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Torquay seafront road reopens 9 weeks after fire

Wednesday, 7 August 2019 07:09

By Ed Oldfield, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Former hotel burnt down in arson attack.

A pedestrian route past the scene was opened shortly after the fire but traffic remained barred when an inspection found a hotel cellar extended under the highway.

Torbay Council had to wait for the site to be cleared of debris before it could assess whether the highway was fully supported and safe to reopen.

The road was reopened at 4pm on Tuesday, August 6.

Part of the former hotel structure was demolished after the fire because it was dangerous.

More than 50 firefighters tackled the blaze which was reported just before 7am on Tuesday, June 4.

The fire produced a thick column of smoke which could be seen across Torbay and left the Victorian villa badly damaged.

The former hotel which closed around nine years ago was being redeveloped for flats and houses.

A local building company was given planning permission in May 2017 to convert the main building into four flats, demolish modern extensions and build seven houses in the grounds.

Work was understood to have started at the site before the fire which police confirmed was being treated as arson.

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