4:59pm Saturday 5th April 2008
When will Tenby's trade get back to normal after the devastating fire in the Royal Gatehouse Hotel?
That's the question being asked by town centre businesses which were robbed of most of their Easter customers when road closures resulting from the blaze and its aftermath curtailed traffic and pedestrians.
Pembrokeshire County Council, which is co-ordinating the massive clear-up operation, is hoping to have The Norton open to traffic within a fortnight.
Council civil contingencies manager, Richard Brown said: "Our key aim is to get business back to normal in Tenby as soon as we can. We are pressing as a priority to have traffic being able to access the town centre along the Norton."
Currently there is just one way in and out of the walled town for cars and vans, through the Belmont Arch adjacent to the Imperial Hotel. A shuttle service for large goods deliveries is being operated from The Salterns by Pembrokeshire County Council, and from today (Wednesday) will run between 7am and 11.30am. The pedestrian free shuttle bus experiment is unlikely to be repeated though, as it was used by less than 50 passengers last weekend.
Demolition work has been carried out on the section of the Gatehouse building which was gutted by the fire, with specialist contractors on site since last Tuesday. Work was temporarily suspended on Sunday evening and Monday morning because of a gas leak, which has now been made safe by Transco.
Fears have been allayed that water used in the fire-fighting operation still remains in the cavern under the Gatehouse - at one time used as a bar and restaurant - and in the adjacent tunnels underneath The Norton.
Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman Len Mullins said: "The basement areas of the Gatehouse appear to be quite dry, and we are quite satisfied there is not going to be a problem."
The council has been working under emergency powers to ensure the safety of the site of the fire. Specialist scaffolding contractors from Bristol who assessed the site on Friday feel that it is structurally stable', but will still need some support, said Richard Brown.
"We are now working with the property owner, Mr Graham Fry, and his structural engineers, to determine the way forward," he said.
The grade II listed building was at the centre of a proposed £30million redevelopment scheme, with plans - not yet submitted - being put forward by Cardiff-based company, Dovey Estates.
Historic environment service, Cadw, says it will be principally for the owner and the local planning authority to consider how best to address the situation'.
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