By Conor Sharkey

RESTORATION work on the Sion Mills Stables is "very likely" to go ahead in the not too distant future, the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) confirmed this week.

Speculation has been rife that the listed building would be demolished altogether after a major chunk of it, including the village clock tower, caved in last month.

Since then, the EHS have employed emergency measures to save the Stables, including issuing an Urgent Works Order and fast tracking a Compulsory Acquisition Order.

The latter will come into force on July 19 and will see control of the building transferred from current owner John Withy to EHS.

They in turn will hand it over to Building Preservation Trust Hearth, who will hopefully restore the Stables to their former glory.

At present, a contractor is on site clearing loose timbers and securing the slates.

Meanwhile the Stables have been closed off to the public both inside and out while work continues.

And speaking earlier this week EHS Principle Conservation Architect Manus Deery said there was a confidence on all sides that the regeneration work could still be completed successfully.

"I would say that it is very likely that the restoration will take place and there is a strong willingness for Hearth to be involved and partner us on this project.

"There were concerns that the building may have been too far gone, but Hearth came back and said that it was still restorable. So it's pretty much all systems go and the building will officially become the property of EHS on July 19.

"With regards to a time frame for work to begin, it depends really on final approvals between us and Hearth and then they need to start drawing up plans for a new use for the building and so on.

"So it's difficult to say when we can expect to see work begin, but there is definitely a willingness on all parts that this succeeds," he said.

Describing the development as "great news", Sion Mills Building Preservation Trust Director Celia Ferguson said: "I believe this will be the first ruin in the North West that is going to be properly restored and I think it will give heart to people.

"People look at it now and think it can't be done and it is difficult to imagine it restored, but when it is completed I think it will be seen as an icon for heritage. This is very welcome news from both EHS and Hearth," she said.