Yobs smashed 40 windows at a derelict former teapot factory set to be transformed into a shopping village. CCTV shows a group of lads and one girl entering the building in Newcastle Street in Longport, before leaving an hour later.
It is estimated that the damage will costs around £2,000 to repair with brand new windows only having just been installed. The vandalism has left businessman Wayne Walker dismayed as he starts work on his vision to transform the site with restaurants, flats, offices and entertainment space.
Wayne, who runs neighbouring Wayne Walker Quality Meats, spent two years securing the deal for the Grade II*-listed Price and Kensington Teaport Works but has now suffered a setback after staff arrived to find the mess on Monday, May 27. It has also meant that further work to transform the venue has been delayed, as the building must be watertight before the scheme can progress.
READ: Wayne Walker takes us inside ex-pottery site as scale of amazing vision revealed
Wayne Walker Quality Meats shop manager Mike Patrick said: “The windows were brand new, and now Wayne’s got to replace 40 of them. It’s a derelict site, so there were no windows when he bought it and there were holes in the roof, so he’d just had brand new windows put in and had the roof patched because we need to dry the property out before we can start work on it.
“Work was due to start this week, but now we’ve had to put that on hold whilst we get the windows replaced. So not only has it cost Wayne already for putting the windows in, he’s now got to pay another £2,000.
“CCTV shows group lads going in there and an hour later it shows the same group coming out. Police have got the CCTV. We’re going to get CCTV installed inside as well.
“The main concern is that it’s derelict so parts of that site are unsafe because the roofs could collapse. Whose fault would that be then? It’s such a shame because Wayne’s started a project and he’s trying to bring something nice to Longport and Middleport and transform an eyesore into something nice for people.”
Writing on Facebook, Wayne Walker Quality Meats added: “If anyone has seen anything or has any more information we can pass on to the police, we will be very grateful. We have now got to have more security installed. I really hope we get these kids that are causing so much devastation.”
Under the plans, the teapot factory is set to be turned into a hive of activity with a mixed use scheme similar to that being created down the road in Stoke as part of the Goods Yard development.
It is set to be known as the Teapot Village in a nod to the site’s long history. A ‘vision document’ includes proposals for a beer warehouse, a butchers, green grocers, florists, craft shops, along with restaurants and cafes. There could also be apartments, a performance area, artists’ studios and a museum.
Staffordshire Police have been contacted for a statement.
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