Arson site will 'rise like phoenix from the ashes' (From Warrington Guardian)

Arson site will 'rise like phoenix from the ashes'

DEVELOPER Brian Foden is hoping a phoenix will rise from the ashes of the former Renault garage in Latchford.

The garage on Thelwall Lane was gutted by the fire, which was started deliberately, on Monday, October 25.

A total of four fire engines were sent to the blaze when it started at around 8.30pm. It continued through the night.

Mr Foden, whose firm Briden Construction bought the site earlier this year to develop it for housing, told Warrington Guardian: "It's a sad day, when you see something go up in smoke.

"Let's make way for the new, bringing the phoenix from the ashes."

Mr Foden said the fire would not hinder his plans to develop the site.

One building was destroyed in the fire, but firefighters managed to stop it spreading to a second building on the site.

Car company Caledonia, which previously owned the site was renting office space at the former garage.

But the blaze damaged electricity supply at the garage and cut off the phone lines, forcing the company out.

Chief executive Simon Gardner said: "The fire was in a disused service reception department that has not operated for 12 months.

"We sold the site 12 months ago and agreed to stay on for a year, we found new premises four months ago which have been refurbished and we were due to move into them on Thursday and Friday this week anyway.

"We will be up and fully operational at the end of the week."

Stockton Heath developers Briden Construction bought the land from car dealership Caledonia to build more than 60 new homes.