MP for Midhurst, Andrew Griffith, has called for an end to prevarication and delay on The Angel Inn site in Midhurst following the devastating fire which destroyed all but the façade of this once popular hotel three years ago next week. The lack of progress to clear and remedy the site has been deeply felt by residents and businesses alike.
The MP expressed his deep concern about the length of time this matter is taking and called for statutory bodies to use all powers possible – up to and including compulsory purchase if necessary – to step in and resolve what appears to be deadlock after three years.
Since first becoming the Member of Parliament fifteen months ago, Andrew Griffith has held multiple meetings with both the hotel owner, the South Downs National Park Authority and English Heritage and offered his help as ‘honest broker’ to deal with all the different public bodies including local councils in support of a pragmatic solution for the site. However, his over-riding interest is the residents and local traders who have suffered long enough.
Adrew Griffith MP said:
“No one thought that three years after the terrible fire, Midhurst residents would still be staring up at the hoardings that protect the decaying wall of the Angel Inn. And it is simply unacceptable. In that period, other traders have gone to the wall and visitors drifted away. I’m willing to help all parties, but it is time we had a backstop plan in place with the council using their powers to step in if a planning application is not now brought forward within the next few weeks.
I’m also repeating my call for Chichester District Council to repeat the financial grants to the town which were made shortly after the fire by a previous administration.”
