By Emma Clark
Published on Thursday 5 January 2012 07:40
SCAFFOLDERS are working as quickly as possible to secure the Fat Cat Cafe Bar building in the hope Bridge Street can re-open in time for night-time trade tomorrow.
In the aftermath of Monday’s blaze, a section of the town centre road is still closed off to pedestrians and cars as parts of the old Angel Hotel, which houses the Balloon Bar and Fat Cats, continued to collapse internally yesterday.
Northampton Borough Council has served a notice on the owners of the historic listed building to secure it as soon as possible, and has appointed contractors to put scaffold up in order to secure it and save it from collapse.
Of particular concern is a freestanding outside wall which firefighters fear could fall into neighbouring club, NBs.
It is hoped the work will be completed by tomorrow, allowing one lane of the street to reopen and pedestrians to use the entire street.
Following the scaffolding work, a hard wooden barrier will be placed around the building, which is expected to reach into the middle of the street and could be in place for months.
Fire crews have been returning periodically, using thermal imaging cameras, to ensure there were no ‘hot spots’ that might re-ignite.
But control of the building has now been formally handed back to the owners and tenants.
Station manager, Neal King, who was at the scene throughout yesterday, said: “Over Tuesday night the chimney moved and so did the gable end, towards NBs.
“We have got a collapse of the first and second floor down to the ground floor, making the whole building structurally unsafe.
“Our job now is to carry out an investigation but we can’t do that until the building is safe.
“We have been in meetings with the local authorities because we are aware that it is a very busy road and it is important to keep the town centre moving and working as much as we can.”
He added that it could cause months of disruption for the street, which attracts thousands of drinkers each weekend.
He said: “If Fat Cat Cafe Bar opens within six months they will have done very well, with the building the way it is.
“The barricade around the building and in the street could be up for months as well.”
The complicated work has been designed by a structural engineer.
A scaffolder working for contractors Midlands Scaffolding Services said the team was aiming to have the job completed by Friday in order for bars and clubs to open for weekend trade.
He said: “We are putting scaffolding up to support the end of the building closest to NBs, before it collapses, and then we will move on to the front.
“We will have to come right out into the street.”
Leader of Northampton Borough Council Councillor David Mackintosh said: “We are all working as hard and as quickly as we can to make this area safe and get things moving again. Anyone who has seen the images of the damage within this building will understand why the first priority is to make it safe from falling down. When that is done, we will be meeting with local business leaders to discuss what we can do to make sure our night-time economy is not affected in the long term.”
A firefighter who injured his leg during the blaze was treated at hospital for bruising but has since been released.
New aerial photos released yesterday showed the extent of the damage to the roof space. The cause of the fire has still not been determined, but it is not, at this stage, believed to have been suspicious.
The Chron revealed yesterday that burglars had struck at the premises the night before the fire, stealing £6,500 of takings from a safe. An investigation is ongoing.
Comments
There are 11 comments to this article
Thanks LAJNorthants
I will check that out,but I have got a feeling that might be a one way street coming down.
The ideal solution would be if the council (who are well in with All Saints church due to all the civil services held at the church) could issue a letter saying that anyone on church ‘duties’ could use the taxibus routes at the top of Gold St or in front of the old bank until Bridge Street is re-opened.
Pending Moderation
Sorry just realised the time and it’s a bit late to be giving you answers pd66qpr!!
Oh well if it’s a weekly session he goes to may still be of some use to you for next week as sounds like Bridge Street could be closed for a while!!
Can you drive up Kingswell Street? It’s the street that goes up by the King Billy pub then runs up parellel to Bridge Street (along the back of Revolutions, Bar Soviet etc) and then meets and crosses over Gold Street, joining College Street. That used to be open to cars. Then you could drop him off at pretty much the top of Gold Street so all he has to do is cross over the road and he’ll be there.
seedee I sometimes do just that but be warned. I know someone who parked in Morrisons and was seen coming back to their car via the crossing in the Road. They where asked to produce a receipt from Morrisons but of cause could’nt.Less than a week later £30 fine arrived by post.
Park in Morrisons and walk him up to the church . It’s a free car park for two hours and when you come back you can get something nice for supper !!
Ah, just seen that you already know about St Giles’ Street, how about parking your motor in St John’s multi-story and walking him in from there? I think it’s free if you’re in there for less than an hour.
Chrisbee1961
Thanks for that! But I’m hoping to avoid having to pay to park plus with school finishing time of 3-15PM at the far end of town and he is due at the church at 3-45PM there is a time issue.
Not the mention the moaning from said choir boy in this weather!
You could always go along St Giles’ and drop your lad off there? Not as close as you might like, but could be the closest you can get without hiring a bus or a taxi 😉
Maybe park somewhere else and walk ?
Could someone please advise how you can get to All Saints Church with Bridge Street closed.
My son is in the choir there and has a session tonight.
Both Gold Street the road in front of the old bank are no entry except for taxis buses and you can’t come down the Drapery.
Help!
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