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Fire-hit Conway Court Hotel in Torquay to be demolished | Fire-hit Conway Court Hotel in Torquay to be demolished |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A derelict hotel in Torquay which was destroyed by fire will be demolished because of fears it may slip down a cliff on to a road below. | |
The Conway Court Hotel, above Torquay's seafront, is in a "very precarious state", Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said. | The Conway Court Hotel, above Torquay's seafront, is in a "very precarious state", Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said. |
Demolition work on the four-storey hotel started on Tuesday night. | Demolition work on the four-storey hotel started on Tuesday night. |
About 80 firefighters tackled the blaze, which started about 21:15 GMT on Monday. No-one was hurt. | About 80 firefighters tackled the blaze, which started about 21:15 GMT on Monday. No-one was hurt. |
Ray Harris, of the fire service, said: "The building's in a very precarious state. We have a high sided, unsupported building which is on the edge of a cliff face." | Ray Harris, of the fire service, said: "The building's in a very precarious state. We have a high sided, unsupported building which is on the edge of a cliff face." |
'Gust of wind' | 'Gust of wind' |
Patrick Carney, street scene services manager at Torbay Council, said there was a risk that the hotel could collapse and fall down the cliff if demolition work was not carried out. | Patrick Carney, street scene services manager at Torbay Council, said there was a risk that the hotel could collapse and fall down the cliff if demolition work was not carried out. |
"The walls are freestanding and there is no lateral support, if there was a big gust of wind or even during demolition if the walls are accidentally knocked they could fall down," he added. | "The walls are freestanding and there is no lateral support, if there was a big gust of wind or even during demolition if the walls are accidentally knocked they could fall down," he added. |
Each day, about 20,000 people drive along the road below the hotel, which has remained closed to vehicles since the incident. | Each day, about 20,000 people drive along the road below the hotel, which has remained closed to vehicles since the incident. |
Demolition work started on Tuesday night, but the "big machinery" will arrive on Wednesday morning, Mr Carney added. | Demolition work started on Tuesday night, but the "big machinery" will arrive on Wednesday morning, Mr Carney added. |
The fire forced the evacuation of nearby buildings and the seafront was closed after part of the hotel collapsed. | The fire forced the evacuation of nearby buildings and the seafront was closed after part of the hotel collapsed. |
An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out. | An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out. |