Closure of Chester-le-Street Depot

[R852 PRG]

Here's a potentially unpopular opinion, not every historic building should be saved.

Just because it was their first depot, doesn't mean it's important. How much of the depot is actually original?

What does CLS depot have that is significant? What would saving it actually do?


Given the significant amount of upkeep it would require, I highly doubt anyone would be able to raise enough money to stay open more than a year. If someone actually wanted to open a transport museum, it would be far cheaper just leasing a modern building.

Just the red brick sections for the most part. The section to the left where there are some windows and where the main exit point for outgoing vehicles is was originally a much larger garage with what appears to have been a large access door (or possibly multiple doors); the fuel lane to the left and wash facilities at the back (facing onto the A167) as they presently exist had come about by at least the 1960s, so that suggests that this section was entirely reconstructed in the mid-century. The section to the right of the arches was originally all offices but was reconstructed into its current format some years later. The section which became known as the 'chute' and used primarily by National Express coaches in later years, identifiable by the large windows along the side, is what I understand was the first part of the building constructed and therefore the oldest surviving section (although the areas immediately around it most likely followed in quick succession). 

I have a copy of a rare photo which probably dates itself at the latest to the outbreak of WWII which shows the building in this way. I'm estimating that sort of date range based on one of the vehicles which can be vaguely made out entering/exiting the large garage area I described above and the absence of any housing of the red brick housing on Picktree Lane, which are in a very similar in style to a pair of semi-detached houses one of my grandads had constructed on a nearby orchard in the post-war period, leading me to believe the houses were probably constructed no later than the late 1940s, possibly earlier.

[Aaron21]

The Northern sign has now appeared at Beamish bus depot on the back


  Screenshot_20230223_184731_Facebook.jpg (Size 350.51 KB / Downloads 35)

[streetdeckfan]

Suggested the site of CLS depot to Lidl and they have apparently been looking at purchasing the site for years.

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[Rob44]

Suggested the site of CLS depot to Lidl and they have apparently been looking at purchasing the site for years.

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surely its to small for a lidl unless they bought the petrol station too?

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surely its to small for a lidl unless they bought the petrol station too?

Actually scrubb that - just checked google earth and its actually bigger that the aldi across the road alothough the shape might cause some problems
https://earth.google.com/web/@54.8599765...ZG9tGAEgAQ

[wibblejunior]

There was a conservatory place next to the depot which was demolished sometime last year - which might also be accounted for if and when Lidl do purchase the site.

[Ianthegoon]

Report of impending demolition on the BBC News web site:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64905008

[Washingtonian]

Report of impending demolition on the BBC News web site:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-64905008

So sad to hear this but I'm not surprised really. The writing has been on the wall since the depot closed really. I hope they at least keep one or two items from the site and send them to Beamish. Would love to see the Northern General Transport sign at the back and if possible the metal archway salvaged.

[cbma06]

It was mentioned originally that the site will be demolished and cleared prior to the new owner purchasing the site.


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[streetdeckfan]

Realistically, the demolition of CLS has been on the cards for years. I vaguely remember MG saying something about it being too far gone a few years back.

[Adrian]

Realistically, the demolition of CLS has been on the cards for years. I vaguely remember MG saying something about it being too far gone a few years back.

 
And the close to £2 million they'll get for it is better in their bank account rather than spent on a building beyond repair.

Think of all the buses you could repaint for that.

[Andreos1]

 
And the close to £2 million they'll get for it is better in their bank account rather than spent on a building beyond repair.

Think of all the buses you could repaint for that.

Once you have had meetings to organise meetings, taken in to account staff wages for those meetings, drawn some ideas up, gone backwards and forwards with BI (and paid for some of his new shorts), sent the vehicles off to the back of beyond and waited for them to come back.
You're probably looking at about 3 vehicles worth of paint.

Roughly.

[busmanT]

 
And the close to £2 million they'll get for it is better in their bank account rather than spent on a building beyond repair.

Think of all the buses you could repaint for that.

Of course the Go Ahead depots are owned by Go Ahead Group and rented to the operators, so the £2 million will go to Go Ahead Group not Go North East.

[streetdeckfan]

Looks like CLS will be a pile of rubble soon enough

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2...eet-depot/

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[cbma06]

Looks like CLS will be a pile of rubble soon enough

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2...eet-depot/

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It was mentioned in the original listings that the site will be levelled and cleared prior to the new owner taking over after the sale.


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