Birds delay inevitable for pavilion

A second family of nesting birds has come to the rescue of a historic cricket pavilion which is threatened with demolition.

But the birds may have only a earned a week's stay of execution for the historic building at the Cinderella Ground in Worcester.

Developers working for SJS Property Management had arrived at the pavilion yesterday to carry out their demolition plans.

But the nesting birds were spotted by conservation officers on the site and so work had to be halted. Conservation laws prohibit building works which disturb nesting birds.

Developers were told by police that they were not permitted to pull down the half of the building where the birds were not nesting. However, they have begun to remove tiles from the roof.

Campaigners are aiming to lobby the landowners, Arn-dale, in a last ditch attempt to get the work stopped.

Coun David Clark (Con Bedwardine) said: "We are hoping to get to the board of Arndale this week. We have had no luck from the developers, so the landowners have got to be worth a shot."