Destroyed city takeaway could still be demolished

A DECISION has yet to be made as to whether a Preston takeaway will be demolished or not after a fire ripped through the building on Thursday morning.
DESTROYED: Sandos takeaway on Church Street Preston, the day after the huge fireDESTROYED: Sandos takeaway on Church Street Preston, the day after the huge fire
DESTROYED: Sandos takeaway on Church Street Preston, the day after the huge fire

If Preston City Council’s building inspector and a demolition company find Sandos takeaway on Church Street cannot be salvaged due to the extensive damaged then it may have to be demolished.

A fire investigator from Lancashire Fire Service is also hoping to gain access to the building to establish the cause of the fire, but cannot enter until it is deemed safe after the roof was almost completely destroyed.

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A fire service spokesman said: “Finding the cause of the fire will take some time. There are interviews with eye-witnesses, staff and building inspectors before any decision can be made.”

“There’s no fresh news from the building inspector,” said a Preston City Council spokesman. “We are working with the fire service to establish the safety of the building because the safety of the public is of the utmost importance.”

It comes after a fire broke out on the bottom floor of the takeaway on the corner of Manchester Road at about 10.40am.

Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles around as crews from made their way to the scene.

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Adam Patel, from Frenchwood, Preston, was at the scene and said: “It was a huge fire and it only seemed to get bigger. The roof seemed to collapse and it doesn’t look like it will be open for a long time with all the damage.”

Crews were forced to call for back up from Penwortham and Bamber Bridge when they realised the extent of the incident.

An aerial ladder platform from Hyndburn was also brought in to help fight the flames from above in an operation which lasted more than four hours and occupied a total of eight crews.

Police were called in to close off several of the surrounding roads as well as evacuate neighbouring buildings as the fire threatened to spread. Manchester Road, Tithebarn Street and Church Street were all closed.