Businesses 'gutted' as council forces them to vacate

Anne Marshall said the tenants who operated from the building were "absolutely gutted" by the news they had to vacate

Angry business owners based at a historic mill site in Derbyshire are "gutted" after being asked by a council to move out immediately.

Bolsover District Council said on Monday Mill One of Pleasley Vale Business Park had "structural safety concerns".

More than a dozen businesses who attended an "emotional" meeting with the council on Wednesday said the authority gave them 24 hours' notice to clear essential items.

Council leader Jane Yates said: "This is a very upsetting situation, but our absolute priority is the safety of the businesses in the mill."

Pleasley Vale Business Park was used as cotton spinning mills as far back as the 18th Century

Businesses are affected in Mill One, but Mill Two and Three are not and remain operational.

The wider site dates back to 1784 and was used as a cotton spinning mill, munitions factory, and now as a business park.

The decision to close immediately was made on advice from Derbyshire Building Control Partnership.

"We understand this is a huge upheaval for the businesses involved and we will do absolutely everything in our power to help them, but we must put safety first," said Yates.

Mr Bladen said he was looking to employ more staff before he received news he had to vacate

One tenant, James Bladen, who runs Bladen Box and Display Ltd, told the BBC: "You can't just take these machines home and carry on manufacturing - it will literally bankrupt us."

Mr Bladen's business supplies point-of-sale displays as well as retail and transit packaging.

He said he was "fearful" for his team of 10 employees and was hoping to take on more staff before he was told to move out.

"The equipment we've got - we're talking six, seven figures worth - massive digital printers, massive digital cutting machines, dye cutting machines," he said.

"You can't just take these machines home and carry on manufacturing - it will literally bankrupt us."

Jordan Fewell is one of many businesses that have been forced to vacate

Jordan Fewell, who runs SuperDead Paintball, posted on social media that their key cards had been disabled and entry points were now gated.

He added, before the news broke, the business was looking at plans for building modifications and expansion.

Speaking to the BBC after the meeting with council officers in Shirebrook, he said: "The council have turned around and booted us out almost in just 24 hours.

"No business here can sustain itself, any business is always a month away from closing its doors."

Steve Marshall said the meeting between the council and tenants was "very emotional"

Husband and wife Steve and Anne Marshall are also affected by the building closure.

They run 3D Engineering Design Ltd and design medical and drug delivery devices.

Mr Marshall said he was proud of the company he had built from scratch, but the pair feared their business may end up folding.

"We're absolutely gutted; all the tenants are gutted," Mrs Marshall said.

"My husband has been here for nearly 30 years - this is our livelihood, and this is where our lives started and is still there."

Asked about the atmosphere inside the meeting with the council, Mr Marshall added: "The mood was pretty tasty.

"Very emotional...in their opinion the building is completely unsafe.

"I'm not buying that personally, because if there was a risk to life, I don't think people would be inside it."

The council said it was working with the businesses to help them relocate and that support with financial costs of any move were available.