Attractive relic of better times

STANDING empty on the corner of Bridge Street and Rylands Street – one of the most picturesque buildings in Warrington town centre.
For more than 60 years, this building was a bank. Martins, Barclays, the Co-operative – the sign outside has changed from time to time.
But the sign outside now is a sign of the times…”For Sale or to Let.”
More ominously it adds: “Planning permission for bar/restaurant.”
Is another historic building in Bridge Street to come a bar – a magnet for more troublemakers who have made the street a no-go area for older folk in the evening?
Bridge Street was once the pride of Warrington – compared favourably with its namesake in Chester.
It is in a conservation area and, in 1968, it was, thanks to a conservation project by Warrington Civic Society, the main reason the town received a visit from The Queen.
Now it has too many empty shops – not least the impressive former Boots building.
It has too many bars and takeaways.
The borough council has ambitious plans to revive this quarter of the town centre – but if those plans are to achieve anything they must ensure that buildings of character like this forlorn relic of better times remain untouched.
Which is hardly likely happen if it becomes another bar or restaurant.