It has been an eyesore on the town for eight years, but the former Bury Fire Station building is finally set to be demolished.
The derelict building, on The Rock, has fallen into disrepair in recent years as vandals and trespassers left their mark.
Firefighters departed the ageing station back in 2012 when they moved into a new state-of-the-art facility at Chamberhall Business Park.
The site was later snapped up by Bury Council, whose own planning department granted permission for the empty station to be demolished in January 2014.
However, the work has been beset by delays ever since.
After fire crews were called to a string of fires at their old base last year, a warning was issued about the dangers of entering the building.
Last week, a bulldozer appeared outside the station, which opened in 1967, while metal fencing has also been erected around its periphery.
One sign pinned to the fence warns about asbestos being removed from the building.
Bury Council leader, Coun Eamonn O'Brien, confirmed that the demolition was set to take place with a view to the site being marked for future development.
He added: “This is an excellent town centre site which we are confident will attract a great deal of interest.
“Our local economy has always been a top priority for us, and we will be doing everything in our power to ensure that Bury recovers fully from the C-19 lockdown and best placed to take advantage of future opportunities.
“This will form part of our recently launched Build Back Better strategy, which will ensure that Bury attracts investment and jobs and continues to thrive as a great place in which to live, work and study.”
The demolition is expected to be completed by the beginning of July.
