The owner of the Royal Albion Hotel should help neighbours still not able to return to their homes with their expenses, the council says.
Residents of Lace House, next to the Brighton seafront hotel, were evacuated soon after the hotel caught fire on July 15 and haven’t been able to return since.
Demolition crews – paid for by Brighton and Hove City Council which intends to claim the money back from hotel owners Britannia Hotels – are still on site.
Now, the city council has called on Britannia to stump up to help those still evacuated from Lace House’s nine flats with their expenses.
Britannia Hotels Ltd, owned by millionaire Alex Langsam, has yet to respond to any media requests about the Royal Albion Hotel.
The council is paying for the demolition, which it estimates will cost £500,000, and says it will charge this back to Britannia.
A council spokesman said: “The demolition of the northern side of the Royal Albion Hotel is still ongoing.
“Public safety continues to be our number one consideration.
“The building is extremely fragile following the fire, so the work has to be slow and painstaking.
“Residents of Lace House are still displaced. The YHA and Royal York Buildings are now open and operating as normal.
“We have met with all of the displaced residents who have contacted us seeking advice or assistance.
“We hope that Britannia Hotels will reach out to the affected residents and help with their expenses, as an act of good will.
Last week, the fire service said the cause was accidental, and most likely caused by a cigarette.
Cigarette my AR#E
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Jamaican ones I heard
I thought the council took over the demolition and aftermath? Perhaps they didn’t consider the full implications?
When does the national express coach station reopening all the other businesses have
Looks a long way off as everything is being stored in Pool Valley
This is what happens when the council takes over the demolition away from the insurance company. The road was closed for a month longer than it should have been with little demolition taking place. The road was mainly used for security sitting sunning themselves without hard hates. The Pier lost money as did other local business including the i360 as the council ruined the tourist season. The building could have been made safe quite rapidly. I walk past often as live near very little activity takes place, The council should pay compensation to local business.
The current demolition is ridiculously slow and you wonder if those doing so are dragging it out on purpose for a bigger payday. Utterly ridiculous those residents affected have no resolution.
I’m surprised the insurance does not cover helping rehouse the Lace House residents.
If the fire was arson their won’t be insurance…still being investigated,
I just hope BHCC get their money back. The hotel always smelt of cigarette smoke, especially the lower floor which had the cheapest rooms. The management must have know that guests were smoking in their bedrooms, but obviously did not bothered to take any action to stop it from taking place 🫢🔥🚒🧯
Surely those displaced will claim on their own insurance.
It beggers belief that the council took over the demolition without an agreement about payment
Otherwise they’ll have to use the profit from the bankrupt i-sore
They won’t be insured for this…..