Hungerford mayor demands action over historic building

Martin Crane (pictured) has written to national portfolio manager for the Co-op, Iain Scott, asking him to confirm that his financial assessment for the renovation project had been accepted.
Mr Scott replied: “Please bear with me. I appreciate your patience maybe wearing a little thin. As soon as I receive feedback you will be one of the first to know.”
In 2012, after years of wrangling, the town council secured an undertaking in principal from the Co-operative Group that the Grade II listed building, Number 16, High Street (incorrectly numbered 15 and 15a), should be renovated.
Flooding from burst pipes, rotting fixtures and an infestation of rats followed - but no renovation.
Responding to Mr Scott’s latest reply, Mr Crane thanked him and added: “Yes, patience is running thin at present; not just mine but many residents of the town who have been following this 'project' for the past three years - to say nothing of the residents of No 16 who have been trying to live in a rapidly deteriorating building for over 55 years.
“When your senior management began to take the matter of the sorry state of this once magnificent building seriously in 2011, there was a hint of confidence that the Co-op Group, being such a large national company, would be able to repair and restore the structure in the then foreseeable future.”
He added: “This confidence has been slipping away ever since despite the promises made from time to time; now there is little if any and can you blame people for this reaction?
“The problems of the Co-op Bank are now well known but we had believed that the rest of the Group were in reliable hands- can we still retain this faith?
“I do hope (your senior managers) appreciate just how much damage this is doing to the reputation of the Co-op Group not just here in Hungerford but across a much larger area as the officials in West Berkshire Council are following the 'progress' carefully. I trust that your next letter will carry news of a more positive nature.”