Gatton's Imperial Hotel clean-up on hold

THREE months after a fire destroyed Gatton's historic Imperial Hotel, the clean-up remains on hold.

DELAYED: The Imperial Hotel fire investigation and clean-up are on hold until insurance claims are finalised. Picture: Francis Witsenhuysen

THREE months after a fire destroyed Gatton's historic Imperial Hotel, the clean-up remains on hold as Lockyer Valley Regional Council waits to hear back from the hotel's insurance company.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones said they were also waiting on decisions for insurance claims from the neighbouring Wymans building.

"We are concerned because we want to continue the clean-up and make it safe again," Cr Jones said.

"The street needs to be fixed up and the other businesses involved should be able to continue operations.

"It's taking longer than expected."

Supercheap Auto Gatton was also heavily damaged in the fire.

An owner of the Supercheap Auto building, Andrew O'Brien, said the progress on the shop reopening was going well.

"We are hoping to reopen (at the) beginning of March," Mr O'Brien said.

"Supercheap is investing more money in the fit-out and going over and above what they were going to do."

Mr O'Brien said he thought the hold-up was due to asbestos issues.

"To be compliant with asbestos issues is probably the reason for it. Asbestos is an industry within its own," Mr O'Brien said.

"A large amount of Supercheap stock was lost and personally, we lost over $400,000.

"But we were fully covered, insurance-wise. We all feel for the owners of the old Wymans building."

Police are still following leads and appealing for information for witnesses to come forward.

Originally published as Gatton's Imperial Hotel clean-up on hold