Council orders pub owner to fix fire-ravaged pub

The pub was destroyed in a fire in March 2022 and its roof collapsed

A council has ordered a pub owner to demolish or renovate the building after it was damaged in a fire.

The Haven Bridge pub in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been held up with scaffolding for the last two years.

The 19th Century venue was destroyed in a blaze and its roof collapsed in March 2022.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it had received regular complaints about the state of the building which sits next to the Haven Bridge.

This month, the council issued a notice to the freeholder ordering it to renovate or demolish the building within the next six months.

If this is not complied with, the council said it would take further legal action.

Making the building safe is estimated at £550,000 and demolition is estimated and anything up to £100,000.

Michael Black, owner of KB Scaffolding, said he was yet to receive money for making the building safe so far.

His company is threatening legal action against the council for an unpaid invoice of more than £400,000.

The council believes the pub leaseholder or freeholder should foot this bill, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The future of the pub is due to be discussed at a council scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday.