Post by Thomas Cameron on Jan 15, 2009 19:01:52 GMT -6
Very unfortunate news came out of Lochaber today. The Spean Bridge Mill (owned by Edinburgh Wollen Mill) was destroyed by a massive fire. Those having made the trip to Achnacarry will probably be familiar with the Mill - for all others, this was the closest shopping and tourism destination to Achnacarry (6.3 miles or about 15 minutes):
From The Press & Journal:
Highland Community Fears For Mill Jobs and Tourism Industry
Blaze Destroys Lochaber’s Top Visitor Magnet
By Samantha Chetwynd
Published: 15/01/2009
There were fears for the future of Lochaber’s vital tourism industry last night after one of its biggest visitor magnets was destroyed by a massive blaze.
Spean Bridge Mill – which attracts thousands of people to the village each week – was reduced to little more than rubble early yesterday.
Locals watched as 30ft flames ripped through the roof of the Victorian mill.
Electricity supplies were cut off to many homes.
And last night local politicians and business leaders described it as a “devastating blow” to the community.
They are worried about the impact on jobs and tourism.
MP Charles Kennedy and MSP Fergus Ewing vowed to ensure Spean Bridge retains the tourist attraction, owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Mr Kennedy said: “We can only be grateful that no one was injured. The loss of the woollen mill is a big blow to the economy of the village and to the wider tourist industry in the area at a particularly difficult time.
“The first priority is rightly to make the site safe and establish the cause of the fire.
“Thoughts must then turn to putting the site into the best possible condition for the coming tourist season, and identifying the most promising option for redevelopment.
“The woollen mill is a key business for Spean Bridge on a very high-profile site. I will certainly do all I can, working with the owners and the appropriate agencies, to ensure it is out of action for as short a time as possible.”
It is understood that around 22 locals work at the mill on a full and part-time basis. But yesterday no one at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill was available to comment or reassure the community.
The SNP’s Mr Ewing said: “I hope the company will confirm to staff that their employment is secure and also discuss with staff arrangements that will be put in place to rebuild the building from their buildings and other insurance payments.
“I shall make contact with the company myself to ascertain what they propose to do to rebuild this valued and popular tourist attraction.”
Glen Wilson, who runs the nearby Spean Lodge bed and breakfast, said thousands of tourists visited the centre, which had a cafe, a shop, a weaving workshop and was home to the tourist information office.
He said: “The mill is one of the main reasons why people stop in the village. It is the focal point and also one of the biggest employers in the village. It’s a sad time for the village.”
Firefighters were called to the mill in the village centre, at about 3am after a police officer on patrol saw the premises alight.
Footage of the fire captured on the officer’s mobile phone will form part of a joint investigation by Northern Constabulary and the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, which is expected to begin today.
At its height, around 30 firefighters battled the blaze. Heavy smoke forced the closure of the A82 Inverness-Fort William road for about four hours and around 20 properties were without electricity for much of the day.
B&B owner Mr Wilson said: “The flames were double the height of the trees, about 30ft, they lit up the sky. If it had been the night before when it was really windy it could have easily spread.”
The area around the mill remained cordoned off as firefighters damped down the building and assessed the damage.
Part of the roof in the mill’s Victorian section fell in. The newer, prefabricated part was destroyed.
Martin Haigh, Fort William operations manager for the fire and rescue service, said that when crews arrived 10 minutes after the alarm was raised the mill was “well alight”.
He said: “Flames were coming through the roof. Because of the old type of building, the fire was almost impossible to stop.”
Mr Haigh said firefighters had to enter the mill to extinguish the fire fully as roof slates had collapsed on pockets of the blaze and the water from hoses was running off them.
He added: “The building is destroyed. I would say about 70% fire damage and 30% heat and smoke damage. There is also a lot of stock inside which has been destroyed. It’s such a blow to the area, absolutely tragic.”
Robert Bryson, of Russell’s Restaurant, near the mill, described it as an “extremely sad day”.
He said: “It’s such a popular place, it was very successful and busy business. The main thing is no one was hurt. However, it is still sad because it was people’s livelihoods.”
From The Press & Journal:
Highland Community Fears For Mill Jobs and Tourism Industry
Blaze Destroys Lochaber’s Top Visitor Magnet
By Samantha Chetwynd
Published: 15/01/2009
There were fears for the future of Lochaber’s vital tourism industry last night after one of its biggest visitor magnets was destroyed by a massive blaze.
Spean Bridge Mill – which attracts thousands of people to the village each week – was reduced to little more than rubble early yesterday.
Locals watched as 30ft flames ripped through the roof of the Victorian mill.
Electricity supplies were cut off to many homes.
And last night local politicians and business leaders described it as a “devastating blow” to the community.
They are worried about the impact on jobs and tourism.
MP Charles Kennedy and MSP Fergus Ewing vowed to ensure Spean Bridge retains the tourist attraction, owned by Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Mr Kennedy said: “We can only be grateful that no one was injured. The loss of the woollen mill is a big blow to the economy of the village and to the wider tourist industry in the area at a particularly difficult time.
“The first priority is rightly to make the site safe and establish the cause of the fire.
“Thoughts must then turn to putting the site into the best possible condition for the coming tourist season, and identifying the most promising option for redevelopment.
“The woollen mill is a key business for Spean Bridge on a very high-profile site. I will certainly do all I can, working with the owners and the appropriate agencies, to ensure it is out of action for as short a time as possible.”
It is understood that around 22 locals work at the mill on a full and part-time basis. But yesterday no one at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill was available to comment or reassure the community.
The SNP’s Mr Ewing said: “I hope the company will confirm to staff that their employment is secure and also discuss with staff arrangements that will be put in place to rebuild the building from their buildings and other insurance payments.
“I shall make contact with the company myself to ascertain what they propose to do to rebuild this valued and popular tourist attraction.”
Glen Wilson, who runs the nearby Spean Lodge bed and breakfast, said thousands of tourists visited the centre, which had a cafe, a shop, a weaving workshop and was home to the tourist information office.
He said: “The mill is one of the main reasons why people stop in the village. It is the focal point and also one of the biggest employers in the village. It’s a sad time for the village.”
Firefighters were called to the mill in the village centre, at about 3am after a police officer on patrol saw the premises alight.
Footage of the fire captured on the officer’s mobile phone will form part of a joint investigation by Northern Constabulary and the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, which is expected to begin today.
At its height, around 30 firefighters battled the blaze. Heavy smoke forced the closure of the A82 Inverness-Fort William road for about four hours and around 20 properties were without electricity for much of the day.
B&B owner Mr Wilson said: “The flames were double the height of the trees, about 30ft, they lit up the sky. If it had been the night before when it was really windy it could have easily spread.”
The area around the mill remained cordoned off as firefighters damped down the building and assessed the damage.
Part of the roof in the mill’s Victorian section fell in. The newer, prefabricated part was destroyed.
Martin Haigh, Fort William operations manager for the fire and rescue service, said that when crews arrived 10 minutes after the alarm was raised the mill was “well alight”.
He said: “Flames were coming through the roof. Because of the old type of building, the fire was almost impossible to stop.”
Mr Haigh said firefighters had to enter the mill to extinguish the fire fully as roof slates had collapsed on pockets of the blaze and the water from hoses was running off them.
He added: “The building is destroyed. I would say about 70% fire damage and 30% heat and smoke damage. There is also a lot of stock inside which has been destroyed. It’s such a blow to the area, absolutely tragic.”
Robert Bryson, of Russell’s Restaurant, near the mill, described it as an “extremely sad day”.
He said: “It’s such a popular place, it was very successful and busy business. The main thing is no one was hurt. However, it is still sad because it was people’s livelihoods.”
