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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Security at fire-ravaged Raven Hotel in Droitwich to be stepped up
Security will be tightened at the site of a Grade II listed hotel after it was gutted by blaze, believed by police to have been deliberately started, tore through the black and white timbered Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, on Sunday, causing parts of the centuries-old building to District Council said that the owner, Live Urban Two, would bring in enhanced security at the site, including a dog and Worcester Fire Service formally handed control of the site to the owner and the developer, Inroka Limited, on Friday. The authority said it would monitor the additional security services were called to the blaze at the hotel at about 16:45 BST on 10 August and residents gathered in tears behind cordons as they watched the building, some of which dated back to the 15th Century, girls, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and were later released on bail. The Raven shut as a hotel more than a decade ago and has planning permission for new homes and a gin bar - but concerns have previously been raised over its condition, vandalism and trespassing at the district council has been pushing the owners to get on with their authority has also worked with the site's developer for the past six months on urgent works to protect the site, following a court order secured in 2024. 'We will keep pressure on owners' Structural engineers confirmed that parts of the listed building could be saved.A council spokesperson said work would now focus on agreeing the priorities for safety at the site, measures to prop parts of the building up and make sure that planning conditions were met, before significant work took issues at the back of the building were being addressed and the spokesperson said the authority would monitor the effect of the fire, working with partners to support businesses affected by the added that the UK Health Security Agency told them that asbestos was present in the hotel but its assessment of the fire and resulting air quality did not identify any significant public health concerns."I want to reassure residents that we are doing everything we can, alongside our partners, to safeguard what remains of this important landmark, ensure the safety of the site, and support the process of rebuilding," said councillor Richard Morris, leader of the council."We will continue to keep pressure on the owners to fulfil their responsibilities and deliver on their obligations." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa's Raven Hotel salvageable after fire, experts say
Parts of a centuries-old hotel gutted by fire are still "salvageable", experts have blaze, believed to have been deliberately stared, tore through the black and white timbered Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa on Sunday, causing parts of the Grade II listed building to architect Christian Montez, who inspected the hotel, said he was "shocked" at the damage, but parts could "definitely" be Civic Society has said if Notre Dame can be rebuilt after the devastating fire in Paris, the spa town's landmark hotel can be rebuilt too. Mr Montez, who was there as Historic England met the building owners Inroka Limited and councillors on Tuesday to talk about next steps, said the main structure dated back to the 15th said it was an important building for the town and, despite the extent of the damage, added that posts and trusses were still standing. "There is structure still within the building," he architect said the owners already had permission to demolish 60% of the site at the back of the building, with the core parts and oldest sections said: "The likelihood is that demolition will happen to the rear, bringing down the wall in the middle and then securing what's left, and then clearing it for a proper assessment of what survives." John Armstrong, from Droitwich Civic Society, said: "There's no reason why the Elizabethan part of the Raven can't be saved."If the French can save Notre Dame, pulling together, we can save the Raven for the future."That would be something to be really proud of, and something the people of Droitwich Spa can look forward to."Wychavon District Council leader Richard Morris said Tuesday's meeting was "very constructive".He said Historic England representatives looked at the hotel and said there was a "saveable" building."Their impression before they arrived, was that it was ashes," he added. A spokesperson for Historic England said one of its specialist structural engineers would assess the building, and added the organisation was providing advice to the girls, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been released on bail. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
7 days ago
- BBC News
Developer's 'heartbreak' over Droitwich hotel gutted by fire
A developer "heartbroken" over an alleged arson attack on a historic former hotel has pledged to protect its heritage .Fire gutted the landmark Raven Hotel in the centre of Droitwich Spa on Sunday afternoon, causing caused parts of the Grade II listed building to Limited has been working for more than three years on a scheme to convert the site, which has been plagued by break-ins and vandalism, into housing and a gin bar. Rajinder Singh from the firm said: "We've done our very utmost to secure the building the best that we can but if they want to break in they're going to break in." A West Mercia Police spokesperson said no-one was hurt in the incident, and two girls, aged 13 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on bail. Emergency services were called to the blaze at the hotel at about 16:45 gathered in tears behind cordons as they watched the building, some of which dates back to the 15th Century, Cusack, group commander for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Due to the extent and the instability of parts of the building, it just very quickly started to collapse around us."So, really then it was just about trying to mitigate that damage and reduce the community impact."Firefighters were equally heartbroken by the loss of the town's landmark, he said."We've got officers that got married at the Raven or they've had wakes at the Raven, or christenings, parties... it's really impacted our own staff as well." The Raven shut as a hotel over a decade ago and has planning permission for new homes and a gin bar, but concerns have previously been raised over its condition and vandalism and trespassing at the site. Wychavon District Council has been pushing the owners, Live Urban Two, to get on with its has also worked with the site's developer, Inroka Limited, for the past six months to ensure urgent works were done to protect the site, following a court order secured last authority said in a statement the works were due to finish this week and it would still invoice the owner for added it would issue an update on the state of the structure following inspections. Developer's 'good intentions' Mr Singh said he arrived at the site on Tuesday and said he was horrified by what had happened."We've actually got a lot of passion for this building and to see what I'm seeing today, it's heartbreaking," he described the developers as "very conscientious", adding: "We've constantly been doing the right thing for this response to local frustration over delays to the building scheme, he said constant break-ins coupled with heritage considerations and financial challenges had made the project firm has been working with Wychavon Council, but "even collectively", had not been able to prevent the fire, Mr Singh said."The next stage is for us is to try and at least securitise as much as we can and demolish what we can demolish in order to make the building at least safe. "And at least try and protect as much as we can protect in a listed building that's been damaged."Mr Singh said the developers intended to continue working on the site."We started the project three years ago with good intentions and we're still here with good intentions moving forward," he said. Residents who remembered the hotel were shocked and saddened by what had happened, Conservative Droitwich MP Nigel Huddleston told the BBC following a visit to the site on Sunday evening."People were in tears. People were telling me about stories or really fond memories of weddings and events," he said."It's part of the heart and soul of the town and nobody wants to see it disappear," he said the focus must now be on what can be done to preserve or rebuild parts of the privately-owned building, with Wychavon District Council in touch with its developers."None of us know yet what state the building is exactly in. It may have to be knocked down or there may be bits of it that could be rebuilt."We've got to make sure the wishes of local people count very highly too… the people of Droitwich feel like they own it."He hopes parts of the distinctive black-and-white timbered frontage can be saved. "It's part of the heart and soul of the town and nobody wants to see it disappear," he added."I'm sure there will continue to be some element of the Raven in the future, I'm confident of that." The BBC has also asked owner Live Urban Two for comment. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
