Kentish Express Ashford & District
Arsonists blamed for shop blaze
A fire which destroyed a long-standing town centre shop is believed to have been started deliberately.
The Kent Wool Growers site on Tannery Lane, Ashford, has been empty since 2017, when it shut up shop after almost 100 years of trading and had been due to be demolished for housing.
Fire crews tackled the blaze, which engulfed the former Town and Country Store, from 2.55pm on Monday.
At its height, six fire engines and a Kent Fire and Rescue Command Support Unit were at the scene, along with numerous police vehicles and a dog unit.
Spectators looked on as the fire raged, quickly collapsing the building’s roof, despite the best efforts of the firefighters.
The road was cordoned off with police officers standing guard and Station Road was congested by the number of service vehicles - adding to a day of traffic chaos in the town.
As the smoke continued to billow out of the shell, a fire service spokeswoman said: “People living and working near Tannery Lane in Ashford are advised to close windows and due to smoke, while firefighters deal with a fire in a commercial building.
“There are currently no reported casualties.”
Teams used hose reel jets and a height vehicle to drench all sides of the structure, eventually succeeding in putting out the fire by 7.12pm.
The fire was contained to the former retail building in the centre of the site, leaving the nearby Brundrett House or Grade II*-listed Whist House untouched.
A fire investigation team visited the site the next day to assess the damage and possible reasons for the blaze.
But a Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said yesterday (Wednesday): “The exact cause of this fire is under investigation but is believed to be suspicious.”
The building was already set to be demolished to make way for an ambitious 200-home apartment scheme, approved by the council in March.
Ashford historian Steve Salter, who witnessed the blazeze, said: “I was sad-sad dened to see su uch a prominent piece of Ashford’sA history going up in smoke and ind deed the presence of such a fierc e and develop- ing fire.
“One fears that sooner or later, there will no longer be any herit- age building s left pertainin ng to the town’s richr long trade histo ory. A very sad day in ndeed.”