Work to rebuild a trading estate ravaged by fire is finally due to start.

A huge blaze tore through studios and offices at St Michael's Trading Estate, Bridport, last July, leaving the community in shock.

The Tower building is due to be reinstated, with work starting on May 14, but there will be changes to parking and access as a result.

Hayward & Co says it has finally reached an agreement with insurers and loss adjusters regarding its claim for the clearance and reinstatement of the Tower building. Part of this includes the clearance of all materials and items that remain inside the damaged part of the building. It is hoped some of this will be recoverable but Hayward & Co warns some of it won't.

In a letter to tenants, the company said: 'Contractors have undertaken to keep inconvenience to a minimum, but the location of the main fire damage and the need to follow proper health and safety procedures means, inevitably, that access and movement, around the Cattle Market area in particular, will be restricted.'

Martin Ridley, of Hayward & Co, said while work starting is 'good news' there may be bad news for those local residents, shoppers and workers who use the area for free car parking and have done so for many years.

To allow the work to be carried out, a working compound will be set up at the St Michael’s Lane end of the Cattle Market car park. It will need to contain skips, equipment, containers plus contractors’ vehicles, meaning access into the estate from across that car park will not be possible for the duration of the work.

The letter states: 'We have tried to find a ‘work round’ alternative for this but it will only increase costs and prolong the work schedule. This first phase will continue through to early or mid-July and while this work continues, we shall be planning for the second phase of full reinstatement.'

Hayward & Co says it is working with the St Michael’s Tenants Forum to create two ‘tenants-only’ car parking areas and should still be able to find space for up to 12 cars in the Cattle Market area with a second, larger space behind the Discount Furniture building.

In both cases, parking permits will be issued to allow any illegal parking to be monitored.

The statement states: 'Those people who have, over the years, historically parked here while shopping or working will probably still feel they can find a parking space - but we are very clear that the priority must be for [tenants] and [their] customers.

Hayward & Co has stressed that the rest of the trading estate will remain open for business while work is taking place.

Roy Gregory, of Clocktower Music, says it is positive news work is starting but is concerned about the consequences.

Mr Gregory, also a member of the tenants forum, said: "I'm happy work is going to start as the fire was last July and it has been affecting footfall since. I am concerned that the project will close one of the access routes to the estate. We welcome the work being done - it has to be done - but there is concern about how long it will take and we have highlighted a number of ideas and are working with Haywards. We need to engage with everybody. The summer is our busiest time and we want people to know we are still here."

Scheduled work:

Western Power disconnect and isolate power supply to building - May 7

Contractors set-up week (fencing/hoarding/containers/welfare) - May 13

Main strip-out works commence (six weeks duration) - May 20

Contractors begin clearing site - July 8

Contractors clearing off site - July 15