Fire crews rush to suspected arson attack at empty Coventry hotel

[dutchman]

Two fire engines were seen at Allesley Hotel, which has previously been targeted by arsonists



Firefighters have tonight rushed to a suspected arson attack at a hotel in Coventry. Crews arrived at the derelict Allesley Hotel, in Birmingham Road, Allesley, late this afternoon following reports of a fire.

Two fire engines were pictured at the scene though no flames or smoke were immediately obvious. The cause of the reported fire is not yet known. It is not clear if anyone was injured.

In August last year, six fire crews arrived to tackle a huge blaze at the empty hotel. An air ambulance was also dispatched to the scene.

The fire in August was believed to have been started deliberately, West Midlands Fire Service said at the time. A spokesperson had said: "Crews from Coventry and Birmingham have attended a deliberate fire at a void hotel in Allesley, Coventry.

"Initial crews arrived within 5 mins and took quick and assertive action to stop the spread of fire and prevent further damage to the building. Birmingham Road is now open."

CoventryLive has contacted West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Police for information about the latest incident. The hotel had been used to house asylum seekers in the run-up to its closure some months ago.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/pictures-fire-crews-rush-suspected-25880123

[dutchman]

A fire has broken out at the Allesley Hotel in Coventry



Firefighters are tackling a blaze at Allesley Hotel in Coventry this morning. Firefighters from Canley, Coventry, Foleshill and Binley are at the scene on Birmingham Road.

People are being urged to avoid the area as emergency services carry out their work. It's believed the blaze at the derelict hotel broke out earlier this morning. Fire crews are still on scene.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: We currently have crews from Canley, Coventry, Foleshill and Binley in attendance at the derelict Allesley Hotel on Birmingham Road, Allesley. Please try and avoid the area to allow our crews to work safely to extinguish the fire."

The hotel is currently derelict although it has previously been used to house asylum seekers. It's not the first time since its closure that a fire has broken out at the building. Crews were also called to tackle a fire there in March last year.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/allesley-hotel-fire-live-emergency-28610369

[dutchman]

Crews were also called to tackle a fire there in March last year.

And in August of 2022:

Coventry hotel blaze started 'deliberately', fire service says

[dutchman]

This must be some sort of record?

Arson investigation after blaze rips through Coventry hotel

Police have confirmed that they are treating a fire at a Coventry hotel as arson. Flames tore through the 'grand hall' at the former Allesley Hotel last night (May 5).

Fire crews from all stations in the city - Coventry, Binley, Foleshill and Canley - were called to the abandoned hotel in Birmingham Road at around 7pm following reports of smoke. West Midlands Police told CoventryLive that fire crews called police to the scene around half an hour later.

A spokesperson said: "We received a call from West Midlands Fire Service at 7.30pm last night (5 May) that they were dealing with a fire at an abandoned building on Birmingham Road, Coventry. No one was injured but officers from the fire service believe the fire was started deliberately and we are now investigating this as arson."

As a result, investigating officers have launched a witness appeal. They want to hear from anyone who was in the area at around 7pm and saw anything or anyone acting suspiciously.

"We are asking for anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101 or via Live Chat on our website quoting crime reference 20/468725/24," the police spokesperson said.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/arson-investigation-after-blaze-rips-29120902

[dutchman]

Just a thought...

I wonder if locals are setting fire to the hotel to prevent it being used to house so-called 'asylum seekers'?

[rebbonk]

That may well be a valid point, Dutchman.

[dutchman]

Fire-damaged historic hotel now 'beyond repair'



A derelict hotel left "beyond repair" after it was devastated by two huge fires last year could be demolished for a new housing estate.

Developers Avant Homes want to build 62 homes on the site of the old Allesley Hotel on Birmingham Road, Coventry.

Part of the hotel dates back to the early 1800s and is considered important to the area's local history.

But the blazes in February and May destroyed many of the building's inside features, planning documents have revealed.

A planning report submitted to Coventry City Council by the housing company said fixtures and fittings that had survived the hotel's slide into disrepair are "lost or damaged beyond salvage".

Last year, police said the two fires at the hotel, which closed in 2022, were believed to have been started deliberately.

Within the planning report, a survey confirmed the building had been hit by at least three arson attacks and "extensive" vandalism.

Floors and stairs are rotting, walls and ceilings are damp and mouldy, rooms are filled with rubbish, and much of the building is damaged and failing, it said.

The surveyors concluded the hotel was "beyond repair" and that knocking it down would be the "most appropriate outcome."

If the scheme is approved by the council, the hotel will be replaced by 44 houses and a block of flats containing 18 apartments.

How convenient!

[dutchman]

Fire service statement in full after major 999 response to blaze at Coventry's old Allesley hotel



Arsonists are believed to have struck again at the derelict Allesley hotel. Flames tore through the roof of the former hotel yesterday afternoon (October 19).

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) confirmed to CoventryLive that a total of nine fire engines and a brigade response vehicle attended, crewed by firefighters from around the Coventry and Solihull area. The hydraulic aerial platform also had to be called into action.

A total of eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire, which was confirmed out just after 6.20pm. "Crews also searched the building for any signs of people inside," a WMFS spokesperson said. "There were no casualties."

The cause of fire is said to have been deliberate, the spokesperson added: "Our fire investigators believe this was likely to have been started deliberately - but due to the structural instability of the building, a full internal investigation hasn’t taken place.

"Crews remained in attendance to locate and dampen any further hotspots. We closed the incident at 8.50am this morning (20 October)."

Since its closure in 2022, the once historic destination has been hit by at least three arson attacks and "extensive" vandalism.

The fire comes just weeks children were spotted at the derelict hotel. They were stopped by police and taken home to the parents and warnings dished out.

Earlier this year, plans were revealed which would see the building demolished and turned into homes. Developers Avant Homes want to build 62 homes on the site.

Coventry City Council has yet to make a final decision on whether to approve the plans.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/fire-service-statement-full-after-32714119

[dutchman]

Demolition of blighted Coventry hotel approved paving way for housing



The derelict Allesley Hotel is to be demolished to make way for 55 new homes after plans were approved by councillors. A member of Coventry City Council’s planning committee voiced concerns about road noise affecting some of the properties but councillors voted unanimously in favour of the scheme this week (Thursday).

Developers Avant Homes will now clear the site before building the two, three, four and five-bed houses and a three-storey apartment blocks containing one-bedroom flats. A new access to the site will be provided off Birmingham Road.

Correspondence from the Allesley and Coundon Wedge Conservation Society (ACWCS) gave their support for the scheme. It stated: “The remit of ACWCS is to conserve and preserve, so the proposal to redevelop the former Allesley Hotel site has provoked a lot of debate within the ACWCS committee and a lot of ‘listening’ to local opinion. Not all of our members are in favour of the proposals but from feedback, the vast majority are.

“The demise of the hotel is well documented, and its current status is a derelict site, an eyesore and a health and safety concern following numerous acts of vandalism and arson attacks. Avant Homes, together with their architectural and planning consultants, engaged with ACWCS from the outset allowing us to have an input into their overall planning.

“ACWCS has been particularly impressed with their sensitivity to ensuring that the front façade blended in with the ‘village scene’ and more importantly that this was acceptable to immediate neighbouring properties. Allesley House has a significant history and we do not want this to be lost. Avant Homes has agreed to the provision and erection of a notice type board outlining itsformer structure and history.”

Cllr Kevin Maton raised the issue of noise. He said: “I know that the houses further down would need a significant amount of noise reducing fencing in order to reduce the noise from the road and I am not convinced that what’s in here will meet the needs of any proposed residents. It is a very noisy road.”

Planning officer Ayeesha Saleem explained that the council’s environment protection team had not raised an objection and that a noise assessment had been submitted and assessed. She added that gardens had been designed to face away from Pickford Way dual-carriageway and a 2.4m high acoustic barrier would be installed.

But Cllr Maton went on: “The properties are higher up so will that actually stop the noise from reaching the houses and gardens? I know that having been there, the noise is a lot more than you would expect. I just know that from experience, this is probably not enough. It is not a reason to refuse it but I suspect that when people have moved in they will ask for extra protection from the noise.”

Fire crews were called to the abandoned hotel last month, the latest in a series of suspected arson attacks. The property has been empty since 2022.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/demolition-blighted-coventry-hotel-approved-33542528

How convenient!