Windmill restoration plan stalled by rotten sails

Blackpool Council says there are reports of leaks to the roof/cap of the Little Marton Windmill

The restoration of a Grade II listed windmill has stalled after all four existing sails from the landmark were found to be rotten.

The sails were removed from Little Marton Windmill on Preston New Road in Blackpool in May 2023 after one of them had been damaged during high winds.

The council, which owns the landmark, has pledged to work with the community to put together a refurbishment plan while urgent repairs will be carried out to the cap of the windmill.

The Blackpool authority said it hoped to work in partnership with the Friends of Little Marton Windmill to eventually replace the missing sails.

Councillor Mark Smith said: "The council has had reports of significant leaks to the roof/cap of Little Marton Mill and has commissioned a survey to look at repairs.

"These emergency repairs will be a priority and will be carried out as soon as ground and weather conditions permit.

"It is likely the cap will need more work in the next two to three years and the survey will establish its overall condition and set out what further repairs might be needed in the future."

Specialist assessment

He added: "With an eye to the longer term future of the mill, the council has met with the [Friends of Little Marton Windmill] to discuss a longer term programme of improvements including the replacement of the sails and a re-painting of the mill and a review of internal access arrangements.

"This will see the council working in closer partnership with the friends and third party funders like the National Lottery Heritage Fund."

The windmill had to be cordoned off after one of the sails fell off during high winds on 7 April last year.

The remaining three sails were then removed for assessment by Wesham-based specialist joiner Joe Gillett.

Shirley Matthews, of the Friends of Little Marton Windmill, said: “We do hope we can get the work done which is needed, and we are working with the council to achieve this."

The windmill was built in 1838 by John Hays on the site of an earlier mill and, according to Blackpool Civic Trust, it operated until at least 1923, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Kevin Hodgson has started a petition calling for the renovation of the landmark "which is the first heritage site visitors see coming into Blackpool off the M55 motorway" by the council.

It has more than 600 signatures so far.