Fire leads to call for demolition of buildings

THE fire at the derelict mill site in Holden Fold Lane, Royton

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A RESIDENT has called for derelict buildings in Royton to be knocked down after a fire broke out at the former mill site.

Firefighters were called to the latest incident in Holden Fold Lane at the weekend where a large quantity of rubbish was on fire.

Crews from Oldham used breathing apparatus and a hose reel to extinguish the flames at the site formerly used by Ashton Windows and the Oldham Sofa Company.

Residents had dialled 999 after seeing smoke coming from the roof of the derelict buildings which were gutted by a huge blaze in 2015.

On Saturday afternoon a resident also phoned the police to report that three "young lads" were "causing vandalism" at the same site.

Derek Smalley who lives in Holden Fold Lane said: "Three young lads were seen on the roof causing vandalism and attempting to get into the building by breaking what was left of the glass in the windows.

"They were also ripping tiles from the roof and launching them into the car park.

"Other residents also contacted the police. The youths were on the roof for at least one hour."

He said the police were called on 101 but as far as he knew no officers attended the site.

Mr Smalley added: "This mill has been an ongoing problem for some time now. I have concerns as there is an electric substation immediately adjacent to the mill which is next to my house. There are other houses that border onto the mill and works premises that are at risk if the fires continue."

Christopher Eastham was jailed for 32 months in September 2015 for two arson attacks on his brother's company. The second destroyed the building.

A planning application to demolish the fire-damaged warehouse and build eight three-bedroom houses in its place was submitted in February 2016.