Selective demolition underway on Wisbech hotel
Delicate building demolition work is taking place on a Fenland hotel after it was ravaged by fire last week.
Wisbech's Phoenix Hotel and Restaurant cannot be entirely demolished due to its listed status, so contractors are removing the unsalvageable parts while shoring up the structural integrity of what remains.
Fenland District Council said they had not been able to contact the owners of the empty building so had authorised the demolition work under emergency powers. Initial surveys had shown that the building was in a worse condition than was first thought.
A spokesman said: "Because the Phoenix is a historic, listed building, it has been agreed to try and retain the front wall by providing scaffolding support on the outside. This could be transferred to the inside once the building has been cleared and made safe."
"To ensure the safety of the public we are installing fencing to prevent any access past the front of the building on North Brink and at the back."
The spokesman predicted that work would continue at least until the end of the week and there should be no further disruption beyond that already being caused by the work on North Brink.
