BORG are aware of the fact that the final Urban Explorers to enter the Odeon to take photos did so the day before the 24 hour security presence was installed to the rear of the building... and not a million miles away from that handy "open door" that had afforded easy access to a select few.
Here is an image of Odeon 3 (the former ballroom) that was taken during that final week in March 2008...
The carpet and seats look absolutely fabulous - especially when you consider the fact that the building had been closed for almost eight years at that point. The decorative pillars of the old ballroom are standing proud in all of their 1930 splendour. The room still holds treasured memories for so many Bradfordians.
Not long after it was discovered that contractors were to enter the Odeon in May 2008 to hunt for asbestos (er, didn't BCR have a report that allegedly stated where it was? Why hunt again? Anyway...) Other contractors were due to undertake a structural survey (again, didn't Ove Arup do a structural survey in 2004 for BCR? Ah well...)
As a result, several people contacted Yorkshire Forward to gain assurances that nothing nasty would happen to any of the original features inside the building. This was particularly important in light of the fact that the DCMS had just received two appeals cases, which even now (4th Nov 2008) could still result in theatre experts gaining access. Here are some of the responses various people received from Yorkshire Forward to put their minds at rest on a number of issues:
“I can inform you that Yorkshire Forward have no intention of damaging the building in anyway” - Jan Anderson (9th July 2008)
“Yorkshire Forward made a commitment to Bradford Metropolitan District Council that we would not do anything fundamental to the structure of the building while these listing processes were underway. That remains the case.” - Trevor Shaw (29th August 2008)
Mark Nicholson of BORG was also assured over the telephone by a Yorkshire Forward minion that the works would be "non-intrusive" and nothing would be damaged...
And we can trust Yorkshire Forward, can't we?
Just take a look at this image below (taken in either September or October 2008) which was discovered deep within the documents relating to the application to demolish the Odeon. It shows the exact same section of wall as seen in the colour pic above, but the blue drapes have been pulled away to reveal more of the ballroom decoration.
Remember, there has been 24 hour security on the site keeping the public out and the only persons gaining entry to the Odeon's interior have been those contractors commissioned by either Yorkshire Forward or Langtree Artisan...
Some loathsome wretch has smashed one of the wooden pillar coverings clean off the wall. A fragment of it is leaning against a cinema chair in the aisle! BORG supporter Andrew Heyes reported that at the time of the asbestos survey he saw contractors entering the Odeon carrying mallets and sledge hammers...
After viewing the YouTube film that already highlights their neglect of the building with the cut pipes, one has to ask what else could Yorkshire Forward possibly do to destroy not only people's memories (particularly of the ballroom) but the classic architecture within? Oh we forgot! They want to demolish the Odeon!!!
Don't let them - get your objections in fast! (Details on our homepage)
(ps Don't worry - the pillar covering can be replicated and restored as it is only made of wood , but that's not the bloody point, is it?)
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