‘Mill demolition is the only solution’ (From Keighley News)
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‘Mill demolition is the only solution’
8:56am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Keighley By David Knights
A young boy looks onto the disused mill by the side of Wirefield Road, Ingrow, where a teenager fell through the roof
Action is being taken to tackle dangers at an Ingrow mill where a boy was injured last week.
Local politicians have revealed their efforts to tackle long-standing problems at the derelict building off Wirefield Road.
The three Keighley West councillors have already spent several months working with council buildings officers, police and youth workers.
The Keighley News last week reported how an 11-year old boy suffered head injuries after falling through the building's roof.
Nearby residents told how children regularly sneaked into the building.
Bradford councillors Keith Dredge and Jan Smithies this week said they, and fellow ward councillor Andrew Farley, were trying to discover who owned the site.
Coun Dredge said that as well as being a potential danger, the building was an eyesore to people living nearby.
He said: “The building has been a problem for a while and it's a mess. It's taking valuable time away from the fire service.
“To be fair to the owners, they could make the place like Fort Knox and people would still get in. The only solution is to get the building demolished.”
Coun Smithies said: “The Youth Service have been doing work with young people to persuade them not to go in there - they think it's a huge adventure playground."
Bradford Council this week said it had inspected the building and discovered it was not in danger of collapse.
Principal building control surveyor Tony Raby said: “It has been boarded up against unauthorised entry at ground level although, as with any building, if people are determined to gain access - especially by climbing onto the roof - they will be able to. There are also warning signs stating the roof is fragile.
“Although the Council has limited powers, the owners of private property remain responsible for the maintenance and safety of their buildings.”
- In last week’s Keighley News we stated the building was the former home of Keighley joinery firm Broster and Smith. A member of the Broster family has asked us to point out the company sold the property 17 years ago, and it had changed ownership at least three times since.
