'Endangered' hotel

CLEVEDON'S dilapidated Royal Pier Hotel has been put on a list of the nation's most endangered buildings.The Grade II listed building has been included on a preliminary list of 10 endangered buildings drawn up by the Victorian Society.The society, which campaigns for the preservation of architecture built between 1837 and 1914, is appealing to historians and campaigners around the country to send it pictures of any Victorian or Edwardian buildings at risk.Details of the 10 best and most threatened buildings will be featured in the next edition of the society's magazine, The Victorian.Victorian Society director Dr Ian Dungavell said: "This is a chance for people to let us know about threats to the buildings they value. We already know, from the number of local residents who contact us, that heritage matters to very many people."The top 10 list will be a chance for campaigners to make their voices heard."The Royal Pier Hotel was included on the list because of its long dereliction and the ongoing uncertainty about its future despite a vigorous local campaign to save the building.Owner of the hotel, Harvey Hill, currently has planning permission to develop the building into 27 luxury flats. Mr Hill has already sold a number of the flats off plan and says work on the development will start in the summer.Dr Dungavell said just because for sale boards had gone up outside the building, people should continue to campaign for the future of historic buildings.He added: "There are many reasons why good buildings become threatened. Often the hardest to protect are those that are simply locked up and left to rot."We don't want people to be put off from nominating buildings simply because there isn't a demolition contractor outside waiting to start work."If there is a building which people value that is derelict, dilapidated or facing an uncertain future, we want to know."To nominate a building e-mail community@victoriansociety.org.uk or write to the Victorian Society, 1 Priory Gardens, London, W4 1TT.