Work will begin later this year on the restoration of an iconic Cheshire landmark that was destroyed after a car ploughed into it nine months ago.
The grade II-listed Round Tower Lodge in Sandiway, near Northwich, had to be demolished due to safety fears after a Vauxhall Corsa left the carriageway and collided with it on November 14 last year, reducing the historic landmark to just a pile of bricks.
The incident shocked the community, with hundreds of residents joining an action group to offer their support for the tower’s repair.
But now Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) have confirmed that a planning application for its restoration has now been put in, with the work, anticipated to be costing about £150,000, set to begin on the monument in September.
CWaC spokesperson Ian Callister told The Chronicle: “One of the reasons we have been slightly delayed in the restoration is because it has taken longer than anticipated to assess the quantity of stone.
“Approximately 60% of new stone, which will be sourced from local quarries, will need to be used for repair, due to the extent of damage.
“The stone has to be specially cut but we are keen to get on with the job as smoothly as possible.”
The remaining sandstone blocks that will be used in the repair have been kept in safe storage for the past nine months.
The 50-year-old female driver whose car caused the damage was briefly hospitalised after the incident, with only minor injuries.
