Council sets aside £1.77m for Saxonvale fire costs

By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby with additional reporting by Frome Times

Somerset Council has set aside £1.77 million to cover any costs associated with the fire at the Saxonvale site in July.

More than 100 firefighters tackled a fire at the ‘western warehouse’ at Saxonvale on 1st July, which caused extensive damage to the building. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious.

At a meeting of Somerset Council’s executive in August, it was confirmed that £1.77m of ‘unallocated contingency’ funding had been moved into a new reserve to “fund any costs relating to the recent fire”.

Chris Hall, the council’s executive director for community, place and economy, said the council had initially set aside the money without knowing how much would be required.

He said surveys had since been carried out at the site, including health and safety, asbestos and air testing and structural surveys.

“We don’t expect the real cost to be anything like that,” he said.

“We do have insurance for the site; there is an excess on the premium associated with that insurance. Depending on the nature of the work required, we may be able to call upon this contingency should it be necessary.”

Police are continuing to investigate the fire and are asking anyone with information or CCTV footage to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101, quoting reference 5226182083, or complete an online form.

Pictured: The aftermath of the fire at the Western Warehouse. Credit Sarah Swales