Liscard Hall bulldozed after massive blaze
HISTORIC Liscard Hall has been reduced to a pile of rubble after a massive blaze ripped through the building in the early hours of Monday morning.
Fire crews were called to Central Park after being alerted to the fire on the first and second floors at 3.13am.
At one point five fire engines and a fire service aerial appliance were tackling the blaze, which caused a partial collapse of the building’s roof.
Initially it was thought only the rear of Liscard Hall would be demolished as a result of the blaze - but on Monday evening structural engineers declared it unsafe and the bulldozers moved in.
The demolition came months before Wirral Council was due to choose a developer to bring the Grade II-listed former art school back into use.
Seacombe councillor John Salter said: “This was a serious blaze and we had hoped the original frontage would remain sufficiently intact for future development to retain the character of the building.
“We were expecting bids to mature towards this autumn so that the council could choose between a number of options. The fire service did their best to save the building but it was not to be.”
Wirral Council said it was “deeply saddened” but remained committed to putting the site to “good public use”.
A spokesman said: “Following the fire which caused extensive damage to Liscard Hall, structural engineers have decided that the building has been made unsafe and will therefore have to be demolished.”
Merseyside Fire Service said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire.
Wirral Council announced early last year it was looking for a developer to bring the once majestic building, empty since March 2003, back into use.
In August the News exclusively revealed two “firm bids” had been received, covering a range of uses including residential and leisure.
Developers were sent a development brief listing acceptable uses in order of preference, with the first choice “self-sustaining community uses” such as a community centre, day nursery or health centre.
Liscard councillor Leah Fraser said: “While yobs may be the cause of this fire, I’m afraid Wirral Council must also take some of the responsibility.
“The council has allowed this building to fall into disrepair.”