just had a multi-storey Tesco superstore built in the city centre.

Of course Pat Karney would object unless it was a co-opedrative store.

Womble, Westhoughton (14/03/2009 at 11:27)

Turn off the computer!

Esso blue & The Temple of Boom,, under the Blue Moonlight (14/03/2009 at 11:41)

Good Morning Manchester Evening News. Computer says no

Guten Tag, Deutschland,, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 11:49)

"The lights are controlled by a complex computer system." I've heard it all now. The computer is telling us what we can and can't do? Try this - find said computer in the building, logon, find the lighting control software, changes timings or switch off completely. There, and that advice didn't cost a penny!

Pippa, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 12:33)

Beggars belief - so who's going to foot the bill then?

Rob Wilson (14/03/2009 at 13:42)

Go to consumer unit (fuse board). Remove or switch appropriate fuse or breaker. No power, no light!

Dave (14/03/2009 at 13:51)

"It's a lot more complicated than you would think".

It's not hard mate. Get a sparky in, a computer technician and someone with a big hammer. It can't take more than a few hours to locate the mysterious computer, figure out the software and turn them off.

Whoever made the software to sort the lights out, will have made it fairly easy to use.

Mike, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 17:59)

"Whoever made the software to sort the lights out, will have made it fairly easy to use" - if it's Siemens, think again!

Paddy Murphy.County Mayo , (14/03/2009 at 18:34)

The Lights are on and no one is at Home, Be Jaysus

Lawrence Glendinning (14/03/2009 at 21:23)

Heres another option...cut the power at the mains going into the building. There should be a junction box/joint with the cables. Cut the power source there.

chatty123, oldham (14/03/2009 at 21:59)

Simple Solution. get a digging gang, dig up the cable buried underground and cut em.....what could be easier

Joe Pub, Manchester (14/03/2009 at 22:53)

Turn them off at the switch.

Rick Jenks, Bury (14/03/2009 at 23:36)

Easy. Blow up the Computer. Or demolish the building.

Growler (15/03/2009 at 09:51)

Leave them on ! who cares ?

Mark,Radcliffe. (15/03/2009 at 13:18)

Re-Let the building,as a property with cannabis farm potential.

Empty Head, Southport (15/03/2009 at 19:50)

They won't be on much longer the MEN has just told the local thievs there is a computer in there

Rob Wilson (18/03/2009 at 13:38)

Oh yeah! and loads of copper cable!!!!

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