The Sandonia.

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
Even though the council stopped the demolition, even they said they see no value in the back and just want the front keeping, so regardless, looks like it'll be mostly pulled down.
 

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
Even though the council stopped the demolition, even they said they see no value in the back and just want the front keeping, so regardless, looks like it'll be mostly pulled down.

Sadly, as a result of years of neglect most / all of the internal features that made the building attractive have been lost and, as such, its now only the frontage thats worth keeping.

Lots of work / discussions have taken place over the last few days by save the sandonia group to halt the unauthorised works to demolish the building.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Are there any photos showing how much they managed to demolish before they were stopped?
@Wormella's link above includes this.

JS238868785.jpg
 

markpa12003

Well-Known Forumite
Wouldn't surprise me if the owner just leaves it to fall down now.

He has been doing that for last 15 years or so.

The council have been guilt of allowing the building to become neglected by not taking action against the incompetent owner. If the council extend the CA then the council will have more powers to protect the building and to ensure that happens to the building / site preserves and enhances the area.
 

Feed The Goat

Well-Known Forumite
Amateur Demolition Attempt

I thought any building without the correct consent had to be pulled down over a bank holiday weekend.

This always seems to have worked in the past.

Just ensure the council offices are shut and then introduce Mr Wrecking and Mr Ball

Heh Presto, the site is clear.
 

airbusA346

Well-Known Forumite
Thats Jack Pearce. A young student that set up save the sandonia fb group and has been working tirelessly over the last few months to try and engage with the owner and council to try and save the building.

He needs to find someone with deep pockets, because it is obviously a waste of time hoping the current owner is going to save it.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Can somebody explain what we are losing here?

What are you proposing to do with the space if it is saved?

Have you even thought about that?

Just because something is unusual doesn't mean it is important - there must be thousands of buildings, nationally, just like this one, that bit the dust over the last 60 years.

Are you suggesting that it could be viable as a cinema? a snooker hall? perhaps vaudeville is due a comeback? Get. A. Grip.

The building died decades ago, give it up.
 

The Notorious A.N.T.

Well-Known Forumite
I am quite fond of the Sandonia & it's Jimmy White 'folk art' however, even if it could be saved it is very difficult to see what purpose it could have. It is not exactly in the best part of town & due to the ramshackled condition any restoration will be economically unviable. I think the campaign to save it is also a bit flawed as the only aim appears to be 'to save it for future generations'. I could have saved my old Amstrad CPC 464 green screen computer for my nieces & nephews but guess what?. They would not give a toss because they have i-pads now!.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
I personally think it's too far gone for restoration, and that picture inside looks more like the Kray Twins to me than any snooker players. So given the site becomes available, and maybe the best you could hope for is some usage of the frontage, what could go its place ?

Residential seems obvious, business park ? car park ? (for where I wouldn't know) mini-nuclear fusion power station (by the time this saga is over, they'll probably be available.) Deep hidden lair of James Bond looney villain who wants to take over the world ? Some kind of fortification or tidal gate against the great Sandon Road Tsunami which might be on the cards due to climate change ? Small urban park with some grass and flowers and a few trees ? (nice thought but there'd be no money for somebody in that.)

:mystery:
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I suspect very few people have had a serious expectation of the whole building being 'saved' for many years.

Even if there was something for it to be saved for.

Perhaps a few like the oddness of the frontage and hoped that that might be incorporated* into whatever occupies the site after the main structure is gone. It does relieve the dullness of the area a bit.



* In an Irish Club/Buffs sort of way, perhaps.
 

Staffs1992

Active Member
Can somebody explain what we are losing here?

What are you proposing to do with the space if it is saved?

Have you even thought about that?

Just because something is unusual doesn't mean it is important - there must be thousands of buildings, nationally, just like this one, that bit the dust over the last 60 years.

Are you suggesting that it could be viable as a cinema? a snooker hall? perhaps vaudeville is due a comeback? Get. A. Grip.

The building died decades ago, give it up.

Stafford needs open spaces throughout the town to encourage a sense of community. Multi use spaces that can be used for everything from Art spaces, to pop up performances, gigs and more.

The lack of them is the reason the town is, sad as it is, becoming quite rapidly a lost cause without a true bold vision.

With a bit of creativity and drive there's nothing stopping spaces including the Sandonia being true hubs of the community, run by the community. Look at the Storyhouse in Chester, people would have argued that should have been bulldozed, it's a good job it wasn't.

Arguably, the council gave it a nail in the coffin a few years ago when it refused events for the venue because there was a lack of car parking. This could have been easily sorted by partnering up with the council with the car park on Goal Road. But that would have been too easy.

You could argue well we can build new, brighter spaces that can do the same. I'd argue its clean cut boring modern design that makes them soulless.

But nevermind, we'll all just moan amazon is to blame for the death of our towns. Actually, no. We are.
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Stafford needs open spaces throughout the town to encourage a sense of community. Multi use spaces that can be used for everything from Art spaces, to pop up performances, gigs and more.

The lack of them is the reason the town is, sad as it is, becoming quite rapidly a lost cause without a true bold vision.

But nevermind, we'll all just moan amazon is to blame for the death of our towns. Actually, no. We are.
Nevermind?

Graham: What is a cynic?
Darlington: A man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.

Graham: And a sentimentalist, my dear Darlington, is a man who sees an absurd value in everything and doesn’t know the market price of any single thing.
 
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