Date published: 2005/08/04
The Cambridge Evening News says:
Campaigners have forced a public inquiry into whether a nuclear bunker should be demolished.
Cambridge City Council had already given the green light for demolition of the Grade II listed bunker - but objections from the 20th Century Society mean the planning application will now be the subject of a full planning inquiry.
Developers Countryside Properties are building houses and flats at the site off Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge, and want to demolish the bunker to make room for more.
But now the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has called for the inquiry - likely to start next year - overruling the council. The 1950s bunker was built as a standby regional seat of government for use in the event of a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union.
Eva Branscome, of the London-based 20th Century Society, said: "If the building is destroyed we will lose part of history and it won't be rebuilt."
"It reminds us of the lengths we went to at the time of the Cold War when the nuclear threat was real. It is an important historic relic and a reminder of how close we came and a warning for the future."
"Many people don't realise these sorts of buildings are even there."
At the original planning committee meeting, councillors heard about proposals to turn it into a pub and hostel but decided its historical importance did not justify keeping it.
A city council spokeswoman said: "We will be defending the case that it should be demolished."
"In accordance with government planning policy guidance in relation to historic buildings, it was decided to allow demolition for two reasons. One, the alternative uses of the building suggested would not be in keeping with the surrounding residential development."
"And two, the alternative residential proposal will bring substantial benefits to the local community."
English Heritage said: "The former regional seat of government in Cambridge, built to protect emergency government staff in the event of nuclear war, is a powerful and evocative relic of the Cold War."
"English Heritage accepts the bunker is no longer needed for its original use but, despite the highly unusual nature of the building, believe a practical, viable, alternative use can be found that will allow this remarkable monument to be preserved."
Chris Crook, Countryside Properties' managing director, said: "The Bunker Preservation Trust has assured us the bunker has no architectural or historic merit and we will maintain our current position, together with the city council, in arguing the case for its removal during the public inquiry."
It's hard to see a sensible viable alternative use being made of the building, except possibly as an archive centre (but there are plenty of warehouses in the world). And it has no architectural merit. But it does have some historic merit. So a public inquiry is fair enough.
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