Facelift planned for former Sleaford mess of the year?

A former Sleaford Civic Trust '˜Mess of the Year' could be getting tidied up.
Mess of the Year for two consecutive years, the former Pizza Hot takeaway, judged by Sleaford and District Civic Trust. EMN-170324-145021001Mess of the Year for two consecutive years, the former Pizza Hot takeaway, judged by Sleaford and District Civic Trust. EMN-170324-145021001
Mess of the Year for two consecutive years, the former Pizza Hot takeaway, judged by Sleaford and District Civic Trust. EMN-170324-145021001

North Kesteven District Council’s Economic Development Team is proposing to do some work to the former Pizza Hot takeaway shop at 31 Southgate in Sleaford that has stood empty and decaying for years.

It has been repeatedly nominated as Mess of the Year by the Civic Trust in its awards scheme, although this year at its annual meeting on Wednesday the Trust selected the old Quarrington School as its ‘Mess’ for 2016/2017.

The building stands within the town’s designated conservation area and as such Alexandra McNulty from the Economic Development team has submitted an application for consent to remove and make good a number of “inappropriate” modern additions such as redundant signage, wiring, security cameras and lighting which are not in keeping with the character or appearance of the building.

She said the authority also seeks to repaint the shop frontage white to halt the deterioration and board up windows and door, painting them in a more historically appropriate heritage stone green.

Lincolnshire Historic Building Committee has commented: “We welcome the removal of the sign and other redundant features plus the repainting of the front facade. We are, however, concerned over the future of this listed building in view of the proposal to board up all of the front elevation windows and entrance door. We hope this latter proposal is for a strictly limited period until a new tenant/owner can be found.”

The building’s owner is stated to be a Mr Z. Shainfield of ZAS Investments of Leeside Crescent, Golders Green, London and has been informed of the council’s intentions to try and improve the town’s street scene.

The building was the Civic Trust’s Mess of the Year last year, for a second year running. It was described as being “in a sorry state”.

The trust said its decision last year: “There remain other eyesores, but for sheer squalor, nothing else can compete with it. It ruins the appearance of that part of the town, and it well deserves the Award.”