Arson-hit pub must be demolished, planners told

The fire broke out at the Oxon Priory, Shelton, on 6 October, and is being treated as arson

A pub targeted in an arson attack "must be demolished" to avoid "potential instability and uncontrolled collapse", planners have been told.

Brewer Greene King, which owns the former Oxon Priory pub in Shropshire, has applied to the county council for permission to pull it down.

Fire crews from five different stations were called to deal with the blaze on 6 October. Subsequently three boys, one aged 12 and the others 13, were bailed after being arrested on suspicion of arson, West Mercia Police said.

The demolition work at the pub on Welshpool Road, Shelton, is set to be started and finished next month, the authority's planners were told.

The agents for the brewer said the fire appeared to have started within the first-floor accommodation of the property, above the ground floor bar area.

They said the three-storey section could only be inspected internally at ground floor level, as there was no safe access into the building's upper floors.

Although some sections of the building do not appear to have fire damage, there have been affected by water and smoke while the fire was being tackled.

Agents said efforts would be made to minimise damage to the remaining parts of the building during demolition, but if damage did occur, it could lead to demolition works extending into these areas.

However, a three storey-section of the building "must be demolished in order to avoid potential instability and uncontrolled collapse", planning officers were told.