42 businesses affected by blaze at industrial estate
A TOTAL of 42 businesses are confirmed to have been affected by a huge fire which destroyed premises at Bridgend Industrial Estate last month.
Investigations remain ongoing as to what caused the January 19 blaze which destroyed a warehouse owned by the Owens Group.
Most of the affected businesses – 37 of them – have been able to resume trading, after parts of the site were closed off in the fire’s aftermath.
It destroyed a large warehouse and damaged several neighbouring premises, affecting the livelihoods of those who work there.
A “range of support” is currently available to those affected, according to Bridgend council leader Huw David. He said: “This was an extremely serious fire which destroyed a building that was about the size of two football pitches, and which would have caused even more damage had it not been for the swift action of the emergency front-line services.
“In the aftermath of the fire, council staff have been offering practical help and support to businesses and workers whose livelihoods have been affected.
“This has included help with locating alternative premises on both a long and short-term basis, working in partnership with South Wales Police to regain access to affected premises, identifying sources of emergency funding, and ensuring barriers and other measures have been in place to protect businesses and members of the public.
“Our employability team has also been offering expert help and advice to individual employees, including support with finding new work, accessing training, gaining new qualifications, developing new skills and more.”
One of the businesses to have received support is Benchmark Scenic Construction, which specialises in manufacturing scenery and props for the film and television industry.
Owner Tom Berrow said: “The advice and support offered by Bridgend County Borough Council has been very useful, and has covered a range of issues designed to help us get the business back on its feet.
“This has included support with finding holdover premises that we can use as a temporary assembly place, advice on how we can access emergency funding to help our staff and more. I’m grateful for the support, and would encourage other businesses who have been affected by the fire to get in touch with the council to see for themselves how they might be able to help.”
However, Wayne, of family-run Tyre Boss Ltd, which is one of the businesses which was partially destroyed, said: “We haven’t been told anything at all about what support is available. We’ve had no contact from anyone who can help at all.”
Reflecting on how they are doing as a business after the fire, he added: “It’s been pretty tough to deal with it and not getting any answers.
“It’s such a big amount of money, and business. It is just difficult to function at the minute and it’s still not really sunk in. Our little boy who’s nine is like the mini-boss in that place as well and he had stuff in there which has gone up.
“We’ve got another site but all the equipment that was in the other workshop like our big press, which we’re talking is about £62,000, that’s gone, so is the van and office that were in there.”
South Wales Police arrested a 25-year-old local man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has since been released on bail.