Residents' sorrow as beloved Meltham hotel goes up in flames

Residents of a West Yorkshire town are mourning the potential loss of a beloved hotel.

At around 6.30pm on Tuesday, September 10 residents of Bishops Way in Meltham said they saw up to 25 fire crews called to douse the flames from the former Durker Roods Hotel, which closed several years ago and has been left unoccupied. Posting to Meltham - Events and Community Group on Facebook about the Kirklees hotel, residents began posting images of emergency services in the area.

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Many have also added their tributes to the building as they remembered it in its prime. One resident, Alison Wrathall Denton said: "Absolutely gutted about that hotel! Part of my childhood many a great wedding there, somebody could have probably done something nice with that hotel, such a shame it’s getting vandalised and ruined ."

However, many admit that they predicted the former hotel would be destroyed by fire. Danielle Leanne wrote: "We knew it would happen didn’t we and no one is surprised. Just a shame." Rachel McKenzie wrote: "How many empty properties like this , end up on fire?"

Bishops Way (Huddersfield Road) remained closed into the evening while police and fire crews boarded up the building. Cllr Tony McGrath said that there was no casualties and the fire is 'no longer a major incident'.

He said: "After attending an all agency meeting at the Durker Roods site I can report: Police won’t leave the building until boarding up of ground floor has taken place.

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"Fire service have de-escalated down from a major incident and will be removing pumps over the course of the next few hours. Fire was contained to 2 rooms above door way.

"No casualties at this point, ambulance team will hang around for next hour or so to make sure the firefighters within building are safe while fulfilling their duties.

"No asbestos has been disturbed but firefighters are wearing correct breathing apparatus as a precaution. The owner/key holder will be contacted to discuss access and any liable costs involved in the operation."

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