Fears have been raised for the future of a former pub that was damaged by fire and left exposed to the elements.

The grade II listed Railway Hotel in Edgware stopped being used as a pub in 2006 and has been on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk register since 2013.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition calling on Barnet Council and Historic England to protect the 1930s mock-Tudor building after it was hit by a fire in 2016.

But campaigners say they are not doing enough and warned the former pub is at risk of falling down after another blaze broke out in November.

Mark Amies, who broadcasts on local history, said: “The Railway is a part of the Edgware landscape that people love dearly, but it is being allowed to fall to pieces.

“Barnet Council and Historic England are both failing this building.

“There have been a series of rather dodgy neighbours round the side of the building – most of which have not had planning permission – and there have been two fires.

“The roof was burnt out in the most recent fire, and it was left open to the elements for quite some time without any proper cover.”

Mr Amies said the council was supposed to carry out enforcement action to protect the building but claimed it had “not been doing it at all well”.

He said a coach company had been using the building’s car park for the past two years without planning permission

Mr Amies said: “It is a real shame. It would be a wonderful if it was just looked after. More should be done, and the council need to be kicked up the backside.”

He fears the former pub will eventually be demolished and replaced by apartment blocks but says it should be preserved and used for “some kind of community purpose”.

Times Series:

Local blogger Roger Tichborne said: “They have still not done a proper repair on it. It was only last week that they damp-proofed it – there was a huge hole in the roof.

“Historic England have not even been down and checked it out. We have been contacting them for six months.

“I am sure they would not take the same view of Shakespeare’s house, which is a listed building.

“If something isn’t done, the building will fall down.”

A Barnet Council spokesman said the building was privately owned and the council had “successfully taken planning enforcement action on a number of occasions”.

The spokesperson added: “Our planning and heritage team are in continued contact with the building’s owner and leaseholder to provide appropriate guidance around their plans to bring the building back into use.

“Officers visited the site during recent refurbishment work and were satisfied these did not contravene the grade-II listed status of the building.

“Repairs to the fire-damaged section of the roof are a matter for the freeholder and leaseholder, however, surveys have confirmed no elements of special architectural or historic interest have been directly exposed to the weather.

“A temporary roof covering is in place and the council understands repair work is due to recommence soon.”

The spokesperson said the use of the car park as a coach stop is part of a live planning application that is currently under consideration – and if it is refused, a “robust enforcement response” will be made.

A Historic England spokesperson said: “We continue to support Barnet Council’s officers who are actively involved in bringing the building back into good repair and use, so that it can be enjoyed by current and future generations.”