Workers at fire-hit hotel may lose jobs

7:44am Friday 5th September 2008

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A NORTH-EAST hotel which was devastated by fire has said most of its staff may be made redundant.

The majority of staff at the King’s Hotel, in Darlington, could lose their jobs because the hotel, which was ravaged in one of the town’s biggest fires on record, is not expected to fully reopen for another two years.

Although the Cairn Group, which owns the hotel, has found work for staff at the company’s other hotels and is endeavouring to find employment for the others, managing director Arvan Handa said the company regretted that many will have to be let go.

Mr Handa said: “We are speaking to the remainder of our staff regarding their employment and it is deeply regretful that most will be laid off.

“We are looking and discussing all options including finding alternative work in our hotels. At present, we have already relocated some of our staff at other hotels.”

The news comes as the company announced a temporary setback in reopening a 26-bedroom wing at the hotel.

The wing was expected to open last week, but damage was discovered to the cold water supply, which will take three weeks to repair.

It is hoped the wing will open for business once the damage is repaired and safety tests carried out.

Experts are still trying to discover the cause of the blaze, which is thought to have begun on the top floor during the early hours of Friday, August 15.

The fire destroyed a quarter of the building.

More than 100 people, including about 65 foreign guests, were safely evacuated from the hotel, and no one was hurt.

Since the blaze, workers have been removing as much loose debris as possible so scaffolding can be erected, and the cordoned-off area from Woolworths to the corner of Priestgate can be reopened.

Mr Handa said: “We have been unable to open the hotel as planned, as we have found that a cold water supply has been damaged due to the fire.

“We now have a local company installing a new supply and estimate this will take about three weeks, then due to the polluted river water, all the pipes will be tested and subject to safety checks.

“We are now planning to reopen as soon as the work is completed.

“The other 80 per cent of the hotel will remain closed for about two years due to the fire damage.”

Mr Handa added: “Five jobs have been transferred to other hotels – none of these staff are happy and want to come back to Darlington as soon as possible.

It’s all very upsetting for all concerned.”