Loose hotel cladding concerns after Storm Bert

A police cordon was in place on Sunday in Woking

Loose cladding on a high-rise hotel in Woking has led to the closure of a road and part of a shopping centre.

High winds during Storm Bert dislodged a panel above the seventh floor of the Hilton Hotel, a Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesperson said.

They said all guests had been cleared from that floor and those above it "as a precaution".

Hilton has been contacted for comment.

The road around the hotel was closed

According to one police officer on the cordon on Sunday, a 35ft (10m) panel of cladding had come loose and was still attached to the side of the building, above a viewing deck.

The SFRS spokesperson said at around 15:00 GMT on Sunday loose cladding was noticed on the building, and that Victoria Way and part of Victoria Place shopping centre were closed to the public.

In October 2021, cladding panels fell off the hotel, leading to months of road closures in the town while repairs were made.

The hotel, which has 23 floors and 189 rooms, opened in October, four years after its original planned opening date.