Park cafe is destroyed in early hours blaze
8:14am Monday 6th July 2009 in News
DESTROYED: The remains of the cafe in Moss Bank Park after the blaze
AN investigation is under way after fire ravaged a cafe in the grounds of a popular park.
Firefighters were called to Moss Bank Park in Smithills at 4am yesterday as flames tore through the cafe building.
Crews battled with the blaze for three hours.
The cause of the fire was yesterday under investigation as workers moved in to remove what was left of the cafe.
Watch commander at Bolton North fire station, Chris Hopkins, said: “We brought the blaze under control within under an hour but because of the building was in a public area we stayed on the scene for safety reasons.”
Park officials yesterday cordoned off the cafe and described the scene as looking as if a mini-explosion had taken place.
A park spokesman said: “The cafe has been here for decades, probably since the 1960s.
“It will have to be rebuilt. There is nothing left of it, it looks like something exploded.“ He added: “Barricades have been placed round the site for the safety of the public.
“There has been no damage elsewhere in the park and the rubble is in the process of being removed.”
Moss Bank Park is a popular attraction and a venue for displays and demonstrations. The cafe was well used by visitors — and often attracted long queues when the park staged events.
The park has won a Green Flag Award and is officially recognised as one of the best green spaces in the country. It is also home to Animal World and the tropical Butterfly House.
Councillor Carole Swarbrick said: “It’s a real shame about what has happened, particularly as the summer holidays are only a few weeks off.
“I will be pushing for the cafe to be rebuilt. This is a well-used park and a facility like this is important and popular with visitors.
“I don’t know how easy it will be to have something temporary there until the cafe is rebuilt, but the parks department are quick to react to situations and I will be talking to them this week.”
schaudhari@the boltonnews.co.uk
