Call to use Nori bricks to build Accrington bus station (From Blackburn Citizen)

Call to use Nori bricks to build Accrington bus station

4:20pm Wednesday 16th September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(4)

HYNDBURN councillors are to lobby for Accrington’s new bus station to be built from Nori bricks.

A motion to support Hanson Building Products, which own the famous brick company, was passed by councillors at a council meeting.

A slump in sales prompted bosses to lay of 80 staff last September, retaining only a skelten staff of seven at the factory in Whinney Hill Road, between Altham and Accrington.

However in July, eight former workers were re-employed on temporary contracts to renew production to 20 per cent of its previous level.

Now Hyndburn Council is trying to give the firm a boost to establish the plant.

Coun Claire Pritchard, who proposed the motion, said: “We should be promoting the use of local produce in all cases.

“It makes sense on an enviromental level and would make developments more economically viable.

“While we cannot insist that people use particular types of brick, but an advisory notice is allowed on planning applications.”

Coun Malcolm Pritchard told the meeting: “I fully support the motion.

“There will be a new bus station before long and I think if the price is right with Nori brick, it should be built of it.

“It would be good for the people of Hyndburn to have something that is built from local products.

“I will be asking my fellow county councillors to lobby at county hall for this to take place.”

Land at Edgar Street and School Street is earmarked for the new bus station and plans are set to go before the planning department of Lancashire County Council soon.

A huge amount of Nori bricks were exported to America in 1931 for the foundations of the 1,453ft Empire State Building, then the world's tallest building because they were the densest and strongest in the world.

They were also used to build the foundations of Blackpool Tower.

David Weeks, spokesperson for Hanson Building Products, said the news was “brilliant”.

He said: “We’re very pleased to hear about this. There is still a demand for the bricks and the factory is open on a part-time basis, but if we can get projects specifically targetting the bricks, it will go towards securing the long-term future of the plant.

“And where else better to start than on the doorstep.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(4)