Former Rhinos pub still standing a 'miracle' as shoppers lament safety fears over degrading building

A FIRE-ravaged pub has been given extra safety measures to “reduce the risk to the public” amid shopper’s concerns it could collapse. 

Rotherham Council confirmed that fencing had been placed around the Rhinoceros pub in Bridgegate to keep the public safe after concerns that the pub was “falling to pieces”.

The former Wetherspoons pub was involved in a fire back in July, said to be accidental, which wrecked the premises, along with the old Revolution gym upstairs.

Town centre shoppers who spoke to the Advertiser were concerned that more should be done to protect people’s safety.

Najeep Ghani (75), from Eastwood, said: “It’s a real shame to have seen this pub just fall to pieces the way it has.

“Ever since the awful fire, the pub has slowly started crumbling to pieces and I’m surprised no one has been injured as a result.

“There have been homeless people sleeping in the doorway, as well as young kids playing around it and I have been deeply concerned for their safety.

“Part of the building has been boarded up because someone reportedly broke in.

“You can see all the debris on the top of the entrance archway and it feels like the building could fall down at any time.

“It needs much more than just a railing around it.”

“It’s a miracle that it hasn’t.

“It has been five months since the fire and it is being allowed to crumble, which is a crying shame.

“Someone needs to take charge of the situation before someone gets hurt.”

A council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we arranged for railings to be put in place at the former Rhinoceros pub as a safety measure to reduce the risk to the public from the building. 

“The council is working with South Yorkshire Police and the owner of the building to ensure the structure does not pose a risk to public safety.

“However, the owners of the property are responsible for the maintenance and safety of the building."