Council 'picks up' £250k bill for repairs to hotel

A council has reluctantly agreed to spend £250,000 on urgent repairs to a listed hotel after being unable to contact the property's registered owners.

The 17th Century Star Hotel in Great Yarmouth needs work on its roof to prevent it from collapsing and to stop further weather damage.

It is owned by a Maltese-registered company, but so far attempts to contact the company have failed.

At a meeting this week, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's cabinet agreed to pay for the emergency repairs. Graham Plant, the authority's deputy leader, called the situation a "conundrum", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Plant, a Conservative councillor, added: "This is not our building, but it is a building in our town that is well recognised and well loved."

It was also agreed that council officers will progress efforts to force the sale of the hotel through a compulsory purchase order.

Daniel Candon, a Conservative councillor who is cabinet member for economic development, added: "The owner of the site needs to explain why the council is having to pick up the bill for this.

"Ownership comes with responsibility, and it is about time the owner accepted their responsibility."

In 2020, the hotel was shut down and sold to new owners.

Individual rooms were then sold as long-term leases to at least 42 people, according to title deeds, the council said.

The proceeds of the leases were supposed to fund renovation, but this never took place.

In 2021, the building was then sold to 36644 Ltd, the name of the Maltese-registered company.

The council has already spent £42,000 on the hotel.

Paul Wells, also a Conservative councillor who is cabinet member for licensing, said the authority would "do what it can do" to try and save the "hugely important asset".

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