Member Article

10 years on from Vaux closure and it is "not a happy anniversary"

The decade anniversary of the Vaux brewery closure in Sunderland has reignited anger and arguments, with the closure being called a “tragedy for the city”.

Tesco, who currently own the land, want to build a Supermarket on the 10 acre site, and a bitter legal tussle with Sunderland arc, a regeneration company, has caused huge delays.

Former Vaux managing director Frank Nicholson said: “There was a comment 10 years ago that the closure was an act of corporate vandalism.

“I think that was probably kind. It was an act of corporate manslaughter in terms of its consequences.”

Frank says there is not an hour that goes by without a thought for what could have been for the Vaux site, with his brother, and former Vaux chairman, Sir Paul Nicholson sharing his pain.

“The destruction of Vaux was an act of corporate vandalism on the advice of City financiers that the company would be better off closing the site rather than selling it to the management.” Said Sir Paul.

He added: “I hope it is not another 10 years before something positive is done with it for the good of Sunderland.”

Sunderland Conservative leader Lee Martin said: “It is not a happy anniversary for the city at all and it seems we have completely missed the boat on this.”

Lee Martin, who wants to see the site turned into a park, added: “The closure of Vaux was a tragedy for this city – a profit making enterprise gone, hundreds of skilled jobs lost and an iconic institution, a long established feature of Sunderland, vanished.

“It was not only a terrible economic but also psychological blow for Sunderland.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .