Community waits to see Guildford hotel restored

The owners have agreed to complete urgent work within the year.

A group campaigning to restore the burnt-out Guildford Hotel says it is not celebrating yet, although the hotel owners have agreed to complete urgent work on the building.

The owners, who have not made any repairs to the building since it was gutted by fire in 2008, yesterday withdrew an appeal against a local council ruling on the work required.

They have now agreed to conditions placed on the development which include completing urgent work within a year and carrying out the restoration under City of Swan and WA Heritage Council terms.

Save the Guildford Hotel Spokesman, Ben Allen, says the state of the hotel is upsetting for locals.

"The fact that we've had four years of a burnt-out shell is really very sad," he said.

Mr Allen says the community will celebrate when the hotel is finally restored.

"This has been a very time consuming exercise," he said.

"There's every chance we might have another two years of a burnt-out shell because there's that much time before they have to get a building licence."

Source: ABC News, 12th September 2012