LORD Bassam has called for urgent talks with the owners of the fire-ravaged Royal Albion Hotel.

The Brighton and Hove Council leader spoke after the Argus revealed work on the west wing of the seafront hotel will not start until the end of the year.

He said: "The Royal Albion is in a prime location in Brighton's tourist heartland and needs to be rebuilt as quickly as possible.

"We do not want visitors or local people to have to look at this burnt-out monstrosity one minute longer than they have to."

We told yesterday how news of the long wait had dismayed tourism representatives, who fear the charred remains could damage trade. They accused owners Britannia Hotels of dragging their heels.

Sue Addis, chairwoman of The Lanes Traders' Association, said: "I'm amazed it's going to take so long for anything to be done. I'm sure some sort of hoarding or screening cold be put up."

She said that if Brighton and Hove was going for city status it needed to show itself in the best possible light.

Lord Bassam said: "The appearance of our built environment is something we want to be proud of and it's crucial that this eyesore is erased quickly."

He added: "I will be firmly stressing our stance when I meet with the managing director of Britannia Hotels. We in turn will do all we can to ensure that the planning process runs smoothly."

The hotel was wrecked last November by the biggest blaze in Brighton for 30 years. Work has started on rebuilding part of the hotel but nothing will be done to the west wing, which faces the seafront, until the end of the year.

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