From
www.NewsShopper.co.uk, 13 June, 2007
The blaze at the Kent and Essex pub in Old Road West, Gravesend,
raged for three hours until 40 fire-fighters brought it under control.
A FIRE which destroyed the roof and first floor of a disused pub is
being investigated by the police.
The blaze broke out at the Kent and Essex pub in Old Road West,
Gravesend, at 8.30am on Saturday.
Flames were seen shooting from the roof of the disused building and
thick black smoke was seen pouring out.
Around 40 fire officers tackled the blaze until 11.40am and police
were called to control traffic on the busy road.
Hyder Homes, which took over the pub and its land from previous owner
Admiral Taverns in March, said it had been talking to Gravesham Council
about the building's future use.
The building company's director, Kelly Bains, said: "We would have
liked to build flats or houses on both sides and convert the pub into
flats.
"I'm not really sure what we'll do now but we will be seeking advice
from the council about what can be done. It's certainly a big
disappointment for us."
Mr Bains says the police had been called a number of times because of
children breaking into the derelict building, stealing roof slates and
jumping on the fences.
He said: "Kids are always going round there, being a nuisance and
causing trouble.
"Although we look round our properties quite often, there's a chance
there were squatters there."
Pelham councillor Derek Sales, said: "From speaking to people, it
seems children have been getting in there through a back entrance and
playing about inside but as far as I know there were no squatters
there."
Cllr Sales confirmed no planning applications had been made for the
site.
He added there had been talks about the property being converted into
flats or refurbished and turned into a restaurant.
Cllr Sales said: "We would have preferred it to be used as a
restaurant ourselves because we have got so many flats in Gravesend at
the moment.
Gravesend Historical Society secretary Sandra Soder says she
remembered the pub had been very popular during its heyday in the 1930s
and it had a bowling green up until the 1960s.
She said: "Older men used to go there, especially members of the
bowling club.
"Unfortunately there are a lot of pubs disappearing in Gravesham and
it's very sad when they are lost.
"Quite a few have been lost and are being converted into flats and
this is now another one which looks like it's disappeared."
The Kent and Essex opened in 1898 and was one of the last Victorian
pubs to be built in Gravesend.
Gravesham Heritage Association secretary Tony Larkin, said: "It was a
very attractive building and it's a great shame to see it go."
A Kent police spokesman says the cause of the fire is being
investigated.
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