Charity wants to repair pumping station after fire

A charity wants to remove a section of a pumping station destroyed by a fire as part of repair works.

Leighton Pumping Station's roof collapsed into the store room and smaller pump room when the listed building in Linslade, Bedfordshire, was set deliberately alight in July.

The Canal & River Trust has asked Central Bedfordshire Council for Listed Building Consent to dismantle the fire-damage remains and install new pump control systems.

Listed building consent is needed as the pump house, which dates back to 1838, is connected to the neighbouring Leighton Lock Cottage, which is Grade II listed.

The cottage and pumping station were initially owned by the Junction Canal Company.

They were then owned by The British Waterways Board before it became the Canal & River Trust.

The cottage, which was listed in 1993, was sold in 2005 but the pumping station remains in the ownership of the trust.

In its proposal, the trust said it would re-instate all above-ground, three-phase switch gear and pump control systems.

It would also remove timber trusses, metal fittings and loose bricks from the top of the building's walls.

Proposed works also included the removal of vegetation and fire debris from the interior of the building.

The process would be completed under the supervision of Albion Archaeology to asses items that can be salvaged.

Charlotte Wood, Canal & River Trust head of operations for London & South East said the the building was "severely damaged in an arson attack which also destroyed the modern pumping equipment inside".

She added: "Our charity has submitted a Listed Building Consent application, seeking permission to carry out works to make the structure safe.

These works will involve detailed recording of the fire-damaged roof trusses by accredited archaeologists, prior to the careful removal of burnt structural roofing timbers.

"Once our contractors can safely access the building, we will then be able to progress to the next phase of work and prepare detailed plans for reinstating new pumps that are needed to provide water to the canal once again."

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