This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/7052108.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blaze wrecks town's historic hall | Blaze wrecks town's historic hall |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fire has destroyed an historic building which was undergoing a £4m restoration to become an arts centre. | Fire has destroyed an historic building which was undergoing a £4m restoration to become an arts centre. |
| Flames ripped through the Gwyn Hall Theatre in Neath town centre, engulfing the four-storey Victorian building. | |
| Seventy firefighters tackled the blaze, which started at about 2100 BST on Thursday and destroyed the hall within hours. Nobody was injured. | Seventy firefighters tackled the blaze, which started at about 2100 BST on Thursday and destroyed the hall within hours. Nobody was injured. |
| Townspeople and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, the local MP, voiced their dismay at the destruction of the building. | |
| Fire chiefs will meet scenes of crime officers to investigate the cause. | Fire chiefs will meet scenes of crime officers to investigate the cause. |
| I'm so sad and upset about the loss of this building. It was used by the town for so much Neath councillor David Thomas | I'm so sad and upset about the loss of this building. It was used by the town for so much Neath councillor David Thomas |
| People were evacuated from surrounding properties and a safety cordon was set up between Orchard Street and London Road. | People were evacuated from surrounding properties and a safety cordon was set up between Orchard Street and London Road. |
| The roads were set to remain closed on Friday, causing disruption for town centre shops and businesses. | The roads were set to remain closed on Friday, causing disruption for town centre shops and businesses. |
| Local councillor David Thomas said the building had become a "shell" with only the walls remaining. | Local councillor David Thomas said the building had become a "shell" with only the walls remaining. |
| "I'm so sad and upset about the loss of this building," he said. | "I'm so sad and upset about the loss of this building," he said. |
| "It was used by the town for so much - everything revolved around the building. I have seen it this morning and it's a shell. | "It was used by the town for so much - everything revolved around the building. I have seen it this morning and it's a shell. |
| "It's absolutely destroyed. Lots of valuable paintings that were in there have been lost." | "It's absolutely destroyed. Lots of valuable paintings that were in there have been lost." |
| 'Gaping hole' | 'Gaping hole' |
| Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who is MP for Neath, spoke of his shock and sadness following the blaze. | Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, who is MP for Neath, spoke of his shock and sadness following the blaze. |
| "The Gwyn Hall was a fine Victorian building that served the people of Neath for generations, hosting many, many tremendous events and concerts," he said. | "The Gwyn Hall was a fine Victorian building that served the people of Neath for generations, hosting many, many tremendous events and concerts," he said. |
| "Its loss will leave a gaping hole in the heart of Neath. The fact that the hall was about to undergo a major refurbishment makes this fire doubly shocking and sad." | "Its loss will leave a gaping hole in the heart of Neath. The fact that the hall was about to undergo a major refurbishment makes this fire doubly shocking and sad." |
| Built in the 1880s, the Gwyn Hall Theatre was a local landmark and was due to reopen as a modern arts centre next spring. | Built in the 1880s, the Gwyn Hall Theatre was a local landmark and was due to reopen as a modern arts centre next spring. |
| It was set to include cinema facilities, an interactive cafe bar, and state-of-the-art stage and would have provided facilities for concert and weddings. | It was set to include cinema facilities, an interactive cafe bar, and state-of-the-art stage and would have provided facilities for concert and weddings. |
| Before the fire, Derek Vaughan, the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, had spoken of how the building would be "returned to its former glory and is once again set to be the hub of cultural activities in Neath." | Before the fire, Derek Vaughan, the leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, had spoken of how the building would be "returned to its former glory and is once again set to be the hub of cultural activities in Neath." |
| Mr Vaughan had said: "I am personally committed to the refurbishment of the historic building which when completed will provide Neath with a venue to be proud of." | Mr Vaughan had said: "I am personally committed to the refurbishment of the historic building which when completed will provide Neath with a venue to be proud of." |