THE owners of Brighton's Royal Albion Hotel still do not know if they will receive money to repair the fire-ravaged building.

Britannia Hotels, the owners of the building destroyed in the devastating fire, are still waiting to hear if insurance company Commercial Union will pay out the estimated £7 million rebuilding costs.

Britannia Hotels managing director Alex Langsam, speaking for the first time about the blaze, said he still did not know if the insurance company will pay out.

He said last night: "It is in the hands of our assessors. We do not know at the moment."

But he added: "We were insured and we paid the premium."

If the insurance pay-out is not made, it would destroy plans to rebuild the hotel.

Aspokesman for the insurance company refused to comment on the situation.

Meanwhile, further demolition work is due to restart on the hotel on Monday.

The central section of the hotel, which was gutted by fire last November, will be knocked down in an operation lasting up to five weeks.

Brighton and Hove Council is warning there will be traffic delays during the work.

Mr Langsam said: "The demolition relates to putting the areas that are unsafe back into a safe order."

During the work the left-hand turn from Grand Junction Road into Old Steine will be closed.

Traffic will still be able to take the left turn at the Aquarium roundabout from what is at present the nearside straight ahead lane.

And the pelican crossing on Grand Junction Road, just west of the Aquarium roundabout, will be closed off with barriers put up to direct pedestrians to the crossing points.

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