A MAIN thorough-fare in a North Cornwall town remains closed after a building partially collapsed over the weekend.

Fore Street in Camelford was the subject of an emergency closure over the weekend after part of the building collapsed.

The road, which narrows as it goes through the town, is part of the A39 route and has been the subject of plans to be by-passed in recent years.

The building is currently being held up by metal support beams on the front, where part of the building’s frontage is understood to have collapsed, with the building having been in a state of disrepair prior to the incident.

A glimpse of the interior of the building appears to have been stripped back to its exterior walls with the building’s internal layout being stripped bare.

It is understood that it has been mostly vacant for some time, with the last known business present at the building, a hair salon, appearing to have vacated the premises prior to 2021, with the building advertised for auction in 2020 on the basis of requiring extensive refurbishment.

Planning permission had been granted in 2021 to convert the building from a commercial premises with a dwelling above into two flats above the premises with the existing dwelling linked to the shop becoming a self contained dwelling.

Announcing the closure over the weekend, Cornwall Council issued the following statement: “Emergency road closure: Fore Street (A39) in Camelford is closed due to a building becoming unsafe. A diversion route is in place.”

It is not yet clear when the road is likely to fully re-open, with Cornwall Council approached for further comment and clarification.