Updated: Fire at Basildon golf course (From Echo)

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Updated: Fire at Basildon golf course

9:35am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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BASILDON golf club's pavilion was left devasted in a suspected arson attack.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in the single storey pavilion, which was used as a social club and bar, at 2.30am this morning (Wed).

Four fire crews fought the flames before the fire was finally put out two hours later.

No-one was injured.

The clubhouse was left a charred shell.

Nigel Dilley, station commander for Basildon Fire Station, said: "The fire spread throughout the building which was devasted, completely destroyed.

"We are relieved we managed to stop the flames spreading, as there were houses nearby."

The fire is being treated as suspicious and a police and fire service investigation has been launched.

Owners Jack Barker Ltd has controversially been given planning permission to redesign the contours of the course using thousands of tonnes of soil, rubble and other debris. Ron Maydon, managing director of Jack Barker Ltd, said: "That building was due to be demolished in the not too distant future. It has not been used for some time. "I am relieved that the fire didn't spread to the existing clubhouse."

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Trunkymunghound, Essex says...
12:33pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Fire!

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Concerned Resident, Basildon says...
2:16pm Wed 30 Apr 08

The Clubhouse has been empty for several weeks now and was scheduled to be demolished to make way for an extension to the car park under Jack Barker's 'improvement'plan. Still, I suppose it will save him bulldozing it!

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Yeah, Basidonk says...
8:22pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Oh My!
Sounds like an insurance claim in the making. I may be mistaken though!!!!!!

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Yelris, basildon says...
10:39pm Wed 30 Apr 08

Can anyone tell me if this is the same old building that was first put there when the golf club first opened in the 1960s?

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Trainman, says...
11:42pm Wed 30 Apr 08

So instead of shouting Fore, they shouted Fire?

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Alison, Kingswood says...
10:15am Thu 1 May 08

Quote - "Ron Maydon, managing director of Jack Barker Ltd, said: "That building was due to be demolished in the not too distant future. It has not been used for some time. "I am relieved that the fire didn't spread to the existing clubhouse."
Why does it not surprise me that this selfish money grabbing oaf had no concern for local residents (AGAIN!)
This fire was only a few metres away from some local residents, but as long as his concerns are OK, thats fine, is it?
Muppet

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Trunkymunghound, Essex says...
10:35am Thu 1 May 08

Trainman wrote:
So instead of shouting Fore, they shouted Fire?

Posted by: Trunkymunghound, Essex on 12:33pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Fire!

Great minds eh?

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Steve, Leigh says...
10:55am Thu 1 May 08

Wonder why my last comment was deleted - too near the truth or did it just upset the internet gestapo?

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Natalie, Basildon says...
11:53am Fri 2 May 08

Concerned Resident wrote:
The Clubhouse has been empty for several weeks now and was scheduled to be demolished to make way for an extension to the car park under Jack Barker\'s \'improvement\'plan. Still, I suppose it will save him bulldozing it!

I was devastated to hear that the club house had been burnt down. My grand father was a founder member of the club, and it holds alot of memories for me and my family. I hope that all the memorabelia, plaques, photo's were saved as you cannot replace such historical artifacts.

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Yelris, basildon says...
12:05am Wed 7 May 08

Natalie, who was your granddad? thats why I want to know if it was the same old building. My dad was the very first steward there when it opened and I spent a lot of my childhood there.

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