October 8, 2019 11.15 am This story is over 68 months old

Arson attack at site earmarked for Skegness’ first mosque

Police have launched an investigation

Photo: Dan Quinn - Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

A suspected arson attack caused severe damage to a derelict building in Skegness, where plans were submitted to build the town’s first mosque.

Around 45 firefighters attended the scene at the two-storey derelict building in Roman Bank at 4.43am on Sunday, October 6.

At the time, it is understood that Roman Bank was closed from the Ship corner to Scarborough Avenue.

Photo: Graham Cummings

Photo: Graham Cummings

Crews used four main jets, six breathing apparatus and aerial ladder as a water tower to extinguish the fire. Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue said there was severe damage by fire to “100% of the building” and the cause was recorded as deliberate.

Police confirmed nobody was injured.

Photo: Graham Cummings

Photo: Graham Cummings

https://twitter.com/LincsFire_ACFO/status/1180739804734119942

Police are treating it as arson and have launched an investigation.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “We are investigating a fire at a derelict building in Roman Bank in Skegness.

“We received a report of the fire at around 4.54am from Fire and Rescue. The fire is being treated as arson. Enquiries are ongoing. There were no injuries and no arrests have been made.”

The site was also struck by an arson attack in February 2019.

Photo: Graham Cummings

Photo: Dan Quinn – Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

Plans were previously submitted by the Skegness Central Mosque Group to East Lindsey District Council for a community centre, with four-self contained flats above to be built next to the former Methodist chapel on Roman Bank.

The centre will include washrooms, a kitchen, a body room and a main hall.

Skegness Central Mosque launched a fundraising campaign, which raised over £150,000 – enough to purchase the land.

Sam Hallett, of ELDC’s planning department, said: “The location was originally going to be a mosque, but has been downgraded to a community centre. As I understand it, the use will be the same, or similar to that of a mosque.”

Anyone with information about the suspected arson attack should call Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident 84 of October 6.