KEIGHLEY residents living with the shattered remnants of a fire-hit building remain in the dark as to the property’s future.

The building, at the junction of Lawkholme Lane and Grange Street, was gutted by a major blaze in the early hours of New Year’s Eve 2013. What was left of the building was then virtually destroyed by a second fire less than a week later.

The premises had housed a clothing storage area and a snooker hall.

But more than a year after the two fires, the burned-out shell of the building continues to blight the neighbourhood.

Keighley Central ward councillor, Abid Hussain, said he hopes the matter can be resolved “within a couple of months”.

“Every time I go to the mosque people ask me ‘what’s happening to that building?’ he said.

“We were informed by the owner it would be sorted out as quickly as possible, but it has been more than a year now.

“I know there was an issue about how the fire was started, and that this was being investigated by the police and the insurance company.

“Bradford Council has made the site safe – it isn’t dangerous for children. But it still needs to be dealt with.”

His words were echoed by people living in Lawkholme.

Lawkholme Lane resident, Almas Khan, 45, said: “I have to walk past it every day on my way to work and it looks like something out of a war zone.

“I know you can’t sort out something like that in a couple of weeks, but this has gone on long enough. The people living round here deserve better.”

Sobia Youssef, 32, also of Lawkholme Lane, said: “I can’t understand what the delay is. It’s not like the building is any use to anyone right now.

“They should knock down what’s left and either leave that space empty or build something else that would benefit the area.

“I know we’ve had other big fires in Keighley where they’ve managed to get rid of the ruins much faster than this.”

Ilyas Nazir, 39, who lives off nearby Parson Street, said: “I feel sorry for whoever lives right next door to it.

“I missed the second fire because I was out of town, but I saw the first one. It was pretty dramatic.

“There should be some sort of legal time limit to make sure problems like this get sorted out faster.”