Seven-week programme to restore fire-damaged buildings

This week work has focused on the three large chimneys of the listed buildings which were left at serious risk of uncontrolled collapse after the fire. All three chimneys have now been successfully taken down to a safe level.

The seven-week programme (from 15th May) is well on track. The next phase of the shoring up will be to complete the internal scaffolding and fixings. Once this is completed, final, legally required structural safety inspections will need to be carried out and the hoarding around the scaffolding built.

Once the hoarding is completed, the National Park Authority will hand over to West Sussex County Council to carry out the necessary road safety and traffic management work so that the road can be reopened in both directions.

The National Park Authority would like to thank the people of Midhurst who rallied to support contractors over the last week. Together they have been working to ensure that Midhurst can reopen as soon as possible.

They have produced an FAQs specifically around the shoring up work and this can be found at www.southdowns.gov.uk/midhurst-fire-updates

The multi-agency recovery group has also created a more detailed FAQs, prepared by Chichester District Council which includes information about business support and highways issues. The FAQs can be found here: www.chichester.gov.uk/Midhurst-fire-Frequently-asked-questions