Since the fire on 29th December 2015 an application to demolish most of what is left of the burnt out Woolsington Hall has been submitted. We are concerned that insufficient care will be taken during demolition. Already a gatepost pillar at the main entrance of the hall – unaffected by the fire - has been knocked down at some point in the demolition process. Given Cameron Hall’s past record on care, or lack of, towards the building and grounds it is important that Newcastle City Council has oversight of the demolition process to minimize further damage. Cameron Hall say they still intend to restore the hall but there is no mention of the critical question as to whether the insurance will cover its complete restoration. If it does, there is no point whatsoever in the enabling development – which was supposed to cover the restoration of the hall – and it would be a farce to proceed and allow mature woodland in the green belt to be unnecessarily destroyed. Before any planning decision is made, the amount of the insurance payout must be ascertained. Please email your concerns to lisa.clark@newcastle.gov.uk quoting application 2016/0097/01/LBC as soon as possible. You can also register and make a comment by clicking here: https://publicaccessapplications.newcastle.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=O1JST6BSFPW00 (You must register first with your name, address and email. You will receive an email containing confirmation link, which must be clicked in order to leave your objection) In the mean time, the architect employed by Cameron Hall has said there will be a need to make decisions and continue with the work to reinstate the building at reasonable speed so as not to waste the hire cost of the scaffold by inaction. Investigations into suspected arson are still ongoing.