‘Make ruined mill safe’

and himself a Newsome resident, said more care was needed: “We are constantly reporting the fencing being down. It’s ongoing. But the owner is not taking responsibility for making the place secure.

“We need to keep pressing them to get some action.

“You might as well make the fencing out of chocolate, it’s of such little value.

“If the site is left unsecured then the owner is failing in their duty to the local community.

“They have been asked several times to respond to concerns. They are leaving themselves open to all sorts of legal action.”

The huge blaze that destroyed the Grade II listed 19th Century mill in November 2016 dashed hopes that it might be redeveloped as housing.

But there remains strong community support for the clock tower to be retained as a physical reminder of the area’s textile heritage.

Clr Cooper added: “There’s a feeling in the local community to save that clock tower. It stands out on the landscape for miles.

“That mill was part of the lives of thousands of people for generations. There are still people living in Newsome that remember working there. It was still in use10 or 15 years ago.

“The clock tower can be seen from the town centre. It’s part of the two towers of Huddersfield; only the Victoria Newsome Mills on Ruth Street, where the barrier fencing and window mesh has been broken down, leaving the fire damaged building unsecured Tower at Castle Hill surpasses it.

“Both of them are iconic and need to be retained.”

Panorama Living Limited could not be reached to comment.