Pledge to rebuild fire-hit resort
Skegness will fight back after the second major blaze to devastate the seafront in 15 months, tourist bosses have pledged.
Fire ripped through a pub and amusement complex on the seafront and raged for more than 12 hours into the early hours of yesterday.
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The aftermath of the Skegness fire.
James Gilbert, East Lindsey District Council's media manager, described the latest blaze as a 'major blow' for the town.
"We are trying hard to regenerate the town after the last fire and ironically it was only a couple of days ago that building work was begun at the site of the previous blaze," he said.
"This is a devastating thing to have hit us again, but we will pull out all the stops to help Skegness back on its feet again.
"This town is one of the most popular resorts in the country and we will make sure it is not out of action for next year's visitors."
The inferno, during which 13 residents were evacuated, happened less than 100 yards from the site of the major fire on Grand Parade in August last year.
It is only a few days since building work began on the section of the parade razed to the ground in that incident.
A total of 40 fire appliances from all over the county fought the flames, which broke out in the basement of the Square Peg pub, spreading to the Whisky A Gogo nightclub and an adjoining fish and chip shop.
At the height of the blaze, firefighters used two hydraulic platforms and a ceiling hook to dislodge roof tiles so they could quell the fire.
During this process one firefighter was injured and had to be taken to hospital, but was later discharged.
For more on the Skegness seafront blaze, see Wednesday's Echo.
9 Comments
by gordon, Skegness
Thursday, December 04 2008, 8:23AM
“Hmn Jimbo on the Costa, after reading your comments I have to admit; I would rather be in Skegness than the Spanish Costas anytime....”
by Danny, Lincoln
Thursday, December 04 2008, 8:21AM
“Dear 'Lincolner Luke'. I cannot speak for other men but unless you are a George Michael fan I am always extremely dubious of someone who likes to hang around in toilets at the seaside......”
by Skeg Man, Skegness
Thursday, December 04 2008, 8:18AM
“'jimbo on the Costa'. A bit hypocrytical dont you think? If Skegness is that good, why are you not even in the UK, let alone Skegness?. Instead you are out on the Costa (del crime)in Spain. You divvy!”
by lincolner luke, london
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 2:56PM
“Jimbo, your right compared to Blackpools toilets Skegness is nice place to be.”
by jimbo on the costa, spain
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 2:13PM
“I bet you don't believe in Christmas either, Gordon you miserable git. Compared to Blackpool, Skeggy is quite a nice place to be. Jimbo”
by gordon, Skegness
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 12:42PM
“'This town is one of the most poular resorts in the country'.
Yeh, right Mr Gilbert, you have obviously never been elswhere then have you. For a start you cannot include Fun Coast World area and Butlins as being in Skegness because they are in Ingoldmels. Take these two major attractions away and you havent got a damn sight left.. I certainly do not wish to belittle my home town but Blackpool is a far bigger attraction and anyway, not many people would disagree that unless you want cheap tatt, slot machines, fish and chips and candyfloss, there aint a lot at Skegvegas! I think that you should be concentrating on the poor rail services in Lincolnshire so that locals and holiday makers have decent rail links to get about including getting here. You should be pushing for a survey to be carried out into re-opening the rail link from Grimsby, through Louth, Alford and down to Firsby on the Skegness line so that East Lindesy is re-opened up for sustainable reliable public rail transport for both holiday makers and locals and business...... It will soon be 2009. The East Lindsey area had far better public transport (rail links) 40 years ago in 1969....”
by luke, lincoln
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 10:43AM
“Bob, since when has anything in Skegness looked really nice?”
by Bird Watcher Bob, lincoln
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 9:23AM
“I thought the seafront had been done up when i saw the photo it looks really nice!! What a waste of tax payers money”
by Liechtenstein Larry, Vaduz
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 9:20AM
“Hope all is rebuilt soon. I had many a night in my teens enjoying the visual and cultural delights of Skegness sea front night clubs and dined on the finest chips at 2am whilst being dragged to the beach to engage in deep conversation with female tourists from Barnsley/Sheffield. Who can ever forget the haute couture dress sense of the jet set tourists who wear a variety of Yorkshire football team shirts.”