WORKINGTON Hall remains “at risk” three years after Allerdale council expressed hope that emergency repairs would see it removed from the list.

Several efforts have been made to revive the fortunes of the crumbling Grade II-listed ruin where Mary Queen of Scots famously spent her last night of freedom, but it remains on Historic England’s dossier of under-threat historic landmarks.

Michael Heaslip, Executive Member for Environmental Quality, denied bids to save the hall had stalled and said the building could finally be taken off in spring next year following the completion of another scheduled programme of works.

The repairs would see the removal of saplings rooted in the masonry at the back right hand corner and right-hand side of the building but Historic England would then need to inspect the building before any decision was taken on its “at risk” status.

Explaining why the building had so far remained on the register, coun Heaslip set out some of the challenges faced by staff and restoration specialists.

He said: “What we didn’t understand last time is that you have a very limited window to work on the building. You can’t do it in certain weather conditions when you are dealing with lime mortar. You can’t do it in the bats' nesting season.

“That leaves you with a couple of months each year when you can do the work. "It is a long and painstaking process. You can’t do the whole thing in one go: you have to break it down.

“Because it’s a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Listed Building you can’t let any old builder at it. The people who do the work are the same people who work on Durham Cathedral.

“We were just about to go ahead with the next phase of work when it was pointed out to us that we needed another ecology survey – when a certain length of time has passed you have to do another one.”

The survey looks at issues including the welfare of animals including bats which often roost in old buildings.

Mark Jenkinson, of the Workington Heritage Group, expressed concerns for the future of the hall.

He said: “It's disappointing, to say the least, that Workington Hall remains on the 'At Risk' register as Allerdale council have failed yet again to address the issues.

“Following public pressure at the start of this decade, led by Workington Heritage Group, works were undertaken but appear to have stalled.

“Despite having funding in place for projects like lighting the Hall up gain, the council refused the help. Little projects like that help bring the Hall to people's attention again, to ensure that it's not forgotten. Baby steps.

“Instead we're told there is a 'masterplan', but six years on these plans seem to be too big to get off the ground. They're all about what others can do for us, rather than the ways in which we can make a difference - always someone else's fault.

“In 2015 we were told that they expected it to come off the register the following year. Time after time we're promised action, but the council fails to deliver.”

The former home of the powerful Curwen family, the hall is usually out of bounds to the public amid health and safety concerns though is sometimes opened for guided tours and for Shakespeare performances.