FIRE ARREST
14-year-old held after listed building blaze New £7m hotel to rise from the ashes
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a blaze that ripped through the historic Hamilton Town Hotel.
Emergency services rushed to the fire that took hold of the listed building last Wednesday afternoon.
The site on Townhead Street has lain derelict for years but developers recently submitted £7million plans to transform it into a new 96-bedroom Premier Inn and Beefeater restaurant.
Councillors on a planning committee this week gave approval for the bigmoney project to go ahead, which included the green light to demolish the former hotel.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a fire at Hamilton Town Hotel last week.
At 2.50pm on Wednesday, June 20, emergency services were called to a blaze in the derelict building on Townhead Street.
The streets surrounding the area were covered in thick smoke as firefighters worked to contain the fire.
Police taped off Keith Street Car Park and surrounding areas.
And a teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.55pm on Wednesday, June 20, police were called to a report of a fire in Townhead Street, Hamilton.
“Emergency services attended and following a joint investigation between police and fire services, the incident was confirmed as wilful.
“A 14-year-old boy was arrested and will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident.”
A spokesman for The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to reports of a fire in a derelict building.
“Operations control mobilised a number of fire engines to Hamilton’s Townhead Street where firefighters extinguished the fire.
“There were no casualties.
“Crews left the scene after ensuring the area had been made safe.”
A passer-by who called the fire services said: “It was after 2.30pm when we noticed smoke.
“Some people were just standing looking, so we called the fire brigade and they were here within minutes.”
Christina Mckelvie, the MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, said: “First of all, I thank all emergency services and first responders for attending the incident and making sure my constituents are safe.
“I am currently liaising with the emergency services to assess the extent of the damage and to offer what help I can.”