Harbour trade slowly returns after blaze disruption

Harbour businesses in Kent have seen trade tentatively return after disruption caused by a fire at a nearby hotel last weekend.

A fire broke out at the Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone in the early hours of Saturday, with 280 people evacuated from the building.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council leader Jim Martin said engineers were still investigating the building's structure after the "very intense and serious" blaze.

Murat Karakartal, owner of Harbour Fish Bar, said his business was badly affected by the absence of hotel guests, but he was "very appreciative" of locals who had visited in recent days.

Road access to the Folkestone Harbour area was restored on Thursday with temporary lights in place.

Residents of the neighbouring Pavilion Court flats were evacuated after the fire and have been unable to return while structural investigations take place.

Martin said: "We all thought that they were going to be out for maybe one night, two nights.

"As we're now looking at five or six nights."

He said residents were concerned that they could not retrieve important items, such as children's school uniforms and medication.

The council leader told BBC Radio Kent the cordon would "stay in place until the structural engineers give us the all-clear", and he hoped to see a report by Monday morning.

Firefighters had reported signs that temperatures had risen "way beyond the point where structural steel will deform" during the fire, he said.

Surveyors "had to use robot cameras and drones to carry out the inspection" for safety reasons, according to Martin.

Kent Police have arrested a 38-year-old man and 21-year-old woman on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire.

Jamie Bradford, who works at the Chummys seafood stall at the harbour, said trade had been "a bit slower" and they were not getting "the foot traffic coming through".

But he said he felt "a bit better" about the weekend.

Ashley Reed, has a boat in the harbour, but has been unable to access it since the blaze.

"I'm upset with it all but they're only protecting the public," he said.

"I was down the morning after and saw the the aftermath of it. It was very disturbing really."

English Channel charity swimming group member Zac, 17, has been unable to stay at the hotel, which he usually books when he visits from Cheshire.

"It's really affected us as a group because some of the other people that are swimming with us are staying in Dover due to the closure," he told the BBC.

"There's quite a few memories made in there as well. It's a very atmospheric place I would say."

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