Council warns action may follow derelict pub fire

Action could be taken against the owner of a derelict pub that has stood empty for 10 years after it was severely damaged by fire, a council has said.

North Northamptonshire Council said it had spoken to the brewery which owns the Rockingham Arms on Studfall Avenue, Corby, at the start of April following concerns around an unsecured rear window and side gate.

Police confirmed the blaze, at about 20:00 BST on Friday was being treated as arson.

The BBC has approached the owner of the building for comment multiple times.

The fire service said it believed the fire in the three-storey building started on the first floor and then spread to the roof.

A spokesman for the council said: "We can confirm we contacted the brewery earlier in April following concerns around an unsecured rear window and side gate.

"We inspected the site on 17 April, and all security measures were intact at that time."

It added that a routine inspection was due to take place the week between 27 April and 1 May - before the fire took place.

"Since the fire, we have been in contact with the brewery who have informed us that they had arranged for the site to be made safe.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and should there be a deterioration in the building's condition we would consider our options which could include taking further action against the brewery", they added.

Ian Bateman, 69, from the town, who took images of the aftermath, said he was "saddened" to see the building in its current state, as he had gone there since he was 18.

"It was a brilliant pub in its day."

"It was such an iconic building to Corby, known as The Rock, and very unique - it's such a shame."

Simon Rielly, leader of Corby Town Council, previously said the fire "points to a wider issue around empty buildings being left vulnerable".

He said in less than two years, the Talisman in Corby, Northamptonshire, had been lost to fire.

The council said it was calling for a review into how long-term vacant community properties were managed and safeguarded to ensure further losses could be prevented.

Lee Barron, the Labour MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, said he had previously contacted North Northamptonshire Council about securing the site and had also attempted to make contact with the owner without success.

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