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Fire crews in toxic scare at mill

Sue Carr
20/ 2/2008

DEVELOPERS have agreed to demolish a ‘death trap’ mill after firefighters were contaminated with toxic chemicals left by fly-tippers.

Hart Mill in Mossley, which has stood derelict for the last decade, is regularly used as a dumping ground for waste. Yobs often set the waste alight.

In the most recent incident, firefighters were called to the mill on Monday. Crews tackling four separate fires came across a poisonous white powder which sparked a huge contamination alert.

Councillor Roy Etchells has been campaigning for the derelict mill to be demolished for four years.

He said: "Four years ago there was a brief at George Lawton Hall with the developer, who was telling the town how great this housing development was going to be. That was four years ago — it’s been empty for 10. There were vagrants sleeping in the place, what if the fire had overcome them? I want it down before someone gets hurt."

Firefighters were called at 3.30pm and spent seven hours at the mill, which backs on to Waterton Lane. Following the chemical alert, thought to be lead phosphate, equipment was taken away for decontamination and nine fire engines were drafted in to help.

Warrington-based developers Seddon Homes, who own the mill, has now agreed to demolish the mill.

Managing director Ken Whittaker said: "We have spent quite a bit of time and money trying to make it secure but people are obviously intent on getting in there.

"We would like to get the building down as quickly as possible."