A BUILDING involved in a large fire in Bournemouth last summer remains in the same state one year on.

The incident in Holdenhurst Road, which destroyed several flats and businesses below, occurred on August 8, 2020, and it took around 10 hours to extinguish the blaze.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue confirmed that an inquiry was made into what initiated the fire and the subsequent report did not find a cause.

Bournemouth Echo: Rear of the flats on Holdenhurst Road, Lansdowne, one year on from the fire.

A spokesperson said: “The fire investigation report concluded that the fire most likely started accidentally in the kitchen of one of the flats, but the exact cause remains unknown due to the scale of damage.”

With the report concluding the cause was unknown, the Echo approached BCP Council for a statement in regard to what the latest information is on the site one year on.

However, a spokesperson for the authority said the position was the same as in February, in that the “the site continues to be monitored for public safety” as it awaits further updates.

One of the business owners whose property was impacted by the fire, who wished to remain anonymous, said it had been a “nightmare situation".

“We’re pretty much in the dark still. I still have not been allowed access.”

The business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, went on to say he had received very little in the way of an update but did not want to comment further.

When the fire broke out last August Vikki Slade, who was the leader of the council at the time, confirmed that “what happened next would be the responsibility of the owner”.

Read more: Flat fire in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth as it happened

The former leader, speaking with the Echo one year on, said it was hard to know what is going on without knowing the full details.

Currently the Lansdowne area of Holdenhurst Road is being developed for regeneration, but the burnt out remains of the flats still remain on the corner with Cotlands Road.

Councillor Slade said: “It is an area being regenerated and it’s always a shame when a heritage building looks like that.

Bournemouth Echo: View of the flats on Holdenhurst Road, Lansdowne, one year on from the fire.

“I’m not sure that council can do a lot with it, as it’s privately insured and so it’s not right to dictate what private landlords do.

“We have to recognise the free market because it is not a council building so it is not their responsibility.”

The former leader called for better legislation in regard to landlords of properties paying taxes even if the site is empty, including the flats in Holdenhurst Road.

Neither of the ward councillors for Bournemouth Central, Hazel Allen and Mike Greene, were able to comment having been approached by the Echo.