AN ICONIC shopping centre could be torn down under a “totally crazy” plan that residents say is a “disgrace” for their town.
Loughborough's Carillon , on Swan Street, was a once-booming mall in the 90s and has welcomed customers since 1971.
But over the years thehas slipped into decline, with a number of vendors shuttering shops inside.
Plans to bulldoze the shopping centre have already been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council (CBC), by Leicester Commercial Ltd.
But the firm is still waiting approval from the council before it can commence any works.
The demolition would see Loughborough lose its only shopping centre and multi-storey car park.
Locals have expressed concerns its removal for student accommodation will be a “disgrace” and will sound the death knell for shopping in town.
Many have dubbed the plans a “crazy idea” that will have a “dramatically negative impact” on the community.
One local said: “The loss of such prime retail real estate in the heart of the town will have a dramatically negative impact onLoughboroughand its residents.“
They have also been met with fierce opposition from nearby and homeowners.
Iain Lister, who runs Café–Ambience, told LeicesterLiveconstruction works would impact his deliveries.
He claimed his cafe “risks losing essential access for deliveries” but more importantly there would be a “serious risk to life”.
Mr Lister explained his business' emergency exit is located under the shopping mall's car park ramp – which would be demolished.
Another resident also wrote to object and complained it would “completely destroy the town centre”.
The Loughborough local slammed the amount of “barbers, nail bars, shops, bookmakers, coffee shops and outlets”.
He blasted: “There is nothing for the locals, who now have to travel to Leicester or Nottingham to find decent shops.”
The documents submitted to CBC stated demolition, if approved, would take place between May 18 and October 31 later this year.
They read: “The work onsite generally is the demolition of Carillion [sic] Court, Loughborough, that includes car parking area at the rear and shops to the underside and front of the car park.
“More specifically the works covers: internal strip outs, demolition to structures, removal of slabs and substructures to 3m below ground level, site crushing.”;
All final objections must be made to plans by April 8.
Charnwood Borough Council said: “There is an application to demolish part of the centre. This is live on the Council’s planning portal under planning reference number: P/25/0828/2.
“The application is being considered through the planning process. The Council has 28 days to come to its determination.
“This will be around 9-10 May.”
