Major fire at the Afan Lido

[Delta Whiskey]

"More than 100 firefighters are tackling a fire at the Afan Lido in Port Talbot after a blaze broke out at the pool."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8417165.stm

I hope it's not as bad as it sounds.

[Russ]

I've just been down there - it's an awful sight. The Lido has been a landmark around here since I was a few years old. Most of the local residents have been evacuated and a 2 mile radius has been blocked off.

[Welshchris]

how can a fire break out at a Pool?

[Russ]

The pool is just an expanse of water - the Aquadome facility is a large leisure building -

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[Delta Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Russ

I've just been down there - it's an awful sight. The Lido has been a landmark around here since I was a few years old. Most of the local residents have been evacuated and a 2 mile radius has been blocked off.

Thanks for the eye witness account Russ. I have fond memories of the Lido from when I was a boy. An iconic building.

[Russ]

It is just a building but as you say it's iconic, one of the few remaining landmarks around here that everyone has an afinity to. It feels like part of my childhood has been destroyed and going on some of my friends' reactions on facebook tonight it seem like I'm not the only one to feel an attachment to it.

[Welshchris]

Originally Posted by Russ

The pool is just an expanse of water - the Aquadome facility is a large leisure building -

im aware of that being from Neath i used to swim there but someone said "It broke out at the pool".

I thought they meant in the pool part.

[madian2]

just came back from there seems the lido is no more speaking to one of the firemen and he said "looks like it will have to come down "as it is beyond repair now

pity as this place was a great place for kids and alike

it is pure mayhem around here with most roads closed in around the lido

well done to the firemen /police/ambulance crews on sight even the coastguard are on sight
sad day for port talbot
madian2

[Russ]

What about the Sport hall section by the football pitch, was that up in flames too? I could only see the front.

[Delta Whiskey]

This is how I remember that part of Aberavon (the blobby child in the short trousers in the bottom right image is, um, me, true).

Afan Lido: http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/...fan%20Lido.jpg

[madian2]

Originally Posted by Russ

What about the Sport hall section by the football pitch, was that up in flames too? I could only see the front.

could not get round the back m8

but it aint looking good


madian2

[Brian_Morris]

Hi Guy,s

I live approx 400m from the Afan Lido at the new appartments on the old Beach Hotel site. The fire at the Lido was contained to just the swimming pool and office block only and the sports hall, squash courts etc were not directly effected.
The fire according to the latest reports started in an electrical substation that was located under the swimming pool area and quickly spread to the office areas. So the swimming pool was not directly the problem! The building not only was a swimming pool, it was also a safe kids play pool area, and housed several Council services, a local radio station Afan FM and a medical unit. This as far as I know and have seen as you cannot get too close because of the worry of toxic fumes.
The Sfan Lido is about 30 years old and has been recently modernised from an olympic sized swimming facility into what was called the Aqua Dome - basically it had added water shoots and was more of a leisure facility than a conventional swimming pool. The fire service eventually had to bring in the very large simon snorkel type extendible ladder fire appliances to tackle the fire from above. Seeing this against a dark sky lit by fire, emergency lights and smoke - it reminded me of those scenes you see of the London Blitz.
Tomorrow with daylight will reveal the extend of the damage, however given the length of time this fire has been running (first reported at 4.30pm and it's still not out now at 10.30pm) there's not much hope this building can be saved. locally there's no traffic except for emergency service vehicles and there is a sense of sadness and disbelief that this could happen to an iconic building that many have enjoyed using. There are few sporting facilities in Port Talbot and this was a facility that was well used and will be sadly missed.
All in the building were safely evacuated, and to this time, no emergency service personnel have fortunately been injured. The emergency services have been courageous, but it's a sad night for those directly effected with this fire - the jobs of those who worked there, council services that were offered from there and facility users.
Good night all
Brian

[Delta Whiskey]

Thanks for the information Brian, and welcome to the forum.

Now a report on BBC News.

[50420]

when i heard about the fire, my immediate thoughts were that it was deliberate ( yes i know...i'm a cynical person). i was informed earlier, by someone i know and completly trust ( he's been a valuable source of info regarding council and steelwork 'inside info' for 15+ years), that planning permission had been sought (prior to the fire having gutted the lido) for a housing development on the lido site..... along with planning permission for a 50m community pool on the adjacent car park area.

my response to this was that while i appreciate there's some level of corruption in local councils ( or maybe its me being cynical?) surely there's some kind of paper trail for a criminal investigation to be justified?

to which i recieved a fact that the Aberavon beach hotel ( a listed building i believe?) had had planning permission sought, for a housing development, albeit while it was derelict, but hadn't yet been completly destroyed by a fire. there's now a housing development there.

the same goes for the vivian park hotel. same request for planning permission, destroyed by fire, housing developement is now going ahead.

I know i can be cynical (overly sometimes) but surely it cant be just me (and my mate ) who think this all sounds a bit dodgy?