Yahoo News 'Full demolition' of swimming pool area of fire-hit leisure centre ordered
A 'full demolition' of the swimming pool area of fire-ravaged Clarendon Leisure Centre in Salford has now been ordered by the council, it was revealed today.
The mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, said in an update the part of the building was 'too damaged to rescue and is in an unsafe condition'.
He said after the pool area is torn down, further investigation work would continue 'so that we can understand the level of damage the fire has caused to the whole centre and what this means for the building of the future'.
The fire service, added Mr Dennett, has now left the site, which has been fenced off with round-the-clock security also put in place. The update comes as Greater Manchester Police confirmed the blaze is now being treated as 'suspicious', with an investigation underway.
Emergency services were called to the fire at the Liverpool Street building just before 2.45am on Friday. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made at this time, GMP added as the force issued an appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
At the height of the blaze, eight fire engines from across the city-region were mobilised to the scene, plus specialist appliances. Over the weekend, JCBs were pictured at the site with images showing the twisted and scorched metal frame of the building.
Mr Dennett told the Manchester Evening News: "Following the devastating fire, staff from across the council and Salford Community Leisure have been working tirelessly. This work is ongoing and includes working alongside the emergency services, rearranging swimming lessons and looking at alternative provision for members, supporting and deploying the leisure centre workforce and looking at next steps for the future of the building.
"Whilst it is still very early in this process, the emergency services are no longer on site and our teams have made the area secure with fencing in place and round the clock security at the centre, which remains closed.
"We have now instructed for a full demolition of the pool area of the centre. This is simply because this part of the building is too damaged to rescue and is in an unsafe condition.
"Once the demolition of the pool area is complete, investigation work will continue, so that we can understand the level of damage the fire has caused to the whole centre and what this means for the building of the future.
"The shock and sadness expressed by residents since this incident, further emphasizes the importance of this venue to the local community and following the investigation work, we will of course keep members and local residents up to date about the future of Clarendon Leisure Centre."
Discussions between Salford City Council and Salford Community Leisure, which runs the centre, will consider options for the future, including a rebuild. The centre had been previously earmarked for possible closure - to be replaced by one of several new centres planned for the city. But those plans were shelved in recent years as the economy dipped.
In an update on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police said: "Investigators are establishing the exact cause of the fire and work is ongoing to piece together the timeline of events. The incident is currently being treated as suspicious, and officers are keen for anyone with any information that could help the investigation to come forward."
Known as 'Clarendon Rec' leisure bosses said the centre 'provided essential sport and leisure opportunities for the local community for over 40 years'. The centre was due to be reopened next month 'after significant investment into refurbishment and a brand new state of the art gym'.
Steve Hassall, the chief executive officer of Salford Community Lesiure, said all staff working at Clarendon have been 'redeployed' to its other centres and services in Salford. He told the Manchester Evening News that all associated with the centre were "still coming to terms with the tragic incident'.
Detective Sergeant Karl Perry, from GMP’s Salford district, said: “Incidents such as the one we saw on Friday morning can be both upsetting and shocking – but I want local people to know that we are utilising all lines of enquiry as we look to discover what triggered this awful fire.
“Thankfully, no-one was hurt, but I appreciate that many people will be upset at the loss of this community asset. I am hoping for anyone with relevant doorbell, dashcam, or CCTV to get in touch with any appropriate material to aid our work.
"If you do have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact us on 101 or via gmp.police.uk, quoting log 318 of 10 May 2024. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
