Large blaze at derelict former nursery building
ALARGE fire broke out at a derelict former nursery with crews battling the blaze. Flames could be seen pouring out of the building on the corner of Scarisbrick New Road and Chambres Road in Southport.
Emergency services were called to the site at around 5.21pm on Thursday (January 19).
Multiple fire engines from Merseyside Fire and Rescue were in attendance and eyewitnesses claimed to have seen the side of the building collapse as firefighters attempted to control the blaze.
A statement from Merseyside Fire and Rescue said at the time: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) is currently in attendance at an incident on Scarisbrick New Road, Southport. Crews were alerted at 5.21pm and were on scene at 5.26pm. Three MFRS fire engines and the aerial appliance is in attendance, as well as one fire engine from Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service.
“On arrival, crews found a three-storey building with fire in the second floor and roof of the property. Crews sectorised the incident, with main branches in use externally in two sectors. The aerial appliance is also in use as a water tower.
“Merseyside Police are in attendance and are providing road safety. This is an ongoing incident, please avoid the area.”
The building is already subject to a demolition order and a planning application was submitted last year to build four semi-detached houses in its place.
Although that application has yet to be submitted, developer North West Homes has lodged new plans to erect a two-storey block of seven flats instead.
An application at the time stated: “The scheme will provide much needed residential accommodation on the site of a large house that has been derelict for a number of years.
“The scale and design building reflects the old house as well as the neighbouring buildings, and is compatible in both grain and texture.”
The proposal includes space for 15 cars as well as bicycle parking.
AN ENCROCHAT dealer was caught in Manchester Airport after sending detailed texts about his family, addresses and his cars.
George Powell, 40, of Hillside Road, Southport, was arrested at Manchester
Airport on July 21 last year, after being identified as the user of the EncroChat handle ‘skint-harry’.
Police identified Powell after he sent personal information over encrypted messages including details of relatives, addresses and vehicles linked to him.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine and heroin) and he accepted being responsible for conspiring to supply 9kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin between March and June 2020.
Powell was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 12 years.
Detective Inspector Peter McCullough said: “Powell’s Encrochat messages revealed his clear involvement as a leading figure in drug conspiracies that could have caused suffering to families and residents in our community.
“His messages clearly identified him as the user of the ‘skint-harry’ EncroChat handle, which showed his involvement in conspiring to supply significant amounts of cocaine and heroin, causing misery to the people of Merseyside and potentially beyond.
“We know the destruction that drug supply causes and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups.”
Anyone with information on drug dealing is asked to contact @MerPolCC, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.