So, what we've really suspected for quite some time became official in recent days - the owners have pulled the plug on whatever plans may have existed for redevelopment of our tired old Mort Street TAFE College.
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After months, in fact years, of wondering what, if anything, was going on it was announced that the neglected old pile, regarded as easily the worst eyesore and embarrassment in the Lithgow CBD, is to be offered for auction again next month.
It's now many years since TAFE pulled out, citing concerns over some cracking (in, we believe, one room) but widely regarded as another excuse to further reduce courses available in Lithgow.
Remaining courses were centred on the Hill Street campus.
The first new owner acquired a lot of property for little money to manufacture household laundry items of some sort. It was always an unusually low profile operation.
But external maintenance of any sort was non existent and eventually the bank foreclosed.
Key in here a repeat performance in inactivity until finally the latest owners have declared their declared intentions could not materialise.
Just what went on behind the scenes is unknown but probably the last Council comment on the issue was more than four years ago when we were told there was difficulty in reaching agreement on modern fire upgrade requirements.
So here we go again and are justified in asking 'what next?''
What ever happens will require someone with both the means and imagination to bring about a revival.
Watch this space.
Feathered fiends
IN Parkes the locals have had a enough of a problem all too familiar in Lithgow and now they're moving towards a pigeon cull.
Bathurst had such a cull some time back, correctly citing significant public health and environmental issues. In Lithgow we get lip service to the problem and the pigeons continue to do what they do best - eating and digesting food scraps and leaving their unsavoury results all over our CBD in particular.
It's a disgusting mess that just goes on and on, not helped by unthinking people who continue to regularly throw food to the 'flying rats'' in Main Street, Cook Plaza and QE Park.
Quite obviously Council's pavement cleaning budget, if there is one, doesn't extend to whatever is needed to move pigeon droppings. Main Street and Cook Plaza urgently need some high pressure cleaning. So, in the absence of any other measures, how about a cull? Tough on the pigeons but merciful for the long suffering public.
Cold comfort
WE'VE just emerged from Book Week being celebrated with costume parades at schools across the nation. All good fun in warmer climes but a challenge for kids and parents in places like Lithgow where it almost bordered on cruelty to all concerned in last week's deep freeze.
So why is it necessary to hold Book Week in Winter? Surely no good reason we can think of. Whoever it is who decides these things please be kind and find a more humane space on the school calendar.
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