What is happening at the Empire Neath at this very moment?

Police call in to check and say work is going on....
at 21.45 on a Friday night????

The lights in the disused Empire building have been left on during the past few days, even although planning permission has not yet been given for a change of use.

According to the Police, who have looked into the matter, work  is going on.   We are worried because we know what happened at the Gwyn Hall during a re-building programme.    A fire as a result of building work or alterations could certainly influence matters and be in favour of the new freeholders?

We are not suggestiing that dirty work is taking place - but lights left on in a building that has been unoccupied for three years could be a fire hazard, say an experienced electrical engineer - especially if the building is left unattended. Shiftwork on the building is unlikely - either that, or it is very odd.

The Neath Fire Service and certain councillors have been alerted about something that seems very suspect indeed.

We have no information about the fire insurance cover on this building.

Further info:
The freehold of the Empire at the Rope Walk Neath is now owned by the Swansea Coastal Housing Group who also own other property in Neath, including sites in Windsor Road and Alfred Street.

More information can be obtained from their website:
www.coastalhousing.co.uk/Pages/aboutus.aspx

The freehold of the Empire was purchased at a bargain price, alleged to be less than £400,000.

It was an investment that NPT Council missed - although we did tell them.   Investing in property would have been safer than putting money in an Iceland Bank - or any other Bank if it comes to that!    All councillors please note that YOU control the actions of the council's paid unelected paid officers - you should not be a rubber stamp for their actions.

As we have said before, NPT Council had a grant of over £1m from the Lottery fund to refurbish Victoria Gardens in 2010/2011.

Maybe (just maybe) if the present freeholders don't get planning permission to build an eyesore, they will be more than pleased to sell the freehold (with a modest profit) to NPT Council so that all Neath residents can benefit from the building as a community centre.  WHAT A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT THAT WOULD BE FOR THE COUNCIL - and what a great investment too!