A fire-ridden landmark is to be inspected in the coming days in a move which could lead to the reopening of a neighbouring car park.

The former Liquid nightclub in East Hill, Ashford, was engulfed in flames on December 30, sparking an arson probe.

The fire, which was the third to occur at the site in 2024 alone, led to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) shutting the adjacent car park amid safety concerns at the landmark.

However, the authority says a structural survey of the building is to take place this week in a bid to analyse the site and potentially reopen the 79-space site behind Civic Park.

This is a detailed inspection of a building's structure, including its walls, floors and foundations.

It is carried out in order to provide valuable information about the condition of a property.

A spokesman for ABC said: “Our intention is to reopen the site, but this is entirely dependent on the outcome of the survey.

"Safety remains our top priority and we will provide further updates as soon as we are able to.”

It says analysis of the damaged section of the Flour Mills site will determine the next steps as to whether the area can be safely used again.

Following the inferno, the owner of the former nightclub - Oliver Davis - was also ordered to bring in 24-hour security.

It meant the property developer has had to ensure the unlisted premises is under 24/7 surveillance to prevent similar incidents.

It led to several hoardings being placed around Flour Mills, including along Mace Lane.

All remain there today alongside a sign at the entrance to the car park telling motorists it is out-of-bounds.

Mr Davis – who has owned the building since 2021 – had wanted to transform it into 53 flats.

But he told KentOnline weeks before the latest fire how he had scrapped the plans after commercial tenants showed more interest.

He said the building, which was constructed in 1901 as H.S. Pledge and Son flour mill, is still set for a long-overdue makeover as it will be turned into a “flexible office space”.

Previously, a series of nightspots had occupied the site with Liquid being the last one until it shut in 2014.

Before Mr Davis snapped up the building, proposals emerged in 2017 to turn the seven-storey building into a performing arts centre for Ashford School, complete with a 250-seat theatre, but it never got off the ground.