We’ll never know what sparked club blaze
Published date: 18 July 2011 |
Published by: Lois Hough
FIRE investigators say they will never know what sparked the blaze which destroyed a former social club.
It has been six months since Shotton Lane Social Club was gutted in a suspected arson attack, but detectives say damage to the building was so great they have been unable to pinpoint a cause.
The disused club was earmarked for an Islamic Cultural Centre by the Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society (FMCS) who made a television appeal on Sky Channel S in a bid to raise funds for the project.
Chairman Dr Ahmad Faraz Bhatti says he is confident the FMCS will establish a centre in Flintshire.
He told the Leader: “We just want to be part of society like anyone else and exercise our rights to integrate and educate our children.
“It hasn’t shocked us from our aims. I believe we are doing the right thing.”
More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes as firefighters spent six hours tackling the blaze on February 4.
The club, which closed its doors last August, was later demolished.
The FMCS, which boasts 100 members, meets twice a week at the War Memorial Hall in Queensferry but needs a larger, permanent facility to worship.
Dr Faraz says the new centre will also provide regular Islamic learning for children and facilities for female members.
“If we have got a permanent base we would have more sports activities for the children, like table tennis,” he said.
“Some children don’t have the chance to participate in sport, especially girls, so we want to provide them with that in a comfortable environment.
“We want to get people more educated about the Islamic community and we want to be part of the community.”
Dr Faraz said there was a lot to consider in the search for a new premises.
“A lot of members walk to the centre so we don’t want somewhere that is too far
away,” he said.
“So far we haven’t come across a place that is big enough but we are keeping our options open.”
Dr Faraz, a plastic surgeon at The Countess of Chester Hospital, has taken the role of chairman from predecessor Mohammed Munchab Ali, who owns the Bengal Dynasty restaurant in Shotton.
He offered his thanks to the community who have offered support following the fire.
“We have had a tremendous amount of support from the police and council and society members,” he added.
Plans to transform the disused club provoked strong protests from the right-wing group the English Defence League.
More than 100 members marched through Shotton to the site of the club in January and May.
A spokesman for North Wales Fire and Rescue said: “The fire was started by suspected arson but the extent of damage to the premises means that we will never be able to confirm that for sure.”
It has been six months since Shotton Lane Social Club was gutted in a suspected arson attack, but detectives say damage to the building was so great they have been unable to pinpoint a cause.
The disused club was earmarked for an Islamic Cultural Centre by the Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society (FMCS) who made a television appeal on Sky Channel S in a bid to raise funds for the project.
Chairman Dr Ahmad Faraz Bhatti says he is confident the FMCS will establish a centre in Flintshire.
He told the Leader: “We just want to be part of society like anyone else and exercise our rights to integrate and educate our children.
“It hasn’t shocked us from our aims. I believe we are doing the right thing.”
More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes as firefighters spent six hours tackling the blaze on February 4.
The club, which closed its doors last August, was later demolished.
The FMCS, which boasts 100 members, meets twice a week at the War Memorial Hall in Queensferry but needs a larger, permanent facility to worship.
Dr Faraz says the new centre will also provide regular Islamic learning for children and facilities for female members.
“If we have got a permanent base we would have more sports activities for the children, like table tennis,” he said.
“Some children don’t have the chance to participate in sport, especially girls, so we want to provide them with that in a comfortable environment.
“We want to get people more educated about the Islamic community and we want to be part of the community.”
Dr Faraz said there was a lot to consider in the search for a new premises.
“A lot of members walk to the centre so we don’t want somewhere that is too far
away,” he said.
“So far we haven’t come across a place that is big enough but we are keeping our options open.”
Dr Faraz, a plastic surgeon at The Countess of Chester Hospital, has taken the role of chairman from predecessor Mohammed Munchab Ali, who owns the Bengal Dynasty restaurant in Shotton.
He offered his thanks to the community who have offered support following the fire.
“We have had a tremendous amount of support from the police and council and society members,” he added.
Plans to transform the disused club provoked strong protests from the right-wing group the English Defence League.
More than 100 members marched through Shotton to the site of the club in January and May.
A spokesman for North Wales Fire and Rescue said: “The fire was started by suspected arson but the extent of damage to the premises means that we will never be able to confirm that for sure.”
What a surprise (not)that they'll never know how it happened eh? Seems very dodgy to me.
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