Work to
dismantle the ship is set to begin in November after Middlesbrough Council
hands over up to £400,000
The days are numbered for former floating nightclub
Tuxedo Royale - with the scrapping of the rusting vessel to begin within weeks.
Work will start in November after Middlesbrough Council
issued grant of up to £406,000 to Able UK for its dismantling.
The council has said moving the severely fire-damaged
ship from its berth near the site of the proposed snow centre is key to the
regeneration of the “strategically important” area of Middlehaven.
Able UK has now confirmed work to dismantle the ship is
scheduled to begin next month.
A spokesman said: “We expect
that work will begin in November on dismantling the superstructure of the
vessel where it is currently sited at Middlesbrough.
“After the work on removing the superstructure is completed
we will consider the options for removal and recycling of the hull with a view
to completing the work by next spring.”
A maximum grant of £406,000 will be paid by the council
to Able UK to complete the work.
Minutes from a recent
meeting said: “A confidential executive property sub-committee report approved
a maximum contribution of £406,000 for the dismantling and removal of the
Tuxedo Royale from the River Tees.
“Removal of the ship, particularly given its current
degraded state, is essential to ensuring that the regeneration of the
Middlehaven area continues, the value of the council’s land assets in the area
are protected and to protect the local environment.
“The original approved executive report on the
Middlehaven relief road did not include provision for the removal of the ship
and therefore this investment is over and above that agreed in May 2016.”
Middlesbrough Council again confirmed that while
proposals have been put forward by groups of enthusiasts, none have been able
to find the money needed to secure, move and restore the vessel.
The £406,000 will come from
the council’s capital spending budget.
The party boat was known for its revolving dance floor
and was docked on the Tyne before moving to Teesside.
However, it has been in a state of severe disrepair for a
number of years.
The ship - formally known as
the TSS Dover and later renamed the Earl Siward and then the Sol Express - was
moved to Able UK’s Middlesbrough port back in 2009.
Its owners went into administration shortly after,
leaving it with no legal owner - and therefore nobody to take responsibility
for its maintenance or removal.
A regular target for vandals, the vessel, which is
listing and partly resting on the riverbed, is deemed by the Environment Agency
to constitute ‘controlled waste’.
It was badly damaged by fire
in June while docked on the river.
Source: gazette
live. 22 OCT 2017
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