Bury St Edmunds: Work Being Done After Fire
21 June 2012, 15:48 | Updated: 21 June 2012, 15:53
Work is still being done to Cupola House after a fire at the Strada restaurant on Saturday night.
120 people had to be evacuated from the Grade 1 listed building after it started on Saturday night.
Firefighters have been at the scene since to make sure it's safe.
St Edmondsbury Borough Council says the 80 tonne mobile crane arrived at 17.45 yesterday and the engineers surveyed and recorded the chimney. They are working from an open steel cage suspended from the arm of the crane and will be taking out the bricks by hand. They plan to reduce the height of the chimney by 4.5m, to the level of the second corbel, just below the dormer.
At the same time, they are assessing the effect on neighbouring properties of the remaining risk of collapse after this work is carried out. The work is weather dependent, as the cage and crane cannot be used in wet and windy conditions.
It may take until the weekend for this to be completed.
This continues to affect the four businesses on the Buttermarket.
Scaffolding is arriving today to shore up the façade of Cupola House. It will take a week to erect. The scaffolding will support the front, pass through the windows and be secured behind, forming a sandwich. A photographer has recorded the condition of the façade before it is enclosed in the scaffolding. Regular meetings are being held between the council, Bid4Bury and the affected businesses.
Business still closed:Lloyds Bank
Nationwide Building Society
Specsavers
Phones 4 YouSahara
JessopsBella
LingerieHarriet's will open 10am tomorrow morning
Information continues to be posted on white boards outside Croasdales Chemists in the town centre and on the council website at www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
Related Articles:
http://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/bury-st-edmunds-fire-update/
http://www.heart.co.uk/norfolk/news/local/bury-st-edmunds-strada-fire-update/
http://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/bury-st-edmunds-restaurant-fire/
http://www.heart.co.uk/suffolk/news/local/bury-st-eds-crews-still-restaurant-fire/