Update on future of Claremont Hotel

Parts of the Grade II listed building came crashing to the ground during high winds throughout the day, and the council, engineers and hotel owners say they are continuing to work together to find the best solution for the building.

Eastboure council’s conservation advisor Chris Connelley said the key areas they are looking at is the safest way to tackle the site and how much of it is saveable.

The hotel, owned by Daish’s Holidays, went up in flames on November 22 and the area surrounding it has been cordoned off ever since, affecting traffic and businesses.

On Friday permission was granted for contractors to demolish part of the site, shore the building up and get the stretch of the seafront reopened to traffic by Easter.

But still nobody has been physically able to inspect the inside of the building because of the risk of more of the structure collapsing.

Mr Connelley said, “Yesterday (Tuesday) we saw a lot of fabric go. Mother Nature has made her presence felt. It is a dangerous site, getting people in there and getting work done is difficult.

“The situation is obviously changing. We’re making an assessment about what the most appropriate course of action is. The key concern is safety.

“Everyone involved is having to reassess the situation and are looking at what is still saveable, we are waiting for that advice and engineers are coming up with a plan as we speak. We’re hoping to save the ground floor of the building as it’s Grade II listed.

“We want to keep as much fabric as we have. It’s a cornerstone in Eastbourne.”