8:00am Thursday 12th January 2012
By Dolores Cowburn
Residents fear for the future of a derelict pub that was once the home of Bradford City Supporters Club after the roof slates were ripped off by workmen.
The Fountain Inn at Heaton has lain empty for years and was damaged by fire months ago.
But at the weekend workmen turned up with a crane and took away the stone roof slabs.
Now locals fear the character of the area will be ruined if the building falls into total disrepair because the roof has been stripped and could eventually need demolishing.
Former Heaton Councillor Stanley King, who wrote Heaton: The Best Place Of All, lives just yards away from the pub, which was built in 1856 and at one point actually had a fountain in it.
“Planning laws are there to be observed, not to be trampled on,” he said.
“It was done in broad daylight when the Council was not working on Saturday.
“A team came up and removed all the roof slabs.
“This is a conservation area so they are not allowed to do that. They should have at least notified the council of their wish to do so, but as far as I am aware, it was done without official sanction.
“The whole character of a nice area could be spoiled forever without any good reason.”
The Fountain was a small corner pub until 1984 when it was bought by Frank Lee who completely rebuilt it.
One room was devoted to Bradford City as Mr Lee was an associate director of the club.
Historically, it was popular with the farming community because of its proximity to Wharfedale Farmers’ Auction Mart.
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