CONCERNS were raised by residents in Bude last week that the demolition of the former Strand Hotel will cause major disruption for the town during the busy summer period — but the company carrying out the demolition says there will be no road closure.
The Strand Hotel is being demolished to make way for a brand new Premier Inn Hotel by Whitbread Plc — the original plan was to refurbish the derelict hotel, but later it was decided to knock it down and start from scratch.
Cornwall Council intends to make a temporary restriction of traffic order for the length of The Strand road — an action it says is necessary during the demolition phase and building works. The council expects the order to last from February 29, 2016, until August 29, 2017.
The issue has caused quite a stir on social media, with contributors worrying about the affect the closure will have on businesses on The Strand as well as the problems it could cause when the busy summer season arrives with the extra influx of traffic.
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One contributor went as far as to say that the Premier Inn should reimburse the businesses for any lost trade during this 18-month period.
But demolition contractor Wessex Demolition and Salvage Ltd, which will be carrying out the works, has confirmed the road will not be closed, as some residents had first thought.
Clint Sexton, from Wessex Demolition and Salvage Ltd, told the Post: “I would like to inform you that the demolition process will take somewhere in the region of 12 to 14 weeks and commencing within the next three to four weeks, depending on a few party wall issues of which are being dealt with as we speak.
“The dates from the February 29, 2016 until August 29, 2017 are for the complete demolition and rebuild so as not to keep opening and closing the footpath and parking bays.
“The main road in front of the hotel — The Strand — will not be closed off at all, the closure is purely for the pavement and parking bays directly in front of the hotel, there will be signage surrounding the area to inform pedestrians to use the other footpath, there will also be information boards with contact details and numbers on for all to view.”