Tower block demolition on schedule

Contractors DSM are currently working on knocking down Grange Court in Dale Street, Graiseley. Work on the court began last week with the arrival of a 67-ton excavator and was continuing today.

The demolition of the eight-storey building will take around three weeks. Following its completion, a road closure will be put in place and the knocking down of Wulfruna Court will begin.

Project manager Matt Sprayson said: "It's going well and we're continuing with the demolition. We have had a 360-ton excavator delivered to help with the processing work. We are just plodding on." The project marks the beginning of the area's regeneration following Tesco's successful bid to build a large supermarket in nearby Raglan Street.

Although Dale Street will eventually be closed for six weeks during the demolition, residents will be issued with special permits to allow them to park there.

Demolition work is taking place between 8am and 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Traffic wardens will check that vehicles left in Dale Street have the required permit. Permit holders in the street will also be able to have their cars washed if vehicles get covered in dirt or dust. Residents have approved the decision to knock down the 1950s blocks, branding them an eyesore after they were repeatedly targeted by vandals, drug users and vagrants.

The blocks have stood virtually empty for years as they are no longer suitable for current housing needs.

No plans have been drawn up for the land as yet. Some have called for the site to be used for car parking once demolition work is complete.

Dave Cocker, aged 52, secretary of Graiseley Tenants and Residents' Association who lived on the estate for 15 years, said he was pleased with the work.

He added: "All we want now is to get the landscape sorted out. Those living on the other side of Graiseley will get a lot more natural light."