'Sad day' for town as 'beautiful' building burns in huge blaze

Firefighters have spent hours tackling a huge blaze in a former health centre. Emergency services were called to a fire at the building located at the corner of Albert Road and Park Road West in Southport during the early hours of Saturday, November 16.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) arrived on the scene at 2.46am to find the four-storey building, measuring approximately 20 by 30 metres, with its upper floor and roof engulfed in flames. People living nearby were told to keep their windows and doors shut while the fire was tackled.

In an update issued at 1.45pm, the fire service said crews have made good progress in reducing the fire. Three fire engines and an aerial appliance remain on scene and the fire engine from Lancashire has been relieved by an MFRS engine and returned home.

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A spokesperson said: "Gas and electric supply has been isolated to the building and the main body of fire has been extinguished. Crews and the aerial appliance are damping down and checking for hotspots in all sectors.

"The search and rescue team are on scene and have moved a large boulder to enable the aerial appliance to get closer to the building. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus have been committed to the basement area of the building to ensure the fire under the now partially collapsed building is completely extinguished. Some road closures have been lifted but some still remain so please continue to avoid the area if possible."

Drone photographs shared with the ECHO show the damage sustained by the building. Much of its roof has been destroyed and debris has fallen into the building.

Responding to the news of the fire, Cllr Leo Evans, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Cambridge Ward, said: "I was deeply saddened this morning to wake up to the news of the former Hesketh Centre on Albert Road on fire. I'd like to thank the emergency services who have been working since early this morning to combat the fire."

He added: "It is a sad day for Southport as we lose another beautiful Victorian building in the town. The site was one of the country's premier 'Hydro-Hotels' and photos from a century ago show a stunning facility just across the road from Hesketh Park, it is a real shame to lose such history in our town."