BULLDOZERS have finally moved in to demolish a former health care building in Downpatrick which was targeted by arsonists on several occasions.
The former St. John’s House care home at Pound Lane was destroyed in a malicious blaze last October but its immediate demolition was halted after fragments of asbestos were discovered in the mangled wreckage.
The bill to remove the asbestos was estimated in the region of £250,000 with specialist contractors recently completing this task which was ordered by the Health and Safety Executive.
It was believed that asbestos sheeting used to create fire breaks in the roof of the former care home and other asbestos located in a boiler room had been destroyed during last October’s blaze which took fire fighters over 12 hours to extinguish.
But the Health and Safety Executive wanted to leave nothing to chance as St. John’s House is close to a number of homes in John Street and St. Dillon’s Avenue continues.
Scaffolding was erected around the building to support a huge tent-like structure which covered it completely to allow specialist asbestos removal contractors wearing boiler suits and surgical masks to carefully remove debris.
A series of air monitoring tests were also carried out in the Pound Lane area as the work to remove any remaining asbestos continued.
St. John’s House was vacated a number of years ago and while plans were in place to remove asbestos before the building was demolished, arsonists struck.
The former care home is owned by the South Eastern Trust which plans to sell the site which is adjacent to the former Pound Lane health clinic which was bulldozed last year. It’s understood the site is earmarked for new social housing.
Downpatrick councillor Liam Johnston has welcomed the start of demolition at the former care home. He said the building had become an eyesore in the wake of last year’s arson attack.
“The building had been set on fire on several occasions and youths were also engaging in anti-social behaviour at this location which is close to a number of homes,” he said.
“For many years, St. John’s House was a valued community asset for the elderly and those seeking respite care. It was sad to see it lying in a poor state for many months.”
Councillor Johnston said the Pound Lane site will be sold alongside the former Downe Hospital complex and hopes bidders will come forward to secure the nine acre location to help with the regeneration of this part of Downpatrick.