Council agrees £1.5m to make ex-hotel secure

DECISION AVERTS CONCERNS OVER BUILDING

- By DALE SPRIDGEON

A COUNCIL has agreed to spend £1.5m making a crumbling former seaside hotel safe. Cyngor Gwynedd’s cabinet agreed to fund the work needed to secure the Grade II listed Corbett Arms in Tywyn.

The once-grand hotel, which John Lennon, a member of the Beatles, reportedly visited in its heyday, has partially collapsed after the building fell into neglect after its closure around 14 years ago.

Serious concerns were raised about public safety because of the building’s deteriorating condition, but calls to demolish part of the early 19th century site sparked a public outcry.

Responsibility for the building fell into a legal limbo after its owner died in 2012.

A council report noted that “no probate grant had been confirmed for the estate”.

Public safety concerns led the council’s building control service to issue notices to the representatives of the late owner, but “no compliance with the requirements had been obtained,” the document noted.

Despite efforts to make the building safe, there was a significant collapse at the rear of the site and a further collapse of the ballroom roof earlier this year.