Seaforth Castle pub fire put local residents’ lives at risk

Jul 2 2009 by Amy Salter, Crosby Herald

Seaforth Castle pub fire put local residents’ lives at risk

A SUSPECTED arson attack on a pub could have killed people living nearby, it has been claimed.

The Seaforth Castle was left severely damaged after the pub was doused in petrol and torched.

Cllr Jack Colbert, Liberal Democrat leader on the Merseyside Fire Authority, lives just 50 yards from the pub.

He said the blaze put local residents lives at risk: “The fire was next to residential accommodation and someone could have died. I just want to say to people please don’t do these stupid things. Innocent people could get killed. Everyone round here is saying how stupid it was because it was so close to the nearby flats and houses and the pub was really alight. If it wasn’t for the quick action of the fire service it could have been very different.”

Another resident who lived nearby said: “I’ve got young children and it’s scary to think what could have happened. Anyone could have been killed.”

Fire fighters were called to the disused three-storey pub, on Seaforth Road, just after 3am on Monday (June 29) and battled for an hour and a half to put out the blaze. No one was inside at the time of the fire.

Around the same time the Roughwood Hotel in Kirkby, was torched. At both pubs a window was smashed and petrol poured through before being set alight.

Detectives are investigating possible links between the pubs and on-going feuds – thought to be about money – on Merseyside. Several pubs have been set alight in recent weeks.

A Merseyside police spokeswoman said: “The scene at Seaforth was cordoned off and crime scene investigators carried out a forensic examination.

“Detectives are investigating what caused the fire and the possible motive for the attack.”

Anyone who witnessed either incident or has any other information is urged to call Merseyside Police on 0151 709 6010 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.