PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Simon Holbrook,
Deputy Leader, Wirral Council,
and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services
Date of Issue: July 8th 2008
Contact number: 07824 431295

LISCARD HALL FIRE

Councillor Simon Holbrook, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, speaking following the fire which yesterday destroyed Liscard Hall said,

“This fire is a blow to all those who cared about the building and took the time to become involved in plans for its future.”
“It is particularly a shame that this tragedy has happened when the Council was so close to making a decision on its future use following the publication of a development brief.”

“And it will be a huge disappointment to the the Liscard Hall Consultation Group, who were consulted on the development brief before it was agreed by the Council last year, as were local councillors.

“The Council has acted on the best professional advice in terms of investment in security and fire prevention measures for this building.”

“If the investigation shows there are lessons to be learned from this incident we will of course take them on board.

“But in the meantime it is premature and unhelpful to be apportioning blame before there has been a proper investigation of how the fire started and the circumstances around it.”