A blaze that ripped through the last remaining parts of the former Gaiety Amusement Arcade in Ventnor yesterday evening (Tuesday) is being treated as arson, Police have confirmed.
A criminal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire that destroyed a much-appreciated piece of Victorian architecture. It had been planned that the iconic dome structure would be retained as part of redevelopment plans for the site, for which demolition had already begun.
Fire investigators arrived in Ventnor this morning and, working alongside their Police colleagues, carried out a forensic examination of the site to piece together what sparked the blaze, which led to a major firefighting response.
Now, it has been confirmed by Hampshire Constabulary that the incident is being treated as suspicious.
Local webcam footage has captured the moment smoke started billowing from the property at 17:52. A local witness says they saw an individual entering the property just before the fire developed – information which has now been passed onto the Police.
As first reported by Island Echo, over 45 firefighters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spent more than 9 hours battling the flames with no less than 9 fire appliances, an aerial ladder platform, 2 water carriers and an Incident Command Unit being deployed to the Esplanade.
Crews from the mainland had to be drafted in and water was drawn from the local paddling pool. Other resources were also called upon including ambulance crews and engineers from SGN and SSEN.
Locals residents were asked to keep their windows and doors shut as acrid smoke blew inland and into the town. Thankfully, the fire was contained and no other properties were damaged.
Constructed in 1896, the building was originally used as a theatre before being re-purposed during World War I to assemble aircraft parts. It was then converted into an arcade before closing around 10 years ago. The top part of the dome was removed in 1986. It’s thought that the fire-damaged structure will now have to be completely pulled down.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting the reference 44220226052.
No surprise, Just what most people thought
Another derelict building destroyed by fire, seems to be a reoccurring theme lately
Makes it easier to get planning permission if the old historic building has been burnt down.
Of course it was arson. Persons were seen entering and leaving by many nearby residents before the fire started. There is also a name floating around the town of the person who set the fire off. So come on police move in and arrest this person. Funny how the owner of the site turned up today too, trying to be all nicey nicey to nearby residents and saying the investigation is over, well obviously not. It costs a lot to have had the dome taken down, each part catalogued and put in storage for the rebuild, easier to get someone to burn it for you I think. Still let’s see what the Fire Service and Police have to say shall we?
The police will do nothing not enough evidence you watch
Ok so the locals have the name of the person parking a van at the front of the building and entering from the front then seen leaving from the rear later and a few minutes before the fire caught hold and jumping into a black Citroen C1 with black alloys, which was then seen speeding away with 2 occupants inside. Throughout the week people were seen inside piling up wood and combustibles getting ready to set it ablaze, what more do they need, if they have a name, find them. If this doesn’t get sorted, then I can only guess that some really huge brown envelopes are being given out.
It just the way it is this day and age the big brown envelope always wins you watch and the developer will get what he wanted from the start
Well said, Sir Digby. Funny how the owner is now splashing the cash hours after fire brigade was splashing his dodgy site to protect local homes… Why is the site management’s public liability insurance not stumping up? That’s the normal way. Also, I have heard the owner is telling folk the police aren’t interested, despite the police asking the public for help to find the culprits! Smug and entitled absentee landlord, anyone…?
Now there’s a surprise!
You dont say……..
Odd how so many old derelict buildings are catching fire on the island…….
Ok
If the owners had it burnt down which clearly did simply flatten it and make it into a green space take away all planning rights on it.
the owners must be made to restore it to its former glory with any insurance money they get – if it is found that they were responsible, then whilst they languish in jail, the property should be forfeited as part of the punishment and the local council turn it into a green space, with some trees/benches etc.
How many crimes are reported on here and then we hear nothing else?
Any news on the hay bale arsonist during lockdown?
Two valliant local girls and a strong fireman rescued the elderly couple, in their nineties, from the cottage right behind the fire. It was completely consumed by the pall of thick, acrid smoke. Minutes later they would have died and certain people could have faced a manslaughter charge along with arson. Ventnor is outraged by callous greed and indifference! They know we know…
Seems possible, so they could build more homes….
Just like the Rex cinema, the Sandrock, Ocean Hotel etc. Developers know full well they can get away with this. The outcome will probably be “Arson by person or persons unknown ” & the developer gets off scot free although they will get intense questioning. I don’t know who actually owns the Gaiety but intend to find out.
Ask around, there is a name of the person who was last seen inside, minutes before it caught alight. Most people know this name by now.
Malcolm Young, who refers to we locals as his neighbours. Neighbours are people in a close community who look out for, and help, each other. We didn’t see him on Tuesday night rescuing the elderly, feeding the fire brigade and the police, handing out water to residents of the seafront who had no water. No, but we did see him the next day offering money to very angry and distressed people to pacify them. Who else has he offered money to? And for what?
We moved here from Hayling Island because of overdevelopment, and there was a rash of suspicious fires destroying buildings that were under preservation orders or of significant architectural interest but in the way of a proposed development. One was an ancient thatched barn smack in the middle of a development of houses on the site of an old pub. Another was the mysterious blaze that destroyed an ancient wooden framed cottage – again on a site marked for development into expensive homes. The cottage took two attempts before it was completely destroyed. Just saying….
Paid to burn it down so flats can be built for a hefty profit????
No surprise. Harsh but true.
Let’s just hope the owner now never gets planning permission for flats, another building should be built identical to the one that’s been burnt down.
Electricity board digging up pavement with a digger and pneumatic equipment at a quarter to eleven on Thursday night. Such a row. To isolate electrics to make arcade site safe, apparently. Why so late with the noise? Because they were denied access to site today as forensics had to examine building… And yet at eight o’ clock, that very morning, the destruction company who manage the site had their ‘miraculously untouched by the fire’ digger churning up all the debris and piling it all up in the middle.
Reclaim the land and turn it into a public park, and have a nice domed area for the “locals” to sit under, that will really make a difference to the sea front rather than an arrogant, self important posh private house. Let’s face it the owner will not get any peace now if it gets built, but then again he may be at her majesties pleasure very soon.