The report states that "the building as a whole is in a very poor state structurally and this will, if not repaired, eventually necessitate demolition. A lease to a commercial operator will enable the Council to repair the building and secure the future of the mural at no cost to the public purse and provide an income.". The Council report acknowledges that there has been no consultation on the proposal to dispose of it.
The Dalston Peace Mural is an iconic cultural landmark and part of a building which Hackney has allowed to become derelict.The structural repairs may include rebuilding the front and rear walls, during which the side wall with the mural could be potentially vunerable and in a precarious state.
It seems
extraordinary that, without consultation or marketing, Hackney should agree to
sell it to a new venture with no apparent trading history, which is associated with Antic Ltd. which
recently collapsed reportedly owing £2.6million, which has twice been refused
planning permission to develop the neighbouring site, and which has no
known record of building conservation.
Quite frankly it is a disgrace that the above buildings on Dalston Lane and the corners of Ashwin Street and the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden have been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair; these are iconic buildings with an immense historical and cultural value, whose construction coincided with the development of the first train station in Dalston in the 1860's; urgent preventive measures ansd actions are required NOW;
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