Recycle – don’t demolish Harvester – says local councillor.

The boarded-up pub on the Gloucester Road
The boarded-up pub on the Gloucester Road

The Virtual Museum’s highlighting of the growing dereliction of the old Harvester pub site – on the corner of the London and Gloucester Roads in Bath – has won support from Cllr Bryan Chalker – who is also Heritage Champion for B&NES.

Cllr Chalker, who is an Independent representative for the Lambridge Ward and former Mayor of Bath, said he wholeheartedly agreed with the dismay felt by many people who live around the site and have watched the abandoned building deteriorate.

Cllr Bryan Chalker Independent, Lambridge Ward
Cllr Bryan Chalker
Independent, Lambridge Ward

He told the VMB: 

” I have tried I have tried on several occasions to have the Harvester car-park made available when there are special events at Alice Park but to no avail.  The site-owners have repeatedly said a firm ‘No’ to this suggestion and B&NES appears to be powerless to act! 

The large and empty car park at the rear.
The large and empty car park at the rear.

The Harvester was built to reflect the demolished Lambridge Mill, the remains of which can still be seen in the grounds of Pitman Court.  I have suggested that the old mill site should be marked with a heritage plaque.  Again, no response from B&NES. 

The Harvester building is quite attractive and should be sympathetically  transformed into affordable housing units, without demolishing a perfectly functional structure.  I see no reason why a working water-wheel couldn’t be installed to provide hydro-power from the Lam Brook. 

As usual, a blank wall of indifference from B&NES.”