Further questions are being asked about a fire which destroyed one of the last concert halls of its kind in the county.
Following angry reactions from campaigners at news that the Edwardian former Severalls Hospital had suffered a massive fire destroying the main hall, Jeremy Lucas, executive member of Essex County Council with responsibility for heritage, culture and the arts, expressed his anger and dismay.
He had also hoped to see the hall brought back into public use.
"This is an appalling tragedy, which should, and probably could, have been avoided", said Mr Lucas, Conservative county councillor for Colchester's Drury division, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to retain the concert hall when the premises are redeveloped in the near future.
"The police are treating this extensive fire as suspicious. It is not the first time a local and significant NHS building has been burnt down shortly before it was due to be sold for redevelopment.
"It is extremely disappointing that the 24-hour security cover failed to prevent a conflagration on this scale," he added.
A spokesman for the North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said: "Severalls is a large and complex site. We are doing everything that is reasonable to protect and secure the area."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, September 21, 2005
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