Civic society's plea to secure arson-hit mill site

There have been a succession of arsons at the mill complex, which is currently ownerless

Calls for an historic mill complex to be protected against future arson attacks have been repeated by the local civic society.

More than 20 fire engines were at the scene of the latest fire at the Grade II listed Dalton Mills in Keighley on Saturday afternoon.

Embers from the fire also damaged the roof of Keighley Bus Museum and police said the blaze was now being treated as deliberate and was being investigated.

The site is "ownerless" but the Crown Estate is responsible for selling it under escheat, an ancient law, but said it has no legal responsibility for its upkeep.

Emmerson Walgrave from the Keighley Civic Society outside the mill complex's main entrance

Emmerson Walgrove, chair of Keighley Civic Society, said: "Keighley cannot lose this important building.

"It is now up to those responsible to organise better security, better surveillance, to ensure another major fire like this does not happen again."

He said stakeholders including Bradford Council and the Crown Estate should ensure that the site is properly protected.

He said: "Dalton Mills is a jewel in Keighley which needs protecting and restoring."

A significant proportion of the site, which featured in Peaky Blinders, was destroyed by a major fire in 2022, leading to two teenage boys being arrested and later found guilty of arson.

It has since been the subject of numerous smaller fires and vandalism.

The police and fire brigade have had repeated calls to the site in Dalton Lane

The Crown Estate said it was not able to take any action that might be construed as an "act of management, possession or ownership" in relation to a property under escheat.

This included undertaking repairs or carrying out remedial work as in doing this it may incur liabilities associated with the property.

The spokesman said local authorities had powers under the Building Act 1984 to make dangerous buildings and structures safe.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, from Bradford Council, said: "We're all devastated at the latest fire at Dalton Mills and share the frustration of the public who want to see this much-loved heritage asset restored to its former glory.

"However, (it) is incorrect to say Bradford Council has the responsibility to make the site secure.

"We have been supporting efforts to move the site into local private ownership from the Crown Estate and have worked closely with potential owners to help facilitate this.

"Given the importance of the site to Keighley and the wider community, we have worked with Historic England to try secure some of the more exposed areas of the site on a meanwhile basis."

The Crown Estate took over the Victorian building after the previous owner went bankrupt and gave up the deeds after a restoration project collapsed.

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