TOWERBLOCK TO BE DEMOLISHED

At long last Fawdon House has been cleared of the final tenant, the lights switched off and the planning application submitted for the building to be demolished.

This will happen floor by floor over a period of months rather than by a big bang demolition.

The continued safe and convenient working of the shopping centre is important.

The block was built in 1967 and the small bed sits proved increasingly difficult to let, despite the efforts of the housing management staff.

It would have cost around £2 million to include the block in the modernisation programme of Your Homes Newcastle.

The money can be put to better use elsewhere for modernisation.

The block will be reduced to first floor level - to be level with the shopping centre roof - and a built up felt floor covering applied to the concrete slab.

"There are no plans for any replacement building," said Councillor Brenda Hindmarsh.

"So we will finally say goodbye to a real eyesore."