Derelict mill owner ordered to make building safe

The owner of a derelict Bradford mill complex has been told he must make it safe, despite arguing in court he believed nothing needed to be done.

Peter Hemingway, 67, of Leventhorpe Hall, Leeds, owns Barkerend Mills which was damaged by fire last year.

He appeared at Bradford Magistrates Court on Friday where he argued the condition of the complex – particularly a smaller mill building next to the Lidl car park - was not as bad as City of Bradford Council claimed.

Despite his claims, he was ordered to secure the site within six months or face further legal action.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council applied to the court to issue an order compelling Hemingway to carry out works to "obviate the danger" of the building.

The proposed work included "making safe the unrestrained masonry to the front elevation roof apex and removing any rubbish resulting from the works."

Waseem Raja, representing Bradford Council, told the court that after a fire at the site in May there had been a partial ground floor and first floor collapse.

He added that the roof and top floor had been destroyed previously and sections of the remaining roof and walls appeared unsafe.

Raja told the court Hemingway was asked to carry out works to make the building safe, but added: "Nothing has been done."

Asked what he had to say about the claims, Hemingway said he did not dispute the building had been damaged, but said it was not a danger to the public.

"There is no damage to the structure, no cracks, it is not leaning and there is no masonry that could fall," he said.

"Even if that was the case, there is a secure fence around the property that prevents anyone from getting close. There is no way the public could get close enough to be in danger.

He also questioned the ability of the council's building control team to say in any certainty that his building was unsafe.

Responding, Raja said the authority's building control surveyor had years of experience and qualifications in building safety. and was "more than qualified to make the submissions he makes".

He added: "If [Hemingway] wanted to challenge what is being said he should have instructed his own surveyor.

"I ask the court to make an order for him to go away and do what is needed to be done."

Magistrates issued the order, which will require Hemingway to make the building safe within six months.

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