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Building collapse on Westgate.
Shocked staff at McDougall Rose in Westgate, Burnley learnt on Wednesday of the imminent closure of the premises, following the collapse of a building in the same block at the weekend. The closure means the end of 26 years of trading in Burnley for the wallpaper and paint merchants, a subsidiary of the ICI empire. Mr. Michael Lofting, area manager, said : We told head office about the collapse and on Wednesday our safety officer phoned and told us to close immediately due to the danger to the premises One minute this was a profitable depot, the next the shutters went up.
Manageress, Mrs. Joan Watson, expressed her shock, they knew there was a compulsory purchase on the building but had hoped to carry on trading for at least another year. She has worked there fore 12 years. Ken Heaton, foreman, has worked there for 26 years. Mr Lofting said that they hoped to get the stock out of the building, but it may have to be left behind. He said that the buildings could not cope with the heavy road traffic and shook when lorries passed. There were no plans to open another branch elsewhere in Burnley. Mr. Guy Gardener, deputy borough surveyor, said that the premises were inspected and the firm's surveyors called in, but it was the firm's decision to close