Works notice served for hotel

01 December 2009

AN URGENT works notice has been served on the company that owned The Royal Pier Hotel in Clevedon by North Somerset Council.

The notice, served yesterday (Mon) requires that the listed former hotel be protected from the wind, rain and made safe against intruders within three weeks or the council will carry out the works.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, executive member with responsibility for planning and economic development, said this sent a tough message to owners of historic properties.

He said: "We have been more than patient with those responsible for looking after this building and I know local residents are fed up with the apparent lack of action.

"We hope this notice will demonstrate that we are serious about protecting listed buildings in North Somerset."

The hotel in Marine Parade was built in 1869 to serve visitors coming to Clevedon on the steamers, which sailed across from Wales and other resorts on the Severn Estuary.

The hotel was listed as Grade Two in 2001 but has since deteriorated and suffered a fire in 2003.

In 2006, the owners were given planning permission for conversion of the building into 27 flats but the hotel has fallen into further disrepair since.

The planning permission was not implemented and has now expired.

The urgent works notice has been designed in collaboration with English Heritage and will consist of temporary scaffolding, roof covering, boarding up of windows and removal of dead birds and droppings.

The works are estimated to cost around £40,000 and the council will try to reclaim the cost from the owners if it is forced to carry out the works.

English Heritage has contributed a grant towards the cost of dealing with the case as part of its Buildings at Risk programme.

The Royal Pier Hotel was designed by local architect Hans Price as a remodelling of the Rock House Hotel.

Hans Price was also one of the designers of the adjacent Clevedon Pier, which is a Grade One listed structure.