Dec 06 - Heritage Trust: MOD Building “At Risk”
The Gibraltar Heritage Trust says it is disappointed that the MOD have submitted an application for the demolition of the Police Post/ Gatehouse at the Northern Entrance to the Dockyard. This building although small, is what remains of the Dockyard North Gate and is believed to have been built around 1901.
A statement from the Trust continued: “The initial reason given by the MOD was that the building's footprint was in the way of heavy vehicles manoeuvring in the vicinity. Now in a recent statement, the MOD says that they have no use for it and that the building footprint is needed for additional car parking.
“The Trust and the Ministry of Heritage have been liaising with MOD officials and we have suggested alternative uses for the building, but they have always considered them inappropriate for a variety of reasons. As a last resort the Heritage Trust has also proposed the sympathetic demolition of the building and re-building else within the Naval Base. Although this is an option which the Trust would generally not accept since once dismantled the building would lose its authenticity. We believe that this iconic building is not past the point of repair or renovation. Every effort should be made by the MOD to ensure that the building is not lost forever. It would be a great shame if this significant later Victorian/ Edwardian structure was demolished just for the sake of allocating parking spaces.
“We encourage the public to express any objections they may have through the public planning portal on the HMGoG website (www.egov.gi) in attempt to save our heritage.”
{fcomment}
