Councillor 'disgusted' after latest fire incident at derelict mill

Calls for action to prevent youngsters causing havoc at a derelict Wigan mill have been raised after emergency services were called to the building again earlier this week.

Four engines from Wigan, Hindley, and Horwich responded to the calls and spent around 45 minutes tackling the flames.

Firefighters were also seen gaining access to the derelict mill via ladders to tackle the fire inside.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday 26 May, four fire engines from Wigan, Hindley and Horwich fire stations were called to reports of a fire at a derelict building on Mesnes Park Terrace, Wigan.

“Firefighters arrived quickly and used two hose reels, four breathing apparatus and one 9 metre ladder to extinguish the fire.

“Crews were in attendance for roughly 45 minutes.”

Images were later shared to social media showing a group of young people on the roof of the building and throwing objects to the ground, prompting frustration from those who have long campaigned for increase security at the abandoned mill.

Coun George Davies for Wigan Central said: “As councillor for this area, I am disgusted with these teenagers who are targeting our residents living only yards from this disused building.

“The council and the police have a duty to protect my residents, but why are these youngsters getting away and why have they not got an increase of CCTV in the empty building?

“And again fires bring danger and the protection of the emergency services must be a priority. Now everyone must be involved to stop these dangerous acts.”

Coun Davies has called for drastic action to be taken to stop such incidents, which he said could eventually prove fatal if gone unchecked.

In May 2019, he urged the council to tear the building down after a huge blaze tore through the roof of the Kenyon Road building, the worst arson attack to hit the mill, which was believed to have been started deliberately by youths who broke into the restricted site.

On that occasion, firefighters had to risk their own lives by entering the inferno to make sure nobody was still inside, and police officers had to go door-to-door, urging residents to keep their windows and doors closed because of the acrid smoke.

The Pagefield Building’s huge chimney has also become a hotspot for thrill-seeking teenagers in recent months. Heart-in-mouth images have captured the youngsters, most of whom are in their late teens, dicing with death by climbing the 196ft off-limits chimney. Some have even been filmed climbing over the flimsy railing and hanging by one arm.

Wigan Council has in the past said it is in ongoing talks with the owners about its future use and impressing on them the importance of maintaining tight security.

Anyone with information on the latest incident should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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