27 replies to this topic

[leschip]

I have just heard that the Leisure Centre will now be closed and the building demolished. The building is the last piece of the B.I.C.C. standing, when it goes there will not be any physical evidence of its being in Prescot. Helsby at least named a road Callender's Way.
So bearing in mind Knowsley Council's attitude, could one of you, when passing the Carr Lane roundabout take the old B.I. sign into protective custody? Before those sods remove it and flog it off.
Les

[boxkey4]

I think its already gone,the contractors working on the demolition and landscaping of the hospital site use it for parking.

Edited by boxkey4, 17 June 2011 - 03:42 PM.

[Phyll]

Leschip, End of an era. Here is something that has been preserved from BICC.

http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.co...ght/5732719481/

Here are more memories for you.

http://www.flickr.co...cer/2680038109/

http://www.flickr.co...himp/406898582/

More memories can be found at Merseyside Maritime Museum.

http://www.liverpool...bicc_party.aspx

http://www.liverpool...blefactory.aspx

http://www.liverpool...id=66&mode=html

Edited by Phyll, 17 June 2011 - 04:55 PM.

[algibbo]

leschip, on 17 June 2011 - 02:37 PM, said:

I have just heard that the Leisure Centre will now be closed and the building demolished. The building is the last piece of the B.I.C.C. standing, when it goes there will not be any physical evidence of its being in Prescot. Helsby at least named a road Callender's Way.
So bearing in mind Knowsley Council's attitude, could one of you, when passing the Carr Lane roundabout take the old B.I. sign into protective custody? Before those sods remove it and flog it off.
Les

Hi Les, do you mean where the old bicc canteen was? is it just at the back or are the buildings on the main road going too? its a shame if they do cos them buildings have so much character.the gardens were always immaculate, also wasnt there one of the old B.I signs lying flat in the centre of the lawn? AL

[Olliebeak]

I suppose their idea of commemoration, was to name the edge of town Shopping Centre 'Cables Retail Park' - .

[leschip]

Alg, it is the old staff canteen, it's all going, nowt left to see

[Olliebeak]

Flipping heck - I passed it last week and it still looked like a 'going conern'. Things sure move quick in this neck of the woods.

[jvy20]

Hi all.

Do not wish to rattle anybody's cage but not really convinced by the nostalgia for BICC. From what I remember of it it was a dirty place that simply made a great deal of money off the backs of the working people of Prescot and surrounding area. I cannot imagine that any man worked there by choice.

John

[RATTY]

I agree John, deserted us they did, ruined Prescot.



Prescot leisure centre is to be demolished and a new one ( a pathetic excuse for one if you ask me) is being built to replace it by Knowsley council who have committed millions ona new Huyton leisure centre. there has been a campaign running for a while on this but it didnt get very far, Prescot never gets listened to. Read some of the remarks and you can see what others think

http://prescotonline...plans-revealed/

click on the red 'links' and you can see the plans for the miniscule replacement they came up with after years of campaigning for an update of facilities

Heres whats been given to Huyton, a state of the art facility they call it.

EDIT - well I cant find one link to the plans for that, they have obviously taken away all reference to it so we cant see what we are NOT getting

Heres a facebook page
http://www.facebook....re/260176088363

Heres a facebook page
http://www.facebook....re/260176088363

FOUND

Page 13 on this magazine, http://www.knowsley....NewsIssue27.pdf

they get a leisure and culture park and
we get Prescot five a side facility

[gypsygeoff]

Well I disagree about choice of working for the BI.I went to tech with apprentices from the BI,they all chose to work there,because it had one of the best apprenticeship schemes in the UK.
Every pit and factory was dirty,I worked at Sidac, probably the worst in the North West along with 99% of Widnes for stink,and chemicals.
Doesn't matter what the company did,we all agree the workers at all factories only put money in the owners/shareholders pockets,the same as you all do now when you shop at Tesco or fill yer car up,or have your salary paid into one of the major banks.
Prescot in the 60's and 70's had a heart same as Town did with Pilks and Sutton Manor with the pit.That has gone forever,the same way king cotton left Lancashires green and pleasant land.
You have to remember St,Helens and Prescot are now a manufacturing and industrial wasteland,which will never return.

[stephen nulty]

I worked at the BI for 13 years, and it was my choice to do so. My dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., all worked there too.

My auntie Katie (McCullough) was manager of the BI canteen for years, and I have had my lunch there most days for quite a long time.

But surely the issue here isn't than an old building is disappearing, but the services associated with it.

[rainhill99]

The old BI Managagers Dining rooms are still there but are earmarked for demolition,and replaced with a smaller leisure facility, I am convinced that Knowsley Council wants too close Prescot down, I have not parked to shop in the centre since the introduction of parking fee's, park on Tesco and walk up, it going to cost Prescot residents and Schools a fortune if they want to travel to Longview Drive in Huyton for a swim, and how about this one, a brand new Knowsley swimming facility is going to be used by Everton and Liverpool Penguins swimming clubs,Prescot swimming club with whom I am involved has had to go with a begging bowl to get pool time, remember we have lost our facility after at being at Scotchbarn since it was built, I would be interested to know where all the money is going from the sale of all this prime building land definitely not back into Sport and Leisure in Prescot.
Come on we need someone too fight our corner.
Matt

[Gary C]

Hi Matt,
I could not agree more with you. I contacted a councillor and asked for them to look into having the leisure centre given listed buildings status but even though there has been all the shouting and crying he did nothing about it until it was too late. I was born and bred in Prescot and it is a disgrace what Knowsley Council have done and are still doing to Prescot. What happend to the promises that were given to Prescot that if the retail park went ahead we would get brand new leisure facilities, so much for KMBC's promises. Prescot is now dead and buried as far as I can see and all the goodwill in the world would not get KMBC to spend anything here unless we become Huyton and then we would possibly get the investment. Our kids have nothing to look forward to in the Prescot area and I can't blame them wanting to move South or even abroad to escape this area and country.
Also Prescot town council have their hands tied by Knowsley so we cant even complain to them. They even tried to stop the demolition by refusing to give a list of the people who used the leisure centre but this did not delay it for long but at least they tried.
Cheers and Regards,
Gary.
(Prescotian and proud of it)

[RATTY]

From the Facebook site Save Prescot from becoming a ghost town for anyone whos interested

There is a KMBC Planning Committee at 6pm on Thursday 18th August in the Council Chamber, Huyton Council Offices. The committee is to determine an application to demolish Prescot Leisure Centre.This is our chance to let Knowsley Council know that we wont let them walk all over Prescot. Get down to the meeting if you can. FLOREAT PRESCOTIA

[Honey]

It's sad to see how many businesses and shops have closed in Prescot, the once thriving town centre has suffered greatly and is a mere shadow of it's former self..