Probe into cinema blaze

by brian lashley

June 18, 2006

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AN investigation is underway into a huge fire that caused the front of an old cinema building in Miles Platting to collapse.

Up to 30 firefighters tackled the blaze at the old Empress Building, Oldham Road.

The first crews from Manchester Central and Philips Park discovered the two-storey building well alight with flames shooting through the roof.

They immediately called for back up and were clear of the building when the front collapsed.

Debris was scattered across two lanes of Oldham Road, which was closed in the direction of Manchester to Oldham.

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Steve Lynch, Sale, Manchester (18/06/2006 at 23:42)

Oh what a surprise, This building was listed grade 2 a few years back. I have to question why the authorities didn't do anything to secure the future of the Empress or is it just that they didn't care. English heritage could have done what they did for that pub on the corner of Great Ancoats St and Oldham Road but no another old cinema let down by our so-called heritage guardians. Shame on all concerned.

Ps wonder how long it will be till the old ODEON burns down or is demolished!

Paul, Manchester (19/06/2006 at 11:26)

The police didn't really think when they set up the diversions last night - they diverted all the traffic in the direction of the City of Manchester Stadium, just as 60,000 people were leaving it!

Paul, Manchester (19/06/2006 at 12:38)

And what about the Osbourne next door to the Empress? As comfortable as the trees must be that have started growing out of it, surely it's time to do something about this and similar buildings? Or will they just 'take care of themselves' somehow, like the Empress?

Steve Lynch, Sale manchester (19/06/2006 at 13:29)

I agree Paul, but surely it is the owners of these properties that need to be fined or something what is the point of giving some buildings listed status if there is no incentive for owners to take their responsibilities to maintain and secure them.

In my opinion the whole listing system is a is a waste of time without the resources and encouragement being in place.

mark, manchester (19/06/2006 at 14:36)

landlords and developers have a lot to answer for.
it happens a lot where sites are just kept idle.
this is happening on oldham street in town where at one building the whole shop front is missing and sheet metal and wood are passing off as a the facade

Col, Collyhurst (19/06/2006 at 16:49)

Listing a building makes it more likely it will meet a sad end. If you restrict how a building can be developed, and insist it can only be modernised in accordance with how it was, like as not investors will be put off and it will, at best, stand empty and at worst fall victim to an insurance 'job'. Sad but true.

James, Middleton (21/06/2006 at 00:38)

I appreciate that people hold some nostalgia for buildings like this, but realistically, its probably a blessing that the thing has been razed to the ground. Along with numerous other buildings on that stretch of road, it was a useless eyesore.

Steve Lynch, Sale, Manchester (25/06/2006 at 09:30)

And that's exactly what the developers and the local authority want you to think James! Salford played the same game with the Ambassador. The Local authority has a duty to enforce protection of these listed buildings instead they alow developers a free hand in wiping historicly and socially important buildings from the face of our city. The BBC's restoration programme showed just how badly we manage listed buldings in this country.

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