“Save the wall or save the town,” says Midhurst councillor
Nearly three years after a fire gutted the Angel Hotel on North Street, an updated survey of the privately owned building has been completed.
Yvonne Gravely, the West Sussex county councillor for Midhurst, told residents in a video released on Sunday night that the survey will help the parties responsible for the site formulate a plan.
She said she will report back once she has reviewed the full range of options, adding that the situation appears to come down to 'save the wall or save the town'.
She acknowledged the community’s frustration over the lack of visible progress. “We want to maintain the momentum that has been gained as a result of getting to the survey,” she said. “We are all working hard together to get the best outcome for the town.”
Any decision on the building’s future involves multiple agencies, including Historic England, the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), town and district councils, and the owners.
In response to the updated survey, the SDNPA said it understands public concern about the delays. “We share everybody’s frustrations about the amount of time that has now passed since the fire,” the authority said.
"Demolishing the structure has not been permitted. Historic England and structural engineers have maintained that parts of the listed building can still be saved, preserving elements of Midhurst’s history and the character of the high street. “Three years on, this remains the case,” the SDNPA said, noting that removing the buildings without Listed Building Consent would be illegal.
Alongside frustration with the aesthetic of scaffolding in Midhurst, many residents have cited safety concerns with the site, as pedestrians continue to walk in the road, rather than cross to the pavement on the other side of North Street.
Cllr Gravely said all parties have committed to improving communication with residents and local businesses as the process moves forward.