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Road closed after wall collapses during renovation work at Foresters in Lurgan

A cordon has been put in place following the partial collapse of a building in Lurgan on Wednesday evening.

A stretch of North Street has been closed to the public after a wall of the National Foresters Hall gave way.

The building is currently undergoing extensive renovation works.

There were no injuries reported, however, the extent of the damage is unknown at this stage.

A police spokesperson told Armagh I: “Police set up cordons in the immediate area of North Street on Wednesday evening to ensure public safety following a building collapse.”

Work on transforming the listed building into a new conference and meeting hub for the Foresters and local community began in recent months. The works include a complete refurbishment of the inside and outside.

The original building dates back to the mid-1850s and it came into the ownership of the Irish National Foresters, who had submitted their proposals for this substantial revamp in 2020, back in 1892.

Wall collapse at Foresters Hall in Lurgan

It is understood works are to be carried out on the former pool room on the ground floor, with the intention to create a new bar and seating area within the main building.

At the same time, permission has been given for a change of use for the former branch office to create new conference facilities and pool room, also at ground floor level of the main building.

Wall collapse at Foresters Hall in Lurgan

On the first floor the snooker room and former pool room will be converted into new conference facilities, while the former branch committee rooms will make way for new first floor self-contained office facilities in the rear building.

A new floor space internally will be created at ground floor level, and this will provide a location for new toilet facilities for the planned new bar.

Wall collapse at Foresters Hall in Lurgan

It is also intended to create a covered smoking area outside at the rear of the building.

In addition, work will be carried out to the boundary walls, there will be new access gates and a rear yard store and toilet will be demolished.

Wall collapse at Foresters Hall in Lurgan

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