STANLEY BRICKYARD - FEATURE ARTICLE 1989

(Ilkeston Advertiser 30th June 1989 p5)

MEMORIES STIRRED BY PLANS TO REBUILD AT BRICKYARD

   Plans are afoot to build bungalows on the old Stanley Brickyard - deserted for 20 years. The site is owned by West Hallam parish councillor John Hart, who demolished the 28 houses which originally stood there. "Erewash Council put a demolition order on them and I fought to keep them up" said Councillor Hart. "It was about that time that I was setting up in business on my own and I then thought that, if I demolished them and built 12 new bungalows on the land, the work would set me off."

   But after the buildings had been knocked down the land was declared a Green Belt area and his planning application for the bungalows was turned down and his appeals rejected. "It was criminal really" he said. "Today they would have made them into nice houses. I knew everyone who lived there - some of the older ones have died but their sons and daughters are still around and they're always saying "When are you going to build on the Brickyard again?""

   And if Councillor Hart has his way, their plea could be answered. He is planning to re-apply to Erewash Council for planning permission to build the bungalows and believes his chances may have improved, as land has become scarce during the last 20 years.

   Walter Sarson (80) was born in one of the old houses and now lives in one of three bungalows which were built when the terraces were demolised. "People started crying when they heard what was going to happen" he said. "There would be people back here tomorrow if new houses were built."

   The main reasons for the demolition order were simply that the houses were old and had no bathrooms, but Mr Sarson maintains that they were in good condition when they were knocked down. "Toilets were built outside the back doors instaed of being attached to the building so that proper bathrooms could be built above them" he said. "When they pulled them down, there wasn't even a slate missing from the roofs."

   Mr Sarson, who worked as a builder in his youth, considers himself fortunate to have lived in the bungalow since his old house was demolished. He says he enjoys the fresh air and the abundance of wildlife that wanders into his garden. "It's fresh here, and when you look out of the window you can see all sorts of livestock" he said. "The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is open the doors and windows - and the pub is only just round the corner!" He added "You may as well take me to the graveyard from here."

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